The term ‘professional’ is often used to describe people who are engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime, and ‘professionalism’ as the competence or skill expected of a professional. In these contexts, it matters what someone does and how rather than who and what they are. For example, many of the people who compete in the World Series of Poker are often referred to as professional Poker players, not unlike the winners of this past week’s World Cup being called professional soccer players. Not that you have to be a player – people who work in all walks of life (like chefs, waitresses, Uber drivers and so many others) can also be referred to as professionals: again, it’s more about how they act than what they do and less what you say about yourself than how others describe you. Set your sights on being so good at what you do that people will refer to you in these kinds of terms. Let your good work define who and what you are today.
David Maister (b. 1947): American writer, former Harvard professor, and expert on business management practices and the management of professional service firms
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