A salesman can NEVER be successful if they don't do the necessary activities.
A salesman can have some success if they do all of the activities that put them in selling situations but are clueless about selling skills. Think about the last time you bought something you knew you really wanted and had researched before talking to the salesman. That salesman would have to do some really bad things to lose that sale.
In addition, the salesman that focuses on the necessary activities will get better at the necessary skills over time.
