I decided to take the above advice and write my own guide to getting that 10k dps...

~ 1. Gem/enchant/reforge your gear (if you can't afford the higher end gems, get lower end gems temporarily to get something in there - EJ, many other forum threads, and guildmates can help you here).

~ 2. Learn the most recommended spec and rotation for your class and spec (EJ, many other forum threads, and guildmates can help you here. Additionally - Noxxic is also another site that can help)

~ 3. Don't be stupid. Stop standing in that crap on the ground causing you to die. You may be standing in stuff you can't see clearly, but are obviously taking damage. The addon GTFO is your friend.

~ 4. Go pick up easy solo-obtainable upgrades that are just waiting for you to walk up to the NPCs and take them (Thrall's Cape, nice pieces of gear the first day of the Molton Front dailies, etc).

~ 5. DPS while important is secondary to group survival. If you lose dps to do some CC or other utility role that is perfectly right and proper.

~ 6. Don't expect to get healed. If you do it's a bonus, but the healer is there to keep the tank up and as many others as possible. If you take significant damage then you're probably doing something wrong.

~ 7. L2Play

~ 8. ???

~ 9. Profit!