Assess your Sales Skills- In order to be an Olympic Sales Athlete, start out by taking an inventory of what your current sales skills are. Compare your abilities to the list of basic sales skills that every sales person should have or learn to acquire. This will help you to choose the best training program and also the best type of industry for you to exercise your sales skills for.

          Before you go any further, take a moment to evaluate your habits at work and at play. Do you make it a habit to go the extra mile for your customers or for your boss -- or do you wait to be asked before you make a move to help out? Do you run, jump and hide when a customer comes in the door because it is too close to your lunch hour or time to go home? If these are some of your work habits then make the decision now to make a change; to have a mindset of a winner. If you cannot, then you may not be ready to be an Olympic Sales Champion.

          Choose an Industry that Fits You - After taking an assessment of your skills, do a little bit of research to determine what type of sales person you are and in what industry you might be best suited for to begin to hone your athletic sales ability. Would you be best selling financial services, advertising, medical equipment, accounting services, automobiles or related services, sports and entertainment sales, and so many others? The list is endless. For every business out there, there is a need for someone -- an Olympic Sales Champion -- to sell that business's products and services. It could be you. Decide on one that you think is best for you and then get ready and in position to go for the interview!

          Find a Sales Position - Now that you've decided which industry you want to sell for, suit up with your best appearance including a fresh polish on your shoes and get ready to interview; go online or job fairs to seek out and apply for a sales position within the industry of your choice. Prepare yourself for the interview by studying the things that employers look for when hiring sales people.

          Know Your Competition - After settling into your new sales position, do some investigation to find out who your competitors are. Do some workout presentations to see how your company fairs to their competition and always be well versed in your company's history. Research, study and be prepared to address each question that your prospects may have as it relates to your competitors. Boning up your sales skills to meet your competition head on will make you a stronger Sales Champion and make you better positioned to take the gold at anytime and at anyplace...over and over again.

          Get a Coach - Find someone within your organization that is a sales success or who is an expert sales trainer to coach you on perfecting your sales skills. Read the many books, audio, video and training courses that are out there on building your sales skills expertise. Each skill is an art unto itself, such as knowing how to ask the right questions, how to listen and how to make a great presentation and many others. A good coach will never lead you astray. They will guide you along and encourage as well as help you to strive to be your best. You are almost ready!

          Practice Your Skills - All good sales trainers will tell you that practice, practice, practice is the number one way to become the true expert at what you do. No competitor, even a competing sales person within your organization, can be a match to someone who has studied and practiced to the point of rote, their skills of asking the right questions, making their presentation, and listening. Be ready and teachable at all times, even when you think you've achieved the most you can possibly achieve, because there is always room for improvement. You have put into place all the right abilities to be an Olympian in Sales; now you need to show up on the playing field everyday and polish these skills, at work and at play. You will succeed and attain that top position as a Sales Champion when you focus on disciplining yourself to be the best that you can be.

          Stay in the Competition and Go for the Gold - If you have reached this step, keep going by always staying in the race -- the sales race that is. Being a great Olympic Athlete in Sales is a never ending opportunity to win the gold. With each prospect you meet, with every presentation you make, you are out there using your sales skills, but with confidence. Because of all of your practicing and training you have gained that expertise to be the best Sales Champion there is. Never stop. Soon you will proudly display your many awards and inspire others to follow in your Olympian foot steps. Bravo! Bravo!