Beyond Competency: The Art of Professionalism
Every decision is a direction. It shapes the trajectory of a project, venture, relationship, or company.
Being a professional transcends mere competency; it embodies a relentless commitment to high-quality results and meaningful conduct. It entails prioritizing seeing the big picture in perfect harmony with the smallest details. Principles and codes aim to reach the intended results and create an inspired atmosphere. All creative expressions have to be shared and communicated honestly.
Within this paradigm, a professional focuses on objectivity and effectiveness. There is a clear connection between what is intended and the spirit with which the goal is attained. Personal feelings, sentimentality, or superficial drama are intentionally left at the door — authenticity reigns supreme.
Every decision is a direction
Professionals understand that each action shapes the trajectory of a project, venture, relationship, or company. The presence of elevated criteria against which progress is measured, serves as a guiding light, ensuring the transcendence of public enemy #1: mediocrity. True professionalism is continually striving for an impeccable experience, irrespective of challenges.
The fundamental difference between a professional and an amateur is that the professional has made his profession, art, partnership, business, or craft, the center of his life. His “way of life” is his art and vice versa. Conversely, the amateur has a deep fear of being dominated by an activity, because he would immediately become “responsible and accountable” for what he produces. For example, under the banner of a ‘Sunday painter’, the amateur shields their inexperience with the charm of casual expression and leisurely creativity.”
Amateurs live in dilettantism and sentimentality, apologizing in advance and presto for their lack of talent or results in certain areas. While the professional lives in the practice of his skills and its obstacles. He wanders cautiously about passing moods unless they help him to create. The professional is engaged and intentional out of necessity, often facing hardship, while the amateur loves watching himself dabbling, frequently driven by an ego self-image and false modesty. Above all, the amateur is a narcissist.
Finally, the professional has developed a specific relationship with failure and rejection. He can suffer from it greatly. The amateur seeks approval because he resents failure (the only real path to eventual success for the professional). It is always the very last failure that finally leads to the success of the project or plan. Most mortals possess a very small number of failures and trials to utilize in their arsenal. For example, the Wright Brothers failed hundreds of times before they flew their first airplane and landed it!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I have learned one elementary truth: people are not their fears, their doubts, or the ridiculous stories running loops in their heads. People are geniuses waiting to explode onto the stage of their destiny. My job is to hand them the match.
I live by a single truth: my brain and body run my life, not my mind. My mind is a precious tool for research, stimulation, creative ideas, and communication with others—not my guide, my guru, my boss, or my friend. Energy inspires me, not thoughts. I wait to move and flow when my instincts kick in. The thinking is in the flow, just like a great wave is always part of the ocean.
I deal in transformation, without apologies. I see people in technicolor. The masterpiece is inside every being. Sometimes I provoke and challenge self-imposed limitations, but my true aim is to nurture, educate, and empower.
Outside of work? I keep my world simple. I cook like a mad scientist, travel to feed my senses, and I play piano. Humor—sharp and unrelenting—is my weapon against the dullness of small talk. I write daily and publish articles about topics that inspire me. I spend countless hours in conversation with my wife, deepening our understanding of life, each other, and the one thing that truly matters: awareness.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers. But I know this: the development of self—especially self-reliance—is the only education that matters, because every decision we make is in fact a direction. It determines the quality of our experiences and their outcome. If there’s a thread that runs through everything I do, it’s this: trust life and trust yourself—it will set you free.
Critical Skills to Empower Your Journey & Light up Your Soul
Since 1989, upon founding the Eric Stone Studio in Los Angeles, I have been coaching professional actors & voice artists, as well as business professionals.
Today, I am a Husband | Performance Coach | Visual Artist & Talent Developer As an Actor & Director, I Worked in New York & Hollywood from 1979 to 2015 | Broadway | Soaps | & Dubbing Artist in over 400 Films & Animated Series |
“All Great Outcomes in Life Come from a Paradigm Shift in Perspective.”