Peak Sales Performance - The Seven Deadliest Sins

In my previous post I discussed the ways to become # 1 in sales and the amazing possibilities that are available to people who excel at sales. We need to also know the other side of the coin; namely, what do we avoid at all costs in order to achieve like a champion in this profession. Admittedly, there is some overlap.
Here are the ones at the top of the list:
1) Don't be pulled down by the negativism in other people. This doesn't mean we don't engage with these types, it can't be avoided. The question is who is going to sell whom on their viewpoint. So that we are not contaminated by negative people in our environment we need to win at showing them another way to look at things - a POSITIVE (yet realistic) outlook.
2) Complacency. This is most likely to strike when we are selling well - you know the "fat, dumb and happy" streaks. We must remember an old adage that goes "the seed of defeat is sown at the moment of victory" and keep pushing forward with the activities we know have to be made to win six months out, a year out and longer.
3) Sloth. We must be masters of the details and never drop our guard when it comes to making sure we have double checked and if necessary triple check what we are, in paricular, turning in as closed business.
4) Succumbing to discouragement. All of us become discouraged from time to time. The key is not to give in to it and let it control our mind. We need to master our mind rather than the other way around.
5) Letting our presenting skills get rusty. "Use it or lose it" as the saying goes. We should practice our presentation ONLY in front of a real live audience - find an existing client that isn't up on all the latest stuff you offer and present away !
6) Fail to be willing to outwork anyone else in your company. One of the key reasons I was #1 in sales 20 out of 23 years in my company is that almost every weekend I took a 4 hour block and wrote proposals and did other things that kept me at the front of the pack. If I had to work late
to make a sale I did so gladly but was careful not to let the other parts of my life go to hell in a hand-basket - we can't lose our ability to balance all of our roles.
7) Failing to read from and learn from those who can mentor us. This doesn't have to be someone in sales. My mentor was the leader of a worldwide movement for peace, culture and education. The point is chose someone who is a great example and chose VERY carefully.