What It Really Means to Be a Pro: Lessons in Discipline from Kobe and Van Gogh

The hidden ingredient behind greatness isn’t talent—it’s the ability to show up when it’s hardest.

There’s something quietly heroic about showing up, especially when you don’t like it. Whether it's sitting in front of a blank page, going to the gym, or leading a team through a rough patch, we all know that moment when Resistance whispers, “You can skip today.” But what if that moment, the one where you feel least like showing up, is the most important test?

Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art, calls this force “Resistance.” It’s invisible but powerful. “It's not the writing part that's hard. What's hard is sitting down to write,” he says. That’s true not just for artists and writers, but for anyone who’s ever had a goal, a dream, or a responsibility they knew mattered. Resistance doesn’t show up when you’re coasting—it shows up when something important is on the line.

Take NBA legend Kobe Bryant. We all know him as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But there’s a story that reveals what made him different. In 2008, during the U.S. Olympic team's training in Las Vegas, Bryant organized a 4:30 a.m. bike ride and workout session. His trainer, Tim Grover, recounted how Bryant's relentless pursuit of excellence drove him to push beyond limits, often resuming training just hours after intense sessions.

That night, Kobe went on to score 20 points in the gold medal game, helping Team USA win. But Grover later said the most impressive part wasn’t the points or the win—it was the fact that one of the best players in the world was still obsessed with mastering the basics. Not for attention. Not for applause. Just because he wanted to be better than he was the day before.

That’s the heart of professionalism—not fame, not praise, but the quiet discipline of showing up, no matter what. As Pressfield writes, “We’re all pros already. We show up every day. We show up no matter what.” Professionals do the work even when they’re tired, uninspired, or afraid. Especially then.

Photo by Dean Bennett on Unsplash

And here’s what’s important: being a pro isn’t about a job title or a paycheck. It’s about attitude. It’s about showing up for your craft, your calling, your life—even when fear is loud and confidence is low. Pressfield reminds us, “The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome.” Fear, doubt, and Resistance never go away. But showing up, day after day, builds something stronger: self-mastery.

That’s where the real freedom lies. “The truly free individual is free only to the extent of his own self-mastery,” Pressfield writes. Kobe didn’t dominate the court just because he was talented—he became great because he mastered the small things, over and over, regardless of how he felt.

The same was true for Vincent van Gogh. During his lifetime, he sold only one painting: The Red Vineyard, purchased in 1890 by Belgian artist Anna Boch for 400 francs. Meanwhile, he created over 900 works of art, often painting with no heat, little food, and crushing mental health struggles. He was ridiculed, dismissed, and lived much of his life in poverty. Yet he kept painting. He once wrote to his brother Theo, “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” Van Gogh didn’t paint for fame—he painted because something inside him needed to come out.

Today, his work hangs in the most famous museums in the world. But the real victory wasn’t the fame he gained after death. It was the grit he showed in life—the way he kept showing up, even when no one saw his genius, even when it broke his heart. “The artist cannot look to others to validate his efforts or his calling,” Pressfield writes. Van Gogh’s story proves that the work matters—even when the world doesn’t clap.

Photo by Redd Francisco on Unsplash

So here’s the truth: if you’re working on something meaningful, Resistance will show up. That’s not a sign to stop—it’s proof that you’re on the right path. “The more resistance you experience,” Pressfield says, “the more important your unmanifested art/project/enterprise is to you—and the more gratification you will feel when you finally do it.”

Whether you're building a business, writing a book, teaching kids, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, you’re a pro every time you choose to show up. You don’t need to feel fearless or wait for the perfect moment. You just need to do the work. Again and again.

Call to Action:
This week, pick one thing that matters—and show up for it. Don’t wait until you feel ready. Don’t wait until it’s easy. Do it when it’s uncomfortable. Do it when it’s quiet. Do it when no one else is watching. That’s what it means to be a pro. And over time, the world may notice—but more importantly, you will know: you did the work, and that’s what changed everything.