Steven Pressfield’s 20 qualities of the professional

Steven Pressfield is an accomplished author of both fiction and non-fiction works, who divides his life into the time when he approached his craft as an amateur and when he became a professional. He writes about this journey in Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work – an excellent read for any artist or athlete.

In that book (worth reading) is a list of the qualities of a professional. It’s so good, it’s provided for you below:

1. The professional shows up every day.
2. The professional stays on the job all day.
3. The professional is committed over the long haul.
4. For the professional, the stakes are high and real.
5. The professional seeks patience.
6. The professional seeks order.
7. The professional demystifies.
8. The professional acts in the face of fear.
9. The professional accepts no excuses.
10. The professional plays it as it lays.
11. The professional is prepared.
12. The professional does not show off.
13. The professional dedicates himself to mastering technique.
14. The professional does not hesitate to ask for help.
15. The professional does not take success or failure personally.
16. The professional does not identify with his instrument.
17. The professional endures adversity.
18. The professional self-validates.
19. The professional reinvents herself.
20. The professional is recognized by other professionals.