The Amateur
Amateurs work purely out of passion. They do things because they feel like it. When they don’t feel like it, they don’t do it.
Amateurs don’t get paid for doing their work. That is because customers pay for timely goods, services, and information. Customers will not buy something from an Amateur with no timetable for delivery. They will not put down money so they can receive goods whenever the Amateur feels like it.
The Professional
On the other extreme are Professionals. They work, but only if they get paid to do it. Customers love Professionals. They pay, and they receive what they paid for. That is the agreement.
But if customers don’t pay, the Professional doesn’t work. There is no passion. It’s all for the money.
The Amateur Professional
In between, the lines get blurry. Amateur Professionals are not very professional at all. They look and act like Professionals, but are not very good at it. They go to a job, perform the work, get paid, and don’t get any richer.
Amateur Professionals work hard, but the harder they work the harder it seems to make ends meet. They daydream about someday doing what they love. They have passion within, but trading time for money to make a living holds them back.
The Professional Amateur
I think most people want to be Professional Amateurs. They do what they love, and they get paid for it.
The key to being a Professional Amateur is mindset. You do what you love every day, even when you don’t feel like it. Customers give you money for your goods, services, and information. You get to work and deliver it.
You do a great job because you enjoy doing it. Customers give you more money because you did a great job. And the cycle continues.