David Maister

Professional is not a label you give yourself - it's a description you hope others will apply to you.

Believe passionately in what you do, and never knowingly compromise your standards and values. Act like a true professional, aiming for true excellence, and the money will follow.

A true professional feels no pressure to run up a client's bill, knowing that any reduction in revenues caused by being efficient will be more than recompensed by the reputation earned for being honest and trustworthy.

What you do with your billable time determines your current income, but what you do with your non-billable time determines your future.