The Increasing Fragility of Professionals

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If you look up professional in the main dictionaries they usually define it in relation to skills, training, and organisations. Interestingly, none of the ones I looked up defined it in terms of earning money. In today's economy, I suggest the pursuit of money is one of the defining qualities of a modern professional.

By comparison, amateurs do it for the love of it. It is the root of the term. "amatore". Latin for "Lover"

In between though is the Artisan. People who do it for love, and earn money from it. The main difference perhaps is that for the professional, money is the anchor of the relationship and time is money. Charge by the hour (or for lawyers and accountants, in six minute increments). Artisans create something they are proud of, and then hope to sell it. The ultimate payment by results, with the result being determined by the engagement of the customer. Joy and appreciation as much as functionality.

There is another difference. Professiona…