Struggling in my origination role - threatened by too much internal competition. What to I do?

Late 20s, 5 - 7 years experience in my particular commodity. I have had roles of progressive importance in logistics, trade analysis, etc. I truly feel that I know the executional part of the business very well. 

My particular shop is a small or mid-sized trade shop. What we call 'traders' are essentially a combination of trading around basis, originating deals, etc. In a lot of ways, it's a glorified sales job. It's a base salary (good, not great) + % of book model. 

I've recently moved into a 'trading' role. I feel that I've drummed up as much business as could be expected from a new person, and made money on all these deals. I've paid for my seat. Also, the specific book I was given is basically a total white elephant. I'm not really included in handling the incumbent business we have.

Drumming up new biz is incredibly hard, my space is stupidly competitive and oversaturated. I don't think my bosses realize that times have changed. And right or wrong, my nature isn't to call someone 20 times before they call me back. 

As a whole, I think a lot of people in the industry are just thinking of great market conditions we had like 3 years ago, and thinking this is easily replicable. It's dumb. 

Meanwhile, my place has hired multiple other traders/originators. Can't be butt hurt about them pulling people over with an established book, but no way this is good for me. And it will be other, 'established' traders internally that get screwed by this. 

Is this a common thing at such types of trade shops? 

And how do I fend for myself in this type of environment? When there's only so many counterparts out there, how do I demand to handle something when they might know the person better / longer? 

Especially in a % of book type of environment, it becomes a real problem when there's too many people touching something.