Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

It's Only Common Sense: Always Give it Your Best

One of my favorite sayings is, “When you wake up in the morning, if you are not ready to change the world, then don’t bother to get out of bed.” Do you ever think about changing the world? Do you ever think about being the best you can be…the best in the business? This kind of thinking represents the way champions think. These are the people who are destined to greatness, who don’t wait for luck to hit them in the head, but rather work as hard as they can. If luck meets up with them along the way, then all the better.

Instilling greatness in everything we do doesn't happen by accident; it’s intentional. Think about the top people in your field, and you’ll notice some distinct characteristics in all of them. They display attributes that make them stand head and shoulders over the rest of the crowd.

I thought it might be interesting to list some of the most prominent characteristics of the best people in their fields.

1. They have determination. They are determined to be great, and are always focused on being the best in everything they do.
2. They are focused. They can focus on the right things that have to be done, right now. They are never distracted by “ground noise,” and they always keep their eyes on the prize.
3. They stay in their lane: They don’t care what is going on around them. You will never catch them hanging around the proverbial water cooler whining about something or someone “keeping them” from doing their job.
4. They do not believe in excuses. Because they are so good at planning, they take into consideration anything that could go wrong. And more importantly, if something does go wrong, they take full responsibility for it, solve it, and move on.
5. They play their own hand. They play with the cards they have in front of them and never spend time wishing they had been dealt better cards.
6. They don’t waste time. Everything they do has a purpose. They are extremely efficient with their time, making sure that they make every minute count.
7. They never wing it. They realize the importance of planning. They plan well and then they follow the plan to the letter. They never ad lib during a sales call; they what they are going to say as well as what they want to get out of each meeting.
8. They don’t care about outside forces. From the weather to the economy to natural disasters, they rise above all these distractions and focus on what needs to be done, and most importantly, what they can do and what they can control.
9. They have confidence. They know that if they do everything right they will win out in the end. They go around with this quiet confidence that all winners seem to have.
10. They never worry about what people say about them, because they have the confidence of their convictions and will always be sure of themselves.
11. They are dedicated to their craft and are always studying, reading, and learning to improve themselves.
12. They are not afraid of good old-fashioned hard work, because they know if they work hard today, the rewards will be great tomorrow.
13. They are impeccably honest, always telling the truth, no matter how painful it is. They are not afraid to deliver bad news and suffer the consequences, because they know that in the end the customers will appreciate their honesty and truthfulness.
14. They always take the long view; they are willing to sacrifice today for their reward tomorrow.
15. They never speak poorly of their competition, no matter how tempting it might be. They believe in taking the high road.
16. They treat everyone as they themselves, would want to be treated…no exceptions.
17. They are always extremely polite, and courteous, with impeccable manners. Making sure that they are remember for their kindness and regard for other people.
18. They never take shortcuts, and always do things the right way. The only way that will help them achieve their goals.
19. They are always on time, believing that tardiness is the first sign of incompetence.
20. They always turn in their reports, quotes, and forecasts on time, always perfectly executed.
21. They are always willing to help others, even their competitors, if is for a good common cause.

And finally, they are just plain good people, people who are fun to be around. These are people who make other people feel safe and, most importantly, well cared for.

So, how do you rank? Did you see yourself in these characteristics? If you did, congratulations; you are well on your way to an exemplary career in sales. If not, well, it’s not too late to mend your ways. Start doing it today.

It’s only common sense.