Amateur vs Pro

From https://fs.blog/amateurs-professionals/

Turning Pro: The Difference Between Amateurs and Professionals Why is it that some people seem to be hugely successful and do so much, while the vast majority of us struggle to tread water?

There is one thing that stands out more than others: mindset.

If you want results, you need to approach things like a professional, not an amateur. It all comes down to your approach.

What’s the difference? Actually, there are many differences:

• Amateurs have a goal. Professionals have a system.
• Amateurs focus on dividing the pie. Professionals focus on growing the pie.
• Amateurs stop when they achieve something. Professionals understand that the initial achievement is just a launchpad for the next step.
• Amateurs are reactive. Professionals are proactive.
• Amateurs want to win the moment. Professionals want to win the decade.
• Amateurs wait for someone to recognize their positional, tap them on the shoulder, and give them a big opportunity. Professionals go show people what they are capable of with no expectations.
• Amateurs are kinda-in. Professionals are all-in.
• Amateurs focus on the outcome. Professionals focus on the process.
• Amateurs think they are good at everything. Professionals understand their circle of competence.
• Amateurs see feedback and coaching as someone criticizing who they are. Professionals know they have blind spots and seek out thoughtful criticism.
• Amateurs value doing it once. Professionals value doing it consistently.
• Amateurs rely on willpower. Professionals focus on creating an environment that turns desired behaviors into default behaviors.
• Amateurs wait until they feel like it. Professionals do it when they don’t feel like it.
• Amateurs show up to practice to have fun. Professionals realize that what happens in practice happens in games.
• Amateurs focus on identifying their weaknesses and improving them. Professionals focus on their strengths and partnering with people who are strong where they are weak.
• Amateurs predict. Professionals position.
• Amateurs think knowledge is power. Professionals pass on wisdom and advice.

Amateurs focus on being right. Professionals focus on getting the best outcome.

• Amateurs worry about what they see. Professionals worry about what they can’t see.
• Amateurs focus on first-level thinking. Professionals focus on second-order thinking.
• Amateurs focus on the short-term. Professionals focus on the long-term.
• Amateurs focus on tearing other people down. Professionals focus on making everyone better.

Amateurs make decisions in committees so there is no one person responsible if things go wrong. Professionals make decisions as individuals and accept responsibility.

• Amateurs believe that the world should work the way they want it to. Professionals realize that they have to work with the world as they find it.
• Amateurs blame others. Professionals accept responsibility.
• Amateurs are intermittent. Professionals are consistent.
• Amateurs hold on to the anchors that hold them back. Professionals let go.

Amateurs want to get even. Professionals want to get better.

• Amateurs focus on speed. Professionals focus on velocity.
• Amateurs think reality is what they want to see. Professionals know reality is what’s true.

There are a host of other differences, but they boil down to mindset.

Becoming a pro is painful. You are not alone. It’s easier to do with a group. Our member community is a small group of people committed to getting better.

Food for Thought In what circumstances do you find yourself behaving like an amateur instead of as a professional? What’s holding you back? Are you hanging around people who are amateurs when you should be hanging around professionals?