One of the most important figures in the realms of today’s self-improvement market is Steven Pressfield.
Steven Pressfield is a best-selling author whose ideas are constantly “recycled” without giving proper “attribution”. He is probably the second most “ripped off” figure next to Tony Robbins.
His 2 most popular books are The War of Art
I will give these books their proper review in due time. Yes, the ideas within them have changed my life and will do the same for you. They’re easy reads too. They’re both a little bit over 100 pages. I read both of them while on an airplane.
One of the main ideas put forth in these 2 books is the idea of transcending from amateur to professional and how this process is contingent upon dedicating yourself to your craft.
My favorite section (in Turning Pro) is the section where lists 20 professional qualities under title “Qualities of the Professional”. These are what separate the professionals from the amateurs… the big dogs from the pups… You get the picture.
For some reason, lists do it for me.
Here is the list of Steven Pressfield’s 20 professional qualities:
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 is patient.
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 failure or success personally.
16. The professional does not identify with his or her instrument.
17. The professional endures adversity.
18. The professional self-validates.
19. The professional reinvents herself.
20. The professional is recognized by other professionals.
Here are some bonus professional qualities provided by Mr. Pressfield:
A professional is courageous.
The professional will not be distracted.
The professional is ruthless with himself.
The professional has compassion for herself.
The professional lives in the present.
The professional defers gratification.
The professional does not wait for inspiration.
The professional does not give his power away to others.
The professional helps others.
Hopefully, these professional qualities really make you think about how you can apply them to your own goals.
Let me know your thoughts or questions in the comment section.
4 Comments
Good shit Sonny. Still haven’t read Pressfield but I think the concept of turning pro is huge, especially for solopreneur type people like us.
Love this one: “the pro does not take failure or success personally.”
Too many people put way too much emphasis on the success of one of their projects, and are simultaneously likely to quit after a small failure.
Yea man. Definitely give those books a read bro.
Pressfield has a very easy to read style as some pages are simply single line sentences.
Well done. I have both books. They need to be read slowly and digested for the meaning to sink in. In fact some of the things the reader might not even get until they’ve hit a crisis.
Yup. A lot of good books are like that. That’s why it’s good to take notes/highlight in them.