If you have a thirst for competition and welcome the challenge of beating sales records and the thrill of closing deals, then the world of sales may be the right place for you. But much like competitive sport, a career in sales requires tactics and stamina.

You have to be on top of your game. Every day. You need to be agile and consistent in your approach, resilitent, have the ability to plan your steps in advance and be willing to ask for the order when the time is right.

If you don't follow these steps, the probability of success is much lower than if you trusted the process and worked your plan.

The marketplace is brutal – but you don't need us to tell you that. What you do need is our handy guide to being a top dog. Only for us, it's more top cheetah. Cheetahs are fast on their feet, just like the best salespeople are.