We’re all pros already. 1) We show up every day 2) We show up no matter what 3) We stay on the job all day 4) We are committed over the long haul 5) The stakes for us are high and real 6) We accept remuneration for our labor 7) We do not overidentify with our jobs 8 ) We master the technique of our jobs 9) We have a sense of humor about our jobs 10) We receive praise or blame in the real world
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the dedication and professionalism required in our work lives.
Steven Pressfield outlines the traits that define true professionals, highlighting their unwavering commitment to their work, the high stakes involved, and the balance between seriousness and humor. He suggests that professionalism is not just about technical skills but also about resilience, adaptability, and a healthy perspective on one's job.
In practice
In a motivational speech to inspire a team during a challenging project.
Late at night have you experienced a vision of the person you might become, the work you could accomplish, the realized being you were meant to be? Are you a writer who doesn't write, a painter who doesn't paint, an entrepreneur who never starts a venture? Then you know what Resistance is.
It is one thing to study war and another to live the warrior's life.
The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome. He knows there is no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist.
When we sit down day after day and keep grinding, something mysterious starts to happen... Unseen forces enlist in our cause; serendipity reinforces our purpose.
You know, Hitler wanted to be an artist. At eighteen he took his inheritance, seven hundred kronen, and moved to Vienna to live and study... Ever see one of his paintings? Neither have I. Resistance beat him. Call it overstatement but I'll say it anyway: it was easier for Hitler to start World War II than it was for him to face a blank square of canvas.
It’s better to be in the arena, getting stomped by the bull, than to be up in the stands or out in the parking lot.
Hard work is a prison sentence only if it does not have meaning.
Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.
Go for the moon. If you don't get it, you'll still be heading for a star. Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of the creative effort.
The day when I start a race without intending to win it, I won't be able to look at myself in the mirror.
When we set goals we are in command. If we know where we are going, we can judge more accurately where we are now and make effective plans to reach our destination.
Keep your thinking right and your business will be right.
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