Why You Should Become A Professional

The word “professional”, usually shortened as pro, is not an alien word in the world today. It, arguably, is one of the most common and most misused words in our everyday Life.
You often hear sentences like “that guy is very good, he’s a professional”, “that doctor is a pro, he’s really sound”.

A person who is regarded to be a professional is one who has acquired, accumulated and displayed a sound knowledge, experience and expertise in the discharge of a particular field of work. He is a person with whom a high level of trust and standard is placed upon.

A professional is not perfect, neither is he omniscient – he makes mistakes (though very seldom). However, he constantly applies due diligence and avoid negligence and this makes it possible for him to continuously churn out brilliant expertise in the performance of his work.
In our world today, we have professionals in various fields and careers – engineers, lawyers, artists, sportsmen, accountants, builders, designers, managers and so on.

Why should you strive to become a professional?


- Success: A professional engineer is more likely to be successful than a non-professional one. He will be comfortably entrusted with large contracts and large sum.

Being a professional makes you a problem solver, and it means you have mastered the art of problem-solving, which gives you a high chance of being successful because as long as there is a problem you will always be in demand.
Jim Ovia is a highly successful professional banker who created and pioneered one of the biggest successes out of Africa (Zenith Bank). Being a professional gives you an edge and makes you successful.

- Recognition: A professional will always be head and shoulder above others. He will always stand out from the crowd. Being a professional grant you recognition and accolade among your peers.

A professional's expertise will go places far beyond where he could imagine. Cristiano Ronaldo is a name that is recognized in almost every part of the world because of his professionalism.
Dr. Ngozi Iweala is a reputable and well-travelled Nigerian recognized globally for her professionalism, knowledge and experience.

- Leadership: Being a professional automatically makes you a leader. People will be willing to listen to you and follow your lead. You will have authority and influence in your field and even other fields. People will be ready to consider and heed your voice and opinions because they believe you possess the expertise and acumen to lead and coach them.

Dr. Joe Abah is professional and sound political analyst and international relations expert. However, his influence goes far and beyond just that. He influences and leads many Nigerian youths who seek his opinion on almost all aspects of life.

- Liberation: Being a professional liberates you from the numerous hardship and hazards associated with ignorance and inadequate knowledge

Professionalism gives you a platform to achieve greater things and take advantage of opportunities. It draws people’s attention to your craft and makes you the one people seek and not the seeker.
Ben Carson, the world-renowned surgeon, got liberated from the clutches of abuse and uncertainty to become one of the world leading surgeons because of his professionalism.

The importance of being a professional cannot be exhausted. It is simply a prerequisite to achieve and fulfill one’s dream and career. The biggest names in every field and career got there as a result of knowledge, innovation and most importantly professionalism.
Professionalism involves perseverance, dedication, integrity and continuous development.

The question now is – how can you become a professional, what are the things to do to become a pro in your field?

Watch out for my next article to get the answers to these questions.