You Are A Sculptor
In a previous issue I wrote about Steven Pressfield's book Turning Pro, the sequel to the wildly popular, pretty much cult classic, The War of Art.
In Turning Pro, Pressfield talked about what it actually means to turn pro, sort of like a how-to turn pro with all the tools of the trade.
The War of Art and Turning Pro have had a profound effect on how I approach my work. Even though what Pressfield primarily writes about is in relation to writing, his messaging and mindset transcend writing. You can apply his principles to your career, personal goals, family goals, and of course your craft and passions.
This mindset serves well for anyone who is ambitious, or not, for that matter. As this could be the mindset shift for that person to realize their inner ambition.
You can relate Pressfield's mindset of "do the work" to Nike's "Just Do It". Just Do It is basically a rally cry for what Pressfield preaches.
In this issue, I’m sharing Steven Pressfield's “20 Qualities of the Professional", and how we all can apply them to our lives.
The professional shows up every day
The professional stays on the job all day
The professional is committed over the long haul
For the professional, the stakes are high and real
The professional is patient
The professional seeks order
The professional demystifies
The professional acts in the face of fear
The professional accepts no excuses
The professional plays it as it lays
The professional is prepared
The professional does not show off
The professional dedicates himself to mastering technique
The professional does not hesitate to ask for help
The professional does not take failure or success personally
The professional does not identify with his or her instrument
The professional endures adversity
The professional self-validates
The professional reinvents herself
The professional is recognized by other professionals
I first heard him speak these words when I was on a run and listening to the audiobook. I remember saying out loud "yes!" several times. Some of them are obvious, some are profound, and all of them are essential for anyone seeking to excel in their chosen field.
Pressfield's insights strike a chord because they challenge the romantic notion of success as a matter of luck or innate talent.
Instead, he emphasizes the unglamorous but necessary qualities of discipline, perseverance, and professionalism.
As I ran and listened to each point, I found myself reflecting on my own journey and the times when I embodied these qualities—or failed to do so.
The professional's commitment to showing up every day, staying on the job, and playing it as it lays is a powerful reminder that success is largely a matter of consistency and grit.
But what resonated with me the most were the qualities that spoke to the professional's mindset.
Accepting no excuses
not taking failure or success personally
self-validating
All of those qualities are about taking responsibility for one's own path and not letting external factors become a distraction or a crutch.
Pressfield's words also highlight the importance of humility and continuous growth.
The professional is not afraid to ask for help, they dedicate themselves to mastering technique, and constantly reinvent themselves.
These qualities underscore that even at the highest levels of achievement, there is always room for improvement and evolution.
Pressfield's 20 qualities of the professional are not just a checklist to tick off, but a compass to guide us in our own pursuits. They remind us that true success is not about reaching a destination, but about the person we become in the process—and that the path to mastery is paved with the unglamorous but essential qualities of the professional.
The pro commits fully, shows up consistently, faces fears head-on, and does the work.
As Pressfield says, "The professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not come."
“The professional concentrates on the work and allows rewards to come or not come.”
Here are choices you make when turning pro:
Carve out non-negotiable work time, saying no to other commitments.
Invest in your growth through courses, workshops, or mentorship.
Surround yourself with professionals who share your dedication.
Embrace failure as a necessary part of the journey, learning and growing.
Turning pro is about consistency, persistence, and showing up to do the work, even when it's hard.
It's like a stone sculptor chiseling away at a block of marble.
Turning pro is the daily practice of refining your craft, carefully removing the excess to reveal the masterpiece within.
With each deliberate stroke, the sculptor shapes the stone, just as the professional shapes their skills through consistent effort and dedication.
The sculptor understands that the process is not always easy, but they remain focused on their vision, knowing that each day's work brings them closer to creating something extraordinary.
Turning pro is about embracing this process, trusting that every challenge and setback is an opportunity to learn, grow, and ultimately, to achieve mastery in your chosen field.
It's not so much chipping and chiseling away to create something new, it's more about revealing what's been there the whole time.
RUN THE HILLS.
Chas
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