"Who are you?" - You can answer with your name, career, passion, gender, ranks, etc. But, that doesn't define you.

I am Mike Forgie, a Professional Amateur agency owner, surfing, Muay Thai, photography…..who, at the time of writing this, is 39 years old, is trying to figure out who he is.

Now it is your turn, but, let's help you get started.

We’re putting you on a spectrum of professionalism to figure out:

whether you even qualify for a title or even happiness
where your place is within your tribe
the elements to lead you to happiness and fulfillment

I am a Professional Amateur

Call me a hobby hopper—I’ve dabbled in Muay Thai, sewing, motorcycle fixes (out of necessity), travel, marketing, design, sustainability, you name it.

When I want to define myself, I often say:

"Search Specialist" or "Local Marketing Specialist" in regards to my career

or

"Surfer, photographer, aspiring eco warrior" for my interest

But I never put the word "professional" in my titles.

Why?

Why avoid the word "professional"?

Is it because the term is assumed within my career?

Is it because I know my abilities as a surfer, photographer, etc, are hobbyist (we will unpack that word later too) at best?

Truth is, I’ve caught myself joking claiming, “Professional Jabberjaw”—I love to talk—but that’s as close as I get.

False Dichotomy

I've concluded that the word "professional" feels like a false split.

Cal Newport, in "So Good They Can’t Ignore You," ties the term to market value - as in cash for a skill.

He, like many, put a monetary value on being a professional.

Fair, but reductive.

I nearly lost photography’s spark seeking it as a paycheck gig—every shot would have to be a hit and it would increase distress (we'll unpack stressor necessity later - learn more about my views on stress here: https://www.mikeforgie.com/blog/stress-to-success).

A pro can skip the invoice and still know their worth.

Choose a retired athlete of your liking, but, for example, Kelly Slater could surf for free and no one would call him an amateur. He has won 11 world titles.

Pay is just ONE validation.

Let's explore the others…

Validation Beyond Monetary Compensation

You deserve “pro” status sans cash.

Here are 5 other ways to validate yourself and status:

Skill Value (Expertise)

Mastery and consistency—delivering top-tier work, paid or not.
Professionals stand out for what they can do, not just what they charge. A free clinic from an acclaimed photographer still has extreme value.

Impact Value (Influence)

Shaping others—peers, students, fields—through your work.
Professionals often carry a legacy—pay is optional when your influence ripples. "Heroes are never forgotten, but legends never die."

Recognition Value (Reputation)

Peer or public acknowledgment—titles, awards, respect.
Professionals get “pro” status from others seeing their worth—their tribes naturally form because of their esteemed quality.

Personal Value (Fulfillment)

Joy, purpose, or identity tied to the craft.
Professionals often internalize their craft’s value—Professional Actualization’s core, paid or not.

Cultural/Social Value (Contribution)

Adding to a community or art form—shifting norms, sharing freely.
Professionals are not just takers. They give and expand their field to benefit others.

Full-Filling a Half-Lived Life

Half-lived is no way to exist.

Life and work unfulfilled. I too was stuck here.

I didn't know my worth. I couldn't focus my efforts.

To fill that gap, you need a map.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs does it for happiness: five levels from survival to self-actualization, each building on the last—miss one, and the rest are an imbalance.

Professional Actualization’s Hierarchy mirrors Maslow's—a five-step spectrum to make life and work whole, hobbyist or pro.

Initial Engagement:
Exposure is a necessity. Awareness breathes life into the skill in you.
Consistent Practice:
Your skills sprout because of regular practice. A steady base is formed. This is similar to safety and security. You need this for your own good, not validation from others. You are finding a rhythm that steadies the chaos.
Skillful Dedication:
You are practicing with higher intent and focus. You own your skill level. You may assign yourself a label (I am a "photographer"), half-lived insecurities lift, and a tribe kicks in as skills attract others.
Recognized Mastery:
Esteem is two-sided. It is internal worth and external validation. You will notice respect stack from others, and be aware of the type of stress you are willing to endure.
Professional Actualization:
Your reality is clear. Are you a hobbyist? Is this your career? Where are you achieving the validations you want for "professionalism"

Wherever you land in that hierarchy, you’ll itch to label yourself—I hinted at it with Skillful Dedication.

I sidestep often. For example, I call myself “someone who loves to take photos” rather than a “photographer.”

My tribe is significantly better than I am, which sometimes causes me to downplay my skills and relabel for my self-esteem.

How do we sort these labels—Hobbyist, Professional, or, my favorite, Professional Amateur—and find the esteem and actualization to push past half-lived?

