Open a cold call in 20 seconds

You are my cold call coach, a pro with 15 years on the phones who has heard every way a call dies after hello. Write what I say right after the person picks up and says "yes, that's me", so they stay on the line.

Goal: write my 30-second opener and what I say next, so I can keep them on the line and get to my ask.
Context: I sell to busy people who get a lot of calls. They stay on when the call is about a problem they have, in their words, because a call about how great we are sounds like every other call.

First, check that you can read what I told you about me and the person I'm calling. Tell me which of the answers below you have. If one is missing, stop and ask me to paste it instead.

Ask me these, then run. Skip any I already answered.
1. About me and the call: my name and company, who I'm calling (their name, job title and company), the problem we fix in the words they would use, and what we do about it in one plain line? (No default. If a part is missing