I like words because they are so much more than a combination of individual letters. They contain meaning, they resonate, they influence.
I like the word “Professional.” I like it because it connotes accomplishment. I like it because it connotes achievement, which, when realized, earns a measure of respect built through a lifetime (regardless of the time frame) of consistent dedication and effort. One has to define a goal they want to achieve and work toward it to become a professional. One is not born a professional. One does not simply inherit the title of professional. Instead, and this is a very important distinction, one has to do the work to become a professional.
I find it interesting that there are a number of different paths on the road to becoming a professional. In one path, the designation is bestowed upon an individual after they have passed a test (or series of tests) prescribed and administered by an accredited licensing organization. For example, this occurs when one becomes a licensed professional to practice as a doctor, accountant, lawyer, financial planner, or therapist.
“Clients want to know whether they can trust your judgment, accountability, ethics and independence, because that is what technology cannot provide.”
In another, the distinction is financial. Until very recently, athletes were considered amateur until they joined a professional league. They did not get paid to play a sport in college (until the concept of Name, Image and Likeness was formally recognized and accepted). These athletes certainly “practiced,” but that term was used in a very different sense. It is only when they joined a professional sports team that they become “professional” athletes.
I write about this in particular as to how it relates to the legal industry and the 1.3 million licensed professional lawyers in the U.S. The path to becoming a professional in the legal industry starts with law school; after three years of study, graduates must pass a test administered by the appropriate bar association. It is a significant achievement that very few attain. In 2025, only 31,743 people (according to the American Bar Association) graduated from law school. So begins the journey to becoming a professional. It is but the first step to become a fully formed professional, which is the goal, the level of accomplishment and recognition, that one should aspire to.
Professional is a word that originated from the Latin word “profiteri,” meaning “to declare openly or profess.” In the 15th century, it was initially used when taking religious vows, and by the 18th century had evolved into a totally different direction to describe specialized occupations with specific training requirements. Now, the term is widely used and implies that members of a particular profession must have the requisite knowledge and skills required to perform within that profession. Most professions now have codes of conduct that members are expected to, and in fact required to, follow.
Perhaps little known is that the concept of a professional was initially traced to guilds in medieval Europe. While guilds largely disappeared, the concept of being a professional became an accepted term and practice in many parts of society. There is a journey to be undertaken, during which growing, facing and overcoming challenges, and notching meaningful achievements are critical to becoming what I believe is the ultimate goal: to be a Fully Formed Professional™.
I have thought about whether the term has the relevance that it used to. The answer is yes, but in a different way than in the past. Today, clients care less about the term but more — much more — about the outcome and the individual they work with. It is the level of your underlying substance that matters. Clients want to know whether they can trust your judgment, accountability, ethics and independence, because that is what technology cannot provide.