professionalism demands consistency
The primary difference between an amateur and a professional is consistency and the sincerity behind the work. If you’re a professional, you need to stick to the code. You need to be disciplined, follow the protocol and be consistent with your actions. You can’t take your work or your actions lightly.
Professionalism does not mean doing the minimum required work and waiting for the paycheck to arrive, it’ll make you rich in the short-term but deprive you of your true wealth in the long term. Professionalism means putting the work and going above and beyond, again and again. It means getting back at it with vigor, vitality and strength the next day even if you were down and exhausted the previous night. Professionalism has no room for excuses. We need to do what we need to do, period, no ifs and no buts.
No matter what we’re going through in our life, if we let go of consistency with regard to our work and our actions, then we’re not being a professional. Professionalism demands us to ignite the fire of passion within us, and it may involve making some sacrifices; there’s no way around it.
A true professional needs to control their emotions, overcome the obstacles that they are facing and deliver the work when it is due. Professionalism is not easy; it requires a high level of compartmentalization and delivering excellence no matter what.