How to Tell the Difference Between Professionals and Amateurs

When it comes to your career, are you a professional or an amateur?

The answer to this question has nothing to do with your job title and everything to do with your approach to your work and the experience you give to others.

So, how do you know if you’re a professional?

Ask yourself, “Do the key traits below describe me?”

Professionals:

Recover quickly from setbacks

When a professional makes a mistake, they don’t let it ruin their next shot. They have a strong ability to “reset” and clear their head to continue the performance. Some refer to this as GRIT. Are you able to bounce back quickly or do you let your first error spiral into many others?

Perform at a high-level no matter how they feel or where they are

World-class snipers train through exhaustion so they can perform under sub-optimal conditions. Can you deliver excellence despite being sick or under imperfect condition?

Professionals try to create perfect conditions through preparation and early arrival but are flexible and ready to perform under any condition they encounter. If you need everything to be perfect to perform well, unless you’re performing a death-defying stunt, you’re probably not a professional.

Strive for mastery and think about their craft

Professionals think about their craft from different angles and find ways to keep sharpening their skills. At first, they apprentice by copying the greats. Once they master the fundamentals, they push the outer limits of their craft and step into their own style and technique. How much do you think about HOW you do WHAT you do? What have you identified as areas of development?

Get paid well for the value they offer

Professionals are recognized and rewarded for their value. People pay doctors and lawyers a good fee for their services. Are you getting paid a wage where you can sustain both your living needs and wants? If not, you’re not a professional, yet.