In his book Turning Pro, author Steven Pressfield highlights how each of us are born into the amateur life. We pursue pleasure and short-term gratification. We busy ourselves with distractions. We travel around in circles, making excuses and ignoring the difficult questions. It may seem like we're getting somewhere, but in reality we fail to make any worthy progress toward shipping our best work.
But there's an alternative. The life of the professional.
And unlike the amateur life we're born into, the professional life is a choice we get to make. It's the adoption of a new mindset. The application of a new set of habits.
Similar to making the wheels of the bike turn as we push up the hill, turning pro is an active process. It requires a consistent push.
To turn pro is to finally embrace the difficult and important work we've been so afraid to face all these years.
Deeper relationships. Meaningful conversations. Art that reflects our true voice.
Choosing to turn pro is the most important decision we will each make in our lifetime.
Let's not let it pass by.