Professional is not a label you give yourself - it's a description you hope others will apply to you.
David MaisterRead
A true professional feels no pressure to run up a client's bill, knowing that any reduction in revenues caused by being efficient will be more than recompensed by the reputation earned for being honest and trustworthy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A true professional prioritizes honesty and efficiency over maximizing profits, valuing their reputation.
This quote emphasizes the importance of integrity in professional practice. It suggests that true professionals operate with a sense of ethics and accountability, understanding that their reputation as honest and trustworthy provides long-term benefits that outweigh short-term gains from inefficient practices. By prioritizing the client's best interests, they build lasting relationships that ultimately lead to greater success.
Themes
ProfessionalismIntegrityTrustEfficiencyReputation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a business seminar discussing ethics in the workplace.
More from David Maister
All quotes →Believe passionately in what you do, and never knowingly compromise your standards and values. Act like a true professional, aiming for true excellence, and the money will follow.
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What you do with your billable time determines your current income, but what you do with your non-billable time determines your future.
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