I’M not infrequently asked what makes one a “professional” author, dancer or, more recently actor/actress. Actually, the answer is quite easy, but it has several different yet intertwined aspects:

First, there’s the business of whatever it is one is doing. A professional is someone who accepts money or other financial remuneration for what they’re doing. It’s not about how much. It can be $0.01 or the equivalent in barter or trade. The moment one accepts money or other remunerati...