Ditch the Cold Calls

Hey friends,

Before we just in - tomorrow is the last call for the early bird for Arcadia Leadership Experience - the anti-conference for GTM, partnerships and revenue leaders! Check out this video of last year. If you’re looking to level up this year with real conversations, real connections, and real growth, we’ll see you there. 

Now, let’s talk about everyone’s fav topic: cold calling.

We all know the grind. Hammering the phones, blasting emails, hoping that someone, anyone, gives us a shot. (Bueller?!) But let’s be real: when’s the last time you took a meeting because a random stranger called you out of the blue? Anyone? 

That’s exactly what Stephen Oommen broke down in our latest Friends with Benefits episode. 

Why Cold Calls Are the Lazy Route

Stephen, an elite seller in his own right, made a bold claim:

“Cold calling is actually the lazy approach.”

Now before you grab your pitchforks, hear him out.

• Cold outreach is often the default because it feels easier. It’s fast. It’s measurable. You can rack up numbers and show activity.

• But activity isn’t impact. What if instead of making 100 calls, you spent time getting one warm introduction that actually got a response?

• Cold calls are a gamble. A warm intro is a strategy.
  WHERE THE PARTNER PEOPLE AT? ✨

Stephen’s sellers don’t burn hours dialing strangers. They play the long game, building and leveraging real connections.

Use Your Unique Edge to Stand Out

So, if blasting emails isn’t the move, what is? Because we’ve all gotten the cold call mandate.

Find What Makes You Memorable - People aren’t buying your product; they’re buying you. What makes you different? Play it up.

Master the Art of Warm Intros - If you’re not at least trying to get introduced before going in cold, you’re skipping the highest-probability path to success.

Be a Chameleon - No, this doesn’t mean being fake. It means adapting. The way you show up in a sales meeting isn’t how you show up at home. Lean into what the moment calls for.

Stop Focusing on Volume. Start Focusing on Quality – Instead of hitting every contact on a list, ask: How do I become the person they think of first?

The best in the game aren’t throwing darts in the dark. They’re building ecosystems of trust. And the ones who win? They’re the ones who make themselves impossible to ignore.

So today, instead of making another cold call, try this: Find a warm intro. Leverage your network. Show up as your best self.

Trust us. It works.

Want to hear the whole conversation with Stephen? Check it out here: Spotify or Apple Podcast 

Til next time,

Sam & Jason

P.S. Love The Friend Zone? Forward this to a friend who needs to hear it. Let’s build better business relationships together.