Or what does it mean to be professional?

My grandmother used to want me to behave, dress, and act a certain way. She had a point, but it was influenced by her background and the community that she lived in.

In my time and the community that I live in, and as a business owner, if I acted how she wanted me to act it would attract a certain type of customer, but I don’t think that is a customer that I want to attract.

It is easy when striving to be professional to develop a kind of sterile presentation and lose sight of a genuine personality. There is a balance to being genuinely who we are while also caring for those we interact with in a way that meets their expectations.