In the book, The War of Art, author Steven Pressfield talked about what separates amateurs from professionals and how a professional became who they are.

I will write about what these aspects mean to me personally.

The professional reinvents herself

The pro knows nothing, no matter how good, stays the same forever, himself included. He learns and transforms as the work calls for the changes on his part. The pro has many solid examples to learn from the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors.

The professional is recognized by other professionals

The pro recognizes another pro and her craft. The pro can tell who is the diligent apprentice, the pretending wanna-be, or the real deal.

In the book, The War of Art, author Steven Pressfield talked about what separates amateurs from professionals and how a professional became who they are.

I will write about what these aspects mean to me personally.

The professional endures adversity

The pro knows the costs of being in the game. The field is never leveled, and bad lucks can rain down on him when least expected or needed. Despite all the things that can potentially go against the pro, he knows his core belief is always there and cannot be buried alive.

The professional self-validates

The pro takes control of his situation and does not allow the actions of others to define his reality. He does so by controlling his reactions and not taking the criticism personally. The pro knows that, no matter what others might say or do, he has his own work to do.

The professional recognizes her limitations

The pro knows he can never be a master of all things, rather, just one thing. He will need help in other areas, and he treats the pros in those areas with respect.

In the book, The War of Art, author Steven Pressfield talked about what separates amateurs from professionals and how a professional became who they are.

I will write about what these aspects mean to me personally.

The professional does not hesitate to ask for help

The pro believes in continuous learning, from anyone who can help to level up his game. Everyone wants the pro to be the know-it-all, and some amateurs pretend to be that all-knowing being. The pro, however, knows better and thinks of himself as a perpetual student.

The professional does not identify with his or her instrument

The pro does not get caught up on or identify with the instrument he uses to deliver his work, even when that instrument is himself. The pro cares deeply about doing work and delivering, not so much with what he needs to use.

The professional does not take failure or success personally

The pro is not emotionally attached to the outcome of his work. He does that, so the fear of rejection or other negative emotions cannot be used by the Resistance against us. The pro is invested in his work, and he self-validates objectively. The pro seeks to learn and grow by keeping an open mind about criticism, but he does not allow the Resistance to use the criticism against him.

In the book, The War of Art, author Steven Pressfield talked about what separates amateurs from professionals and how a professional became who they are.

I will write about what these aspects mean to me personally.

The professional is prepared

The pro strives to deliver a consistently excellent performance, day in and day out. He knows that if he is not prepared well, the Resistance will come at him from all different angles and tries to induce paralysis.

The professional does not show off

The pro’s work is unique with his own style, but he let others do the talking. His work will be so remarkable that other will choose to remark on it, so he does not have to.

The professional dedicates himself to mastering a technique

The pro knows there were many giants who came before him. Rarely someone will come up with an entirely revolutionary idea that is totally original, so he always considers himself a student of some grandmaster who came before. He also believes that mastery comes when he can refine his technique with a rich portfolio of skills.

In the book, The War of Art, author Steven Pressfield talked about what separates amateurs from professionals and how a professional became who they are.

I will write about what these aspects mean to me personally.

The professional acts in the face of fear

The pro recognizes the fear is always there – it is part of him and always will be. The effort spent on conquering fear is a waste. Rather, the pro learns to live with his fear and prevent it from turning into paralysis. [http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2014/04/how-do-i-get-rid-of-the-fear.html]

The professional accepts no excuses

The pro does not rationalize an excuse, or worse, believes in the rationalization. He knows the excuse is a lie he tells himself. If he accepted the excuse, the lie will perpetuate. He chooses to continue working rather than making up excuses.

The professional plays it as it lays

The pro understands the playing field is never leveled. So many things can happen to cause the field tilt one angle to another, day after day. The pro just learns to exceed his best with what was given.