That's awesome dude! Making your way for a pretty good bonus this year I reckon. I'm no good at the sales stuff, I'm more of a fix-it guy and I'm struggling a little bit in my current role focusing on projects instead of the fixes. I've been able to do some additional tasks lately though that I have enjoyed that I want to build upon for sure. One thing that's tedious is all the damn paperwork though lol.
It's definitely the difficult thing, getting your foot in the door and shmoozing the receptionist enough to get that person you are interested in talking to, present. I've experienced it once or twice with people looking for my bosses! Thankfully it wasn't anything crazy but was interesting to see the pitch and all that.
I'm good at what I do, not perfect at all, just good. That comes from years of experience and effort, and loads of failures...that were analysed and evaluated. I seek win-win outcomes and show that to the prospect and I think that goes a long way.
Sales isn't for everyone as you know, but everyone has something to offer; if I didn't have the support in the background what I do would come to nothing.
You seem like a fix-it sort of chap and that's a skill in itself, that doesn't mean sales is beyond you though, you never know what the future holds. Sure, you might not want to do it now, it may never happen, but if you knew what I did in my twenties and into my early thirties you'd look at what I do now in wonder probably. What I mean is we don't know now what's possible and what may occur.