History Main / BeingPersonalIsntProfessional

* ''LightNovel/{{Shimoneta}}'': [[AloofDarkhairedGirl Oboro]] was purposefully conditioned by Anna's father to dress, think, and act [[DudeLooksLikeALady as a female]] at all times while he's protecting Anna. The only time he's instructed to leave her side is when she's either undressed, or bathing, to ensure he does his job [[StrictlyProfessionalRelationship without risk]] of developing feelings toward her.

* Nel from ''StarOceanTillTheEndOfTime''. She goes on and on like a broken record about her mission. But the second part of this is true too, as when Tynaeve and her other friend are kidnapped, she sneaks off in the night to save them.

* Mr. Sturgeon from Creator/GordonKorman's ''MacdonaldHall'' is like this, he is so strict that he's known for his 'fishy stare', yet funny and good-humoured to his wife.

* ''Franchise/AceAttorney'': Apollo Justice draws a line between his business and professional life, and is unhappy when his personal life gets involved with his work life. It's even implied that though they ask, Apollo never shares details of his past with his coworkers unless he absolutely has to. While not as extreme as other examples, there's some level of distance between Apollo and other people involved in the legal system, and between Apollo and people in his personal life, such as Aura and Clay. Trucy sits somewhere in the middle, getting both sides of Apollo depending on the situation.

->''"'''Feelin's'''? Look mate, you know who's got a lot of feelin's? Blokes what bludgeon their wife to death wiv a golf trophy. '''Professionals''' have '''standards'''."''

* Berridge in the ''[[Literature/FatherBrown The Blast Of The Book]]'' is full of life, spirits, and wacky ideas, but since his boss at his secretarial job never bothered to think of him as anything more than a computer, that was all he ever was to him. Finally, Berridge decided to play a prank on his boss that involved dressing up as someone else, confident that his boss wouldn't be able to recognize him through even the simplest disguise.

* [[Literature/DiscWorld On the Disc]], Carrot Ironfoundersson. When the love of his life, Angua, is in an extremely dire situation, he carries on with a practically British StiffUpperLip; because getting emotional about it ''won't help her'', whereas carrying out his duties ''might''. When he has an admitted bad guy at a disadvantage, he won't hold back out of nobility, or honour, or even the sense of justice that might have stopped, say, Sam Vimes; he will kill them stone dead so that they won't hurt anyone else. Taken to extremes when he puts himself at risk of freezing to death because ''maybe'' that news will get back to Angua, who ''maybe'' will come and save him, enabling them to team up. Sam Vimes, interestingly, is actually a subversion; he holds to his duty with a monomaniacal devotion, but ''nothing'' is more important to him than his family (which includes his brother and sister officers).

-->'''Vimes:''' He killed [[spoiler:Angua]]. Doesn't that mean anything to you?\\

** Michael, as a spy, has to detach his emotions from his job. So if he needs to get close to a corrupt cop, a banker, or other scum, he will act as needed to get close to the people, even if he honestly wants to take a lead pipe to their head.

** Madeline Weston, Michael's mom and not a trained spy, helps Michael break a Yakuza boss of a human smuggling ring by being a kind nurse brought into heal him after Michael and the crew grab him. She plays on his honor and want to survive with Michael invoking his abusive father's behavior and belligerence. Once they escape and she has the needed information, and the yakuza planning some noble sacrifice to delay Michael, Madeline drops the facade, lights up a cig and holds the man at gun point while Michael goes and rescues the girls.

* In ''ElfBlood'', Council Captain SKO behaves this way when on-duty, even going so far as to make the childhood friends under her command address her as [[spoiler: Madam Controller]] when on-mission. Off-duty though, they live in the same quarters, share the same food, and SKO behaves a lot more casually to them.

->''"''Feelings''? Look mate, you know who's got a lot of feelings? Blokes what bludgeon their wives to death with a golf trophy. Professionals have'' standards''."''

-->'''Vimes:''' He killed [[spoiler:Angua]]. Doesn't that mean anything to you?
-->'''Carrot:''' Yes sir. But personal isn't the same as important.

* Michael Weston of ''Series/BurnNotice'' can be like this.

* ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'': Apollo Justice draws a line between his business and professional life, and is unhappy when his personal life gets involved with his work life. It's even implied that though they ask, Apollo never shares details of his past with his coworkers unless he absolutely has to. While not as extreme as other examples, there's some level of distance between Apollo and other people involved in the legal system, and between Apollo and people in his personal life, such as Aura and Clay. Trucy sits somewhere in the middle, getting both sides of Apollo depending on the situation.

->''"''Feelings''? Look mate, you know who's got a lot of feelings? Blokes who bludgeon their wives to death with a golf trophy. Professionals have'' standards''."''

** One of the most world-shattering moments in a child's life is running into their teachers outside of school and discovering (they're *GASP!*) ''human!!''

* [[DiscWorld On the Disc]], Carrot Ironfoundersson. When the love of his life, Angua, is in an extremely dire situation, he carries on with a practically British StiffUpperLip; because getting emotional about it ''won't help her'', whereas carrying out his duties ''might''. When he has an admitted bad guy at a disadvantage, he won't hold back out of nobility, or honour, or even the sense of justice that might have stopped, say, Sam Vimes; he will kill them stone dead so that they won't hurt anyone else. Taken to extremes when he puts himself at risk of freezing to death because ''maybe'' that news will get back to Angua, who ''maybe'' will come and save him, enabling them to team up. Sam Vimes, interestingly, is actually a subversion; he holds to his duty with a monomaniacal devotion, but ''nothing'' is more important to him than his family (which includes his brother and sister officers).

** Fleet Sergeant Ho, the recruiting sergeant that signs Rico up, is cold and condescending towards him (though much more warm with his female friend Carmen). He's also missing both legs and one arm, and does nothing to hide it. When Johnny runs into him later, he's wearing convincing powered prosthetics, and shakes Johnny's hand and congratulates him when he finds out Johnny's in the Mobile Infantry.

* ''Literature/StarshipTroopers]] Has a couple examples.

* The second series of ''DCIBanks'' introduces DI Helen Morton, replacing DS Annie Cabbot during [[WrittenInInfirmity the latter's maternity leave]]. At first, DI Morton feels no need or desire to share anything about her personal life with her colleagues, but she is eventually convinced to seek that human connection.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', Leela's cryogenics boss observes this trope to a T -- nobody he knows from work knows he is married and his wife doesn't know he has a job. [[LampshadeHanging "I keep my personal and professional lives separate!"]]

The ConsummateProfessional is very much likely to subscribe to this trope, as is the aforementioned SugarAndIcePersonality. It may also be a response to a ContractualPurity clause. Compare HatesSmallTalk and NaughtyByNight.