One of the ideas I admire from Seth Godin is the idea that a professional don’t need to be authentic. A professional needs to show up, whether she feels like it or not.
That’s what they are paid for.
When you commit to whatever you’re working on, it’s important to think like the plumber does, according to Godin.
The plumber does not deliberate about whether they will fix your faucet based on how they feel that day. They show up, take care of business, and go home feeling proud of their day’s work.
Creative work can feel different. Putting out content or creating client work can feel like you’re putting some of yourself out there to be judged.
It feels personal.
And yet, that’s exactly what the creative professional must do. We must put our “boots” on and do the work, even if the work is not our best that day.
Just because our work makes us feel uncomfortable, doesn’t mean we’re excused from doing it.
Otherwise, we’re not really professionals.