Written by: March 31, 2024
6 habits to go from amateur to professional (in any field):
Principle-First
The difference between an amateur and a professional?
It has nothing to do with your title or how much money you make.
It has everything to do with your habits and mindset.
(I first learned about that distinction in Steven Pressfield's book, Turning Pro.)
Whether you're an artist, an entrepreneur, or a dreamer perched on the edge of making your mark…
The transition to professionalism is your gateway to not just dreaming bigger but achieving bigger.
Today, I’ll unpack 6 habits that will accelerate your journey from novice to pro.
SUPERHUMAN SCORING
In every edition of System Sunday, I assess the featured system across three superhuman dimensions: impact, setup, and maintenance.
Unlike your typical review, I focus on factors that influence personal growth. Get to know the evaluation system.
Impact (9.5/10)
My personal theme for 2024 is “Going Professional.”
Earlier this year, I identified 6 areas where I needed to upgrade amateurish habits into professional ones.
These efforts would help me close the gap between my current state and my writing potential.
Without further ado, the 6 pro habits…
Setup (7.5/10)
1. Time-block your calendar
A professional shows up even when they don’t feel like it. They do the boring but necessary work.
Instead of using a to-do list, schedule everything in your calendar (deep work, practice, client follow-ups, etc.)
Show me someone who time blocks their calendar, and in a few years, I’ll show you an ‘overnight' celebrity.
2. Delegate activities outside your zone of genius
To be a maximalist in an area of your life, it’s helpful to be a minimalist in others. (Source: Peak Performance)
Professionals are masters at delegating things outside their zone of genius.
Examples of activities to outsource:
- Admin work
- Home cleaning
- Personal chef or food delivery
You’ll free up time to work on your craft, allowing you to perform at your highest level.
(I recently made my first full-time hire, which I’m super excited about!)
3. Treat yourself like a mental athlete
Know this: If you make money with your mind, you’re a mental athlete.
Get an edge by optimizing for brain power: Stay hydrated, take long walks, eat nutritious foods, and have a strong rest ethic.
All of these micro-improvements compound to big gains in clear thinking.
4. Measure your progress
Tracking is crucial to know if you’re moving towards your goals.
Things I regularly track:
- Strength training (lifts, weights, reps)
- Walking steps
- Daily writing time
- Newsletter subscriber growth
- Financial metrics related to the business (like revenue and expenses)
Measuring might seem tedious. But in the words of Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer: “You can't be normal and expect abnormal returns.”
5. Build a ‘Personal Board of Directors’
Behind every great professional is a series of great coaches or mentors.
A Personal Board of Directors is an informal group of people in your life who guide you in career and personal growth.
These can be advisors you speak with directly or experts you learn from indirectly/virtually (like by reading their work).
Ideally, they’re people who’ve already accomplished what you’d like to achieve.
Here are some examples of mine:
- Mindset and Performance: Todd Herman
- Personal Finance: Ramit Sethi
- Business: Eric Partaker
- Fitness: Michael Matthews
- Relationships: Esther Perel
- Philosophy: Naval Ravikant
Take a moment to consider who you’d like on your Personal Board of Directors.
6. Play with Grit
The best hitter in baseball history is Ty Cobb. (His batting average was .366.)
In other words, he failed to get a hit 63.4% of the time.
The biggest difference between minor and major league players?
Most people think it’s skill. But it’s actually mental toughness.
Professionals can fail in their prior 7 at-bats, yet step up to the plate as if it were their first.
They trust in their preparation and meet the moment with conviction.
Maintenance (8.0/10)
I think about this quote often:
“There are professional habits and amateur ones. Which are you practicing? Is this a pro or an amateur move? Ask yourself that. Constantly.”
—Ryan Holiday
Going pro is not a single moment of triumph but something we must earn every day.
BRINGING IT HOME
What would you like to ‘go pro’ in? And what small steps will you take today to bring you closer?
All systems go,
P.S. I was featured in Forbes on Monday 🎉. Thank you so much to everyone who wrote the kindest comments on this LinkedIn post.
In the interview, I unpack my TEMPO Method to work smarter, not harder.
Read the full article (and learn more about my story).
2 MORE WAYS I CAN HELP YOU
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