5 Traits of Elite Salespeople

Every sport, every profession has their version of the “elite” performer.  Sales is no different.  There are certain traits that make them elite in their respective fields, and they are consistent in these traits.  In sales, there are 5 primary traits that all elite sales professionals live by.

1. They’re not afraid to fail - There’s no fear of rejection, but there is a fear of not succeeding.  Elite salespeople are will to do whatever it takes to push to get results.  Failure in any form is merely a speed bump. 
2. They maximize their resources, no matter how limited they may be.  If all they are armed with is a cell phone, a computer and LinkedIn, elite salespeople will still beat everyone else.  They’ll just outwork you with the resources present.  Give them more, and they will leverage every ounce of what’s provided.
3. They accept 100% responsibility - Elite salespeople don’t make excuses and never point the finger at anyone but themselves.  They know they can’t control the economy or prices or company policy.  Those things don’t close sales.  Elite salespeople know that they control their activities, their training and their efforts.  No one else is accountable for those except themselves.
4. They invest in themselves first, often and consistently - Elite performers all understand that they are there own greatest asset.  So they invest their own resources: time, money and energy in themselves.  They don’t rely on others to make the investment first.  They buy books and read them, they go seminars on their own time and dime, and they constantly are looking for more training and willing to pay the price themselves.
5. Their lives are governed by massive action - I’d say lights, camera, action, but the reality is elite salespeople beat the sun up and then it’s all action.  They are constantly doing things that move them closer to beating their sales goals.
   

Will focusing on these 5 traits alone make you an elite sales professional?  No!  But by not focusing on them you are guaranteeing that you will never play amongst the elites.