Labels To Ignite Growth

This is your dedication section. How far are you willing to go?

We do not go by traditional labels of beginner, intermediate, advanced.

When I ask my surfing friends where on that spectrum they are, they will always say intermediate, but with caveats that need explanation.

Their egos won't let them be a beginner or professional.

Rather than letting the ego get in the way, you should define yourself by how you live and react to three important elements: feedback, stress, and intent.

The spectrum of those three elements will then define if you are a hobbyist, professional amateur, or pro.

Hobbyist

You are at levels 2 and 3 of the Professional Actualization Hierarchy. Consistent Practice or Skillful Dedication puts you past the Initial Exposure that almost everyone experiences.

Here, feedback is casual. It is from friends, relatives, social circles, likes on social media. Nothing that is going to cause distress.

Rather stress stays eustress. You are putting yourself in comfortably uncomfortable situations. If you miss your mark, your paycheck doesn't disappear. Your core Maslow's needs are still met. Eustress is allowing you to choose your growth.

You are accepting half-lived. I know I said that is no way to live, but you are actualizing it and understanding what it truly means now.

Your intent is not letting this element of your life ruin your day, your income, your relationships. What you like to do is more important and can change whenever.

Professional

We are skipping ahead because a hobbyist needs to know what the other end of the spectrum looks like.

Pros are on level 4 and 5—Recognized Mastery and Professional Actualization.

Feedback is imperative. Your tribe is of peers who you respect in the specific field. They will judge you, and you should be seeking it. Good or bad, you need to always accept it and build from it.

Stress is distress. You are judging your internal worth and being judged by external validation. This is where monetary is usually the easiest variable. If you don't deliver, you do not get paid and you cannot satisfy your basic needs.

BUT, remember, we have several types of validation.

You are aiming to leave a mark on the world you have dedicated your life to.

This is a professional’s dilemma. Intent is proof of worth. You will always be validating yourself whether you like it or not.

Professional Amateur

This is my level when it comes to most of my hobby hopping. I will not kill myself to live. For example, photography, surfing, and Muay Thai are all on this spectrum for me.

My life balances in levels 4 and 5 of Skillful Dedication nudging Recognized Mastery.

I seek feedback. I enjoy hearing where I can improve, but my emotional response isn't volatile. Praise is appreciated, critique is accepted and analyzed.

My peers are those I respect, but not those who will give me awards or acclaim. They understand my passions, but do not hold court to judge me on them.

Sidenote: Even if not from peers, I have software that judges my efforts. That software helps me grasp how I am performing. It validates my efforts.

Eustress and distress are blended. I willingly put myself in situations that cause distress knowing if I miss, I land at a higher level than I was before, I learn from my mistakes, and I can improve. Contrary, if a professional misses their mark, they may lose livelihood or respect in an acclaimed tribe.

Let's say, if I have a shit surf session, Kelly Slater's respect for me is not effected. If I miss a photo, I haven't ruined the bride and groom's day. If I mess up a combo, I don't lose a fight, my purse, and rank.

Eustress is a gift I give myself. Distress is put on me.

My intent is growth and enjoyment. I do not need to be in the eye of the elite.

Your Place On the Hierarchy + Your Label = Your Happiness

Earlier I stated the following…

"We’re putting you on a spectrum of professionalism to figure out:

whether you even qualify for a title or even happiness
where your place is within your tribe
the elements to lead you to happiness and fulfillment"

Your happiness is determined by the type of stress you accept and adapt to, the feedback you are seeking, and the intent at which you deliver your efforts.

If you will only be happy with monetary validation, you must do what it takes to achieve that.

The same with awards and acclaim. Recognition from your friend who is better than you will come and go. But official recognition by those who deem themselves professionals, will increase your distress and overcoming that may be your only path to happiness.

Where are you on the hierarchy? What validation do you need?

Addendum: Why not an Amateur Professional?

This is another article. But here is a tease:

Professional Amateur

Someone who is technically an amateur who approaches their craft with the discipline, skill, and dedication of a professional.
Example: A highly skilled self-taught photographer who takes pictures as a hobby but maintains a portfolio and invests in professional-grade equipment.

Amateur Professional

Someone who is technically a professional (receives payment or holds a title) but still operates at an amateur level in terms of skill, discipline, or attitude.
Example: A person with a job title as a "chef" in a restaurant but lacks formal training or professional-level skills, leading to inconsistent quality in their work.

Without Professional Actualization, Life and Work Are Half-Lived