You must be a salesperson, no matter what your profession. If you’re at a meeting, it’s selling your ideas. If you’re teaching, you’re selling concepts. When you go to a job interview, your selling skills are key.

Selling, or the ability of persuading a group to your viewpoint, is fundamentally a skill that’s essential in life and business. His latest book is: “Pink Slip Proof: How to Control All Future Paychecks,”Paul J. Meyer states that master salespeople all share some traits. “When you look closely, it’s no secret how they arrived at their present income and position.”

Meyer suggests that Americans seeking to be more successful salespeople should acquire five fundamental skills:

1. Effectively convince others. Great leaders are able to communicate their visions. Salespeople are skilled at using stories, dreams and color to influence people’s opinions.

2. Concentrate on customer service. No matter what profession you are, whether you’re an accountant, a barista, or a salesperson; you won’t be successful if others don’t want work with you. The Golden Rule is a universally accepted principle that all master salespeople follow. “Serve others as you would like to be served.”You can create one satisfied customer and then you will likely get more via referrals or word-of mouth advertising.

3. Be honest and reliable. You’ll be closing more doors than you open if you don’t create trust. A known two-face is not a good choice for anyone who wants to work with you. In all your dealings, be honest, reliable and responsible.

4. Learn how to be self-motivated. Master salespeople are able to remain confident and focused, no matter what their circumstances. “Self motivation requires the development of inner strength, conscious willpower, overwhelming desire and the determination to reach any goal you personally want to achieve,”Meyer.

5. Love people. For relationships to be successful, you need to take care of your clients and coworkers. You should think about the small things that are important to others and not only the major problems that must be solved. “The best salespeople always care about their clients,”Meyer. “They genuinely want to leave them better off than they found them.”

Learn more

Paul J. Meyer and his new book “Pink Slip Proof: How to Control All Future Paychecks,”Visit www.pauljmeyer.com.