Selling continues to conjure negative images that inhibit non-sales sector professionals to embrace the notion that selling can be done with elegance and an exceptional standard of professionalism. Selling, when done well can actually be appreciated and valued by your clients. Indeed selling is not a talent, but a measurable, teachable, transferable skill that can be taught and improved upon. If you are able to generate revenue, you will be an asset in every economic climate and industry. The ability to sell will always be a highly valued, well compensated skill.

My company turned 2 this year and let me tell you, she’s one feisty toddler into everything. I am a case study proving that with enough discipline, strategy, and passion you can rise above challenging economic times and yes – earn a living doing what you love. As I like to tell people, success is not divine, it is designed. Creating your own opportunities is not for the weak of heart, but it can be done. This is what I know for certain about blazing your own trail:

1. You need tough innards. Thick skin helps as well. Plenty of people, usually those who couldn’t do it themselves, want to tell you why you can’t do it. Tough innards helps you to nod, smile, and prove them wrong. Think of something in a nice Teflon, or even bullet proof.

2. Asking beats the Hell out of wishing all day long. Ask for everything from constructive criticism to guidance to referrals and opportunities. You might be good enough and smart enough, but the opportunity goes to the person bold enough to ask. If you don’t ask you don’t get. There is an elegant professional way to ask, learn how!

3. Don’t wait for opportunity. Create your own opportunity. You can grow very old and very sad, and very hungry waiting.

4. Trust your talent and reach. If you don’t believe you’re good enough then you won’t convince anyone else that you are either.

5. Success is designed. Your attitude is important, it’s your truth, but at the end of the day, you need to know HOW you are going to make things happen. Create a plan. What you want doesn’t much matter if you don’t know how to get it.

6. Accept your failure with grace and accept good criticism like the gift that it is. Everyone has a collection of failures along the way. Failures are really an education.

7. Laugh. Humor is like a power tool that gets through the toughest matter. You might cry occasionally and that’s okay too, just laugh about it later.

8. Celebrate along the way. Don’t reserve the champagne for the big deals, raise a glass for staying in the game.

9. You are your own boss so be the boss you deserve. Be demanding and exacting, but give yourself a break and reward your hard work.

10. You must be both tenacious and patient. Creating something from nothing does not happen overnight. If you give up because it doesn’t happen quickly enough you’ll never know what you’re truly capable of and you’ll never realize your vision.