Skin as thick as a rhino's hide! Otherwise the time wasters (which are part of the territory) can make you feel resentful.
Boundaries, be really clear in your mind what your boundaries are, in areas like- which services you want to offer, client/provider relationship, turning your work phone off etc.
Warmth/friendliness- lots of smiling! (feels a bit odd at first, I mean, who actually smiles during sex)
Something that really bit me on the bum was, I didn't expect to fancy any client, sure, I knew I would find some of them attractive (even this can be awkward at first, makes me go shy) but I thought being in 'work mode' it wouldn't happen, but hormones don't understand 'work mode'.
Confidence (I hate that word, maybe 'comfortable in your own skin' would be better?) We all have those days, menstrual bloating, 'I look like shit' days, so an ability to switch it on is good.
A lot of girls develop an alter ego, I don't have the ability to do that, so I'm 'just me', but a smilier, chirpier more eager to please version of me.
Ability to work within a time frame, we have to clock watch (discretely) to make sure the client gets everything he's asked for during the session, and to bring it to a satisfying conclusion, when I'm tired, my time perception goes out the window.
Giving a fantastic blow job. Most guys will forgive anything if your oral skills are up to par!
There's about a million more, but this is a start.

Skin as thick as a rhino's hide!

aaaah where is that dratted rhino's hide?!  Rushes off to find it....

You have to be a people person and if not be able to pretend to be lol 

Patience, tolerance and compassion haven't been mentioned yet, as well as really good organisational skills (just like any other sole trader really) and I agree completely about the memory thing - punters love it if you can remember what happened when you've met before.

Plus a good sense of humour and preferably no sense of smell  .

god yeah  definatly no sense of smell and    not being squeamish either at anything  i reckon i could easily assist a doctor who is doing a major heart transplant op and not faint at the blood due to the work that i do
   
Being able to emphaise, and  and like Amy mentioned definatly having patience  and  tolerance in huge amounts  -  in fact those two are  way beyonde what most people have in life  and compassion  and  the ability to find something nice / interesting 99 percent of clients ( i do this and i find it really works as most people do have something nice or interesting about them you might have to work a bit to find it but its there most of the time)
 
   To be able to look a stranger completly in the eye and ask for the money without feeling awkard
 
to be able to laugh at oneselve and not take it to seriously either   
   

Quote from: amy on 06 October 2011, 11:05:31 pm

preferably no sense of smell  .

Indeed! However did I forget about that one!

Another one would be ability to remember details about people. Clients seem to love it if you remember to ask them about whatever they spoke to you about last time. Example, they had a big project on at work etc.

Or keeping those details on an index card, ready for their next appointment. 

To be able to look a stranger completly in the eye and ask for the money without feeling awkard

To be able to read a clock at 135? to your front and then say to the client:
"Our session is coming to an end; would you like to finish, now or buy another hour"
while holding out an upraised palm, also without feeling awkward.