luck – From the desk of Adam Thomas

I strive for professionalism

This isn’t an accident. Being a professional doesn’t come by luck or happenstance, it comes from deliberate action. Deliberate action is difficult, because it comes at a cost of comfort and space.

I love being around professionals. There are some great byproducts that come from it, like getting better results, having an impressive group of friends, or being well liked by powerful people through getting to know them. All of this is well and good, but they don’t make you one.

Here are a few things professionalism isn’t

Results-based – Just because I get to a million dollars* doesn’t mean I am successful. I made this first because results are the most visible. If I see a millionaire I, and the world I project, will most likely see him as professional. This is wrong. The key distinction here is that successful doesn’t mean professional, because luck plays a role in results, but not professionalism.

Friends-based – Powerful friends don’t make you a professional. I can’t call someone to improve my professionalism. Being around professionals helps, lets me see the model, but there is no such thing as professional osmosis. The key distinction here is that being seen around professionals or hanging around professionals doesn’t make me a professional.

Magic-based – You don’t just wake up one. There is no knighting ceremony or ritual. There is no time need. There is no pumpkin turning into a horse-drawn chariot. The key distinction here is that no one can make me a professional. No one casts “a spell” and creates “a professional.”

Don’t confuse the byproduct with the product

It is far more comfortable to leave it alone and just hang out with the byproducts, or stick around the same conferences, or buying things that will “transform” you. Becoming a professional is tough. It gets confusing. It is often a scary process, filled with dark nights and wondering if it’s worth it. If you do want it though, you should put your effort into the work.

Note: Tomorrow I will get into what professionalism is.

*Insert any resource here.

[bctt tweet=”Don’t get me wrong, I am happy that I made something.”]

I did it!

I recorded my first podcast last night. I don’t know it’s release date, but it is now in the hands of my producer.

But, I have to admit that I got lucky.

I started the podcast on a whim. Against some of the advice I write about I decided, randomly. What got me going was a physical reminder and random luck. Here Is what I mean.

I saw an email my producer sent me 2 weeks ago about doing this. (Random Luck)
I had a number of podcast parts laying on the floor. (Physical Reminder)

These two things happened within 5 minutes of each other at a time where I found myself with a lot of free time. That combined into me creating.

Don’t get me wrong, I am happy that I made something.

What makes me feel off is that I got lucky. Not good lucky, but amateur lucky.

The main difference between amateurs and professionals is purposeful action. Things don’t come down from on high, they get managed, measured, and adapted. Each of these things are important because they allow for growth.

Manage – The product is accurate and precise. I put my best foot forward. When something bad happens, I take a look and I don’t shy away from it, to properly manage I need to…
Measure – What are the numbers? Any time I talk to anyone, I ask for the numbers. If you don’t know the numbers, you don’t know the business. If you don’t know the business you can’t…
Adapt – Products work best when thought of as a living organism. Organisms evolve. As a shepherd of the product, whatever we ship, we have to adapt with that evolution, which allows us to manage.

It’s a cycle. That takes the luck to a higher level. But, the lovely thing about anything is that it can change. What started off as amateur changes to professional if you do the work.

So, I got lucky. Let’s make it good.

With all that said, the podcast will debut soon! I’m excited!