“The amateur waits for inspiration, the professional shows up and gets to work.” ~ Steve Chandler, author, coach
What does it really mean to show up like a professional, not just in your career but in every area of your life? This week, during class, I asked my sophomore ballet students a simple but revealing question:
“How are you showing up like professionals, and where are you still showing up like amateurs?”
Their answers were honest. They named things like preparing their bodies before class, taking correction without defensiveness, and managing their time with intention. They also identified the “amateur moments,” walking into rehearsal at the last minute, forgetting costume fittings, losing track of time, or not showing up at all.
This conversation illuminated something powerful: being a professional is not about perfection; it is about commitment…to yourself.
A professional shows up consistently, prepared, and aligned with their goals. They take responsibility, stay curious, remain coachable, and keep moving even when motivation dips. A professional mindset says, “This matters to me, and I am here for it.”
An amateur, on the other hand, tends to rely on mood, circumstance, or convenience. They wait for the perfect moment, get derailed by discomfort, forget to plan, manage time loosely, or blame others for their choices.
Here was my response back to the students: we are all a mixture of both. In the areas where we show up as amateurs, we are simply works in progress, growing toward something better for ourselves. The goal is not to judge our amateur side, but to notice it, learn from it, and strengthen the “pro” muscle by recognizing what needs to shift and choosing better the next time.
Stretching alongside you,
Amy
