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Writer's picturestan@myredstring.org

It's Time We Rethink What It Means to be a Professional

Recently, I had the opportunity to rewatch the 2009 documentary film about Michael Jackson's preparation for his sold-out concert, This is It, that was set to open in July at London’s O2 Arena. Set in the weeks before Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, the documentary gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse as Jackson developed, created and rehearsed for the show. What recaptured my attention was Jackson's incredible drive for perfection. It was something that my late brother, Jeff, and I discussed at length after we first saw the movie many years ago.


No matter what you may think of Jackson's music, personal life or his inner demons, when it comes to his art, no one can deny Jackson's incredible artistic talents and genius. At the time of filming, Jackson hadn't toured in over 10 years, yet it becomes instantly apparent that his penchant for perfecting his art remained. The film also got me to go back and watch a couple of Jackson's live performances: The Dangerous Tour in 1992, and The HIStory Tour in 1997, his last live solo concert tour. Comparing the two performances, although both were great, at his 1997 concert, Jackson's dance moves were crisper, smoother and onstage presence more commanding. Jackson was the epitome of the consummate professional both in his work and his art.


Which brought me to ask myself, "what is a professional?"


So, I decided to ask the oracle of all things, ChatGPT, and while its response provided some laudable attributes, they basically could apply to all workers, not just professionals:


A professional is someone who is skilled and trained in a specific field or occupation. They often adhere to certain standards of practice and ethics and may hold certifications or licenses relevant to their profession. Professionals typically engage in work that requires specialized knowledge and expertise, and they often commit to ongoing education and development to stay current in their field.


As the "oracle's" answer left me less than satisfied, I decided to do a little more digging into the question. Unsurprisingly, what I found was that there were as many interpretations to what a professional was as there are people. Some believed that professionals have natural born talent in their field of interest or earn money by performing a specialized task or activity; others believed that it is attained through training and certifications or advanced education and degrees; and yet others felt that it required a level of recognition among their peers.


The real problem, in my humble opinion, is that the term professional, and for that matter, profession and professionalism, has often been used to compartmentalize and marginalize far too many people for far too many years.


I believe that being a professional has nothing to do with income. It has nothing to do with education, degrees, status, title or role. Nor anything to do with peer recognition. Rather, being a professional has everything to do with what you can do and how you do it. It has everything to do with being able to do your job as perfectly, cleanly, kindly, and fairly as possible while standing behind the work no matter what. It has everything to do with not being afraid to fail, accepting responsibility and accountability for your decisions and actions, and continuously learning to perfect your craft. Ultimately, it is all about being proud to put your name on the finished product while graciously delivering it.


No matter who you are or what you do - a surgeon or a hospital volunteer, a professor or a teaching assistant, a CEO or a janitor - you can choose to be a professional or not. You can choose excellence, civility, and compassion or not. You can take the time to listen and learn or not. You can wake up every day seeking to do better than the day before or not.


Each day is a choice to be a professional. Each shift is a choice to be better than the last. Each hour is a choice to delight your customers. Each minute is a choice to be the best you can be.


So, what is a professional? It can be you, if you so choose.

(to be continued)


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