Curious, your seeking out advice on this forum- what advice has your "buddy" given you? And I assume a company that offers a $55k base to people with experience has some game plan in place for its new hires. I think the best advice I can give you today is to go in and listen to your sales manager - or whomever is writing those checks - who has a vested interest in your success. They probably (maybe not) have a detailed outline of your job duties and how to be successful in their organization. Bring your work ethic and enthusiasm and let them train you.