What does being professional mean to an amateur athlete?

Well, it may have a different meaning for you but I think of working hard as a series of key qualities that I call 1%ers (that are ironically worth a lot more than 1%). These qualities include showing an elite work ethic, 100% effort, a positive attitude, respectable body language, and above all being a nice person that is coachable as an athlete.

If you are an athlete that wants to take your athletic career to the next level then set yourself a high standard and don’t let yourself drop below that standard. Every time you set foot in the gym, come in, work hard and get better than before you entered the gym an hour ago. Don’t do it every second week or second training, but do it every day and breathe it.

Holding this high standard could be the difference between getting offered a spot and being taken off a list. From a coach's perspective, I will ALWAYS pick the kid that wants to work hard over someone that has more talent, is lazy, and does not express hard-working qualities. These hard-working qualities are funnily enough not that hard to demonstrate but can play a difference in your athletic career and life. Don’t just work hard when you're surrounded by other people, but do it when no one else is watching. That is what holding a standard means.

Also, carry yourself around with the same high standards as you put into your training. Make sure you look the part. How you dress, how you stand, how you communicate, and how you are perceived are all critical when you have an impression of someone.