There's no reason to not operate at a high level.

I'm talking about the highest level that you could possibly operate at. And if you think about it, most people are not working at the highest level.

If you look at businesses and how they do things, there will be an optimum professional way to do it. And then there's being average, which is where most people are probably operating.

For example, if you're sending an email, are you sending the email in the most professional way that you possibly can?

Are you conversing with somebody in the highest professional way that you possibly can?

Or if you're given a task to do, are you doing it in the highest professional way that you can?

That's how I think about everything. If people thought with that: okay, how can I be the epitome of professional?

And professional doesn't necessarily mean you're suited up, and... "I'm professional because I'm wearing a suit."

It doesn't mean that; it means that you're so competent to the point that it resonates and permeates the environment because you're operating at such a high level with the thought process, everything has to be done perfectly and if it's not, then it's not professional.

It's massive attention to detail; it's not about the way that you're dressed.

But when it comes to professionalism, people think, "Oh, you need to show up to a meeting suited up and have to wear the cufflinks with the Ferragamos."

That's like putting a bow on a car. It looks nice and presentable. Sure, that's part of being professional, but it's not the whole reason.

It's about having a high level of competency and striving for that every day. To the point where you're not saying, "It was the best that I could do." or "We did a project, and it turned out okay." As opposed to producing at the highest level.

I demand perfection and high levels of professionalism of myself, and because I demand it of myself, I can demand that of other people.

Only when you don't demand it of yourself do you start feeling guilty about ordering it from others. So don't want to be an amateur at things, and expect others to operate at a high level.

It’s not about being liked. It’s about people thinking of you as someone who is competent and operates at the highest levels.

Don’t care if they think:

“Wow, you know what? Maybe I don't like them, but I do know that they're super competent, and they do everything at the highest level."

That implies attention to detail and being on time (that's a big one for me).

But most importantly, always do what you say you are going to do, and do it at the highest levels possible.