I often hear over and over again "I'm not a professional" when it comes to their careers. Usually it's in the form of "I can't do that, I'm not a professional" when I hear it, and usually from a person forgetting that all professionals have to start somewhere.
I also hear people talk about being professional. It's usually how one acts professional, or dresses professional. Reams of books are written on how to repress your urges, dress like everyone else, and thus somehow "be professional."
I see "professional" everywhere. So what is all this "professional" about?
I think when it comes to "professional" people are often talking about different things.