What is a professional?

A professional is more than just an employee or business owner. They are more than someone who has training or a degree in an area. You do not become a professional just from getting your degree. In my case when I graduate I will have a BFA-Graphic Design degree. But that does not mean I'm a professional. Anyone can go to school and take classes and pass them and get their degree. This doesn't mean they are a professional.
A professional is more concerned about their work and making the client happy then they about just getting the job done and getting a paycheck. A student can even be a professional. If we strive to really learn and not just jump through the hopes and really learn something and make good relations and do good work we can be a professional.
I liked in the reading how it pointed out that a professional looks at someone they are doing work for as a client and not a customer. I think a client is more valued and important than a customer. Both of them you provide a service to but you value a client more and you work with a client and you want to please them.
I also liked how Andy Rutledge pointed out that you are not a professional if you aren't dealing with the client directly. If there is always someone relaying the information to you you can't really get to know the client and their wants and needs.