Transitioning from am to pro.

I play poker as a hobby at the moment, I'm nowhere near good enough to earn a living playing poker, however I hope to one day be able to rely on it.

To any pro's out there, what are the main tips you would give on going from and amateur low stakes player to playing in the higher stakes and winning there. How much experience is needed to get there and what should I be doing now to bring myself closer to my goal?

I myself am not a professional. I think that the main thing is willpower. Professionals at the micro-stakes play too!