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Discussion » Statements » Rosie's Corner » Are PROFESSIONALS ever stumped and seek the counsel of other PROFESSIONALS? Are PROS forbidden from learning anything from others?
RosieG

Are PROFESSIONALS ever stumped and seek the counsel of other PROFESSIONALS? Are PROS forbidden from learning anything from others?

Is there a badge they wear identifying them as PROFESSIONALS and are they accorded special treatment because of their vast storehouse of knowledge? Do all pros know they are? Do they decide they are pros or do others confer that label on them? Inquiring minds wanna know these things. What happens if a PRO is wrong about something? Must he give up that designation or pay a fee?

Posted - October 23, 2018
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Responses


  • 7280
    Stumped---sometimes;  Seek counsel---as necessary/helpful, personally or professionally.

    Smart people are always open to learning from others...

    If you seek out a professional, you are paying him primarily for his judgment.

    The problem of course is exemplified by this old joke:  "What do you call the guy who graduates last in his class in medical school?"---Answer: "Doctor."











      October 23, 2018 1:45 PM MDT
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  • 113301
    That's so interesting tom. You say we pay professionals for their "judgment". Not their "knowledge"? I never thought of it that way.  When all the "facts" are in I guess judgment is what causes one to make choices about which "facts" are applicable to that particular situation and how to apply them. I like that idea. Thank you for bringing it up. Facts aren't incorrect or they wouldn't be facts. Judgment, on the other hand, isn't foolproof and can often be flawed. Thank you for your helpful reply (funny how much one word can open your brain to other paths of thinking) and Happy Wednesday! :)
      October 24, 2018 3:57 AM MDT
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  • 5391
    A “professional” —by definition— is someone who is paid to perform a particular function for which they are trained. That’s it. 
    All professions are populated by imperfect humans of varying levels of ability or expertise. A true professional is aware of his limitations. No true professional is ever done learning/honing his craft. This is why many professions are literally called “Practices”. 

    Considering this, by what logic do you suggest professional equates to infallible? 

    This post was edited by Don Barzini at October 24, 2018 10:48 AM MDT
      October 23, 2018 8:34 PM MDT
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  • 113301
    T'is not I who doth doeth that DB. T'is someone who sez "I AM A PROFESSIONAL" with the implication being he should not be challengeed or questioned because he knows better than you do. I find that a bit offputting personally but I guess that's just how some "professionals" see themselves. Above question. So that's the backstory. Thank you for your reply and Happy Wednesday! :)
      October 24, 2018 4:00 AM MDT
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  • 13277
    It only seemed that way to you, Rosie, because I was responding to your baseless hyperbole about the income tax system, and I believe you have a tendency to assume things based on little or no actual information. No professional I know of believes he or she is infallible and beyond questioning. Such a stance would be arrogant, self-defeating, and not conducive to success. If I had such an attitude, I most certainly would not have the 600+ clients I have in my practice, which has grown every year since I started in 2008. All I was saying is that I study the tax law as part of my job and profession, and I probably have more detailed knowledge of it than someone like you, who makes grand pronouncements such as the one in that question based on nothing but a sound byte. Please correct me if I'm wrong in that assumption, as it would hardly be the first or last time that has occurred or will happen.

    And next time you have something to say to or about me, please address it directly to me instead of beating around the bush. I'm a big boy, I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of, and I certainly can handle being questioned. Happy Wednesday! :):):)
      October 24, 2018 7:16 AM MDT
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  • 13277
    In my business, we do so all the time and are continually learning. Colleagues and other fellow professionals often help and learn from each other. Tax laws and rules are constantly changing, and not only is it required by law, but it behooves us, especially for the sake of our clients, to pursue continuing education every year to keep abreast of these changes.

    Professional is not a title, but for me, being considered a professional comes from experience - preparing approximately 600 personal and business tax returns each year going back more than a decade - and the IRS Enrolled Agent license I earned by demonstrating competency and knowledge on a series of rigorous exams. But professionals certainly are not always right about everything. We are human, after all.

    From a broader, more macro viewpoint, managing change is perhaps the single biggest challenge in any business or profession. This post was edited by Stu Spelling Bee at October 24, 2018 3:38 PM MDT
      October 23, 2018 9:22 PM MDT
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  • 7280
    Reminds me of something out of Readers Digest (if I remember correctly---it's been many, many years).

    A tourist was commenting on a person he was observing as seeming to be a "simple" man.  Someone who overheard that comment made the observation that the locals who knew him considered him "deep."

    Wisdom and knowledge are always an admirable combination.
      October 29, 2018 4:26 PM MDT
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