Top salespeople are often seen as a breed of their own. They are set apart by their will to succeed and their desire for financial independence. They are focused, see only challenges instead of obstacles, and have an intellect that supports their will to “win.” They are able to improvise on the spot, have a tenacity to see a difficult sale through until the end, and they typically have a strong belief in what they are selling. Here are five more characteristics of a salesperson:

1. Energetic

Sales take work. Most top sellers work long hours, but they accept this because they have a hunger for money and success. They enjoy the process of the work; they find a reward and a satisfaction in it that is rivaled by few other things. Typically, they go to bed thinking about ways to improve and wake up in the morning ready to put their plan into action. Salespeople are proactive, full of willpower and highly ambitious.

2. People Person

Top salespeople are social by nature; their job depends on it! They enjoy approaching strangers, are outgoing enough to engage almost anyone in a conversation, and they enjoy the art of having a conversation. They aren’t afraid to share a few personal details that might help close a sale. However, first and foremost, top sellers strive to understand the buyers. With this information, they work to show buyers how the product or service can enhance and improve their lives. They don’t push products that people can’t afford or can’t use; instead, they succeed by identifying the exact types of people who can most benefit from what they have to sell. Because of this, they develop a list of loyal customers.

3. Stays Positive

The best salespeople don’t get discouraged even after a series of “Nos.” They remain goal-oriented and upbeat, and they always see uncertainty as the norm. They are perpetually enthusiastic and can find humor in every situation. They are the eternal optimists, always seeing a silver lining even in negative situations. For example, they see a “no” as time well spent practicing for the next sale. Top salespeople pursue the customer until the sale is finished, never giving up half-way. 

4. Takes Responsibility

One of the most important characteristics of a salesperson is that they don’t blame their failures on anyone else, including the potential buyer, the product or the company. Instead, they learn from a “no” and use it to find another approach. They are self-starters and don’t need a lot of extra encouragement and prompting from an outside source. They are highly satisfied with their successes, which encourages them to drive for more. 

5. Reflective

Top salespeople are able to take a moment and reflect on what they learned from each sale. They learn from their successes as well as their failures, and they develop strategies and tools from these experiences to use for future sales. However, they also strive not to make the same mistake twice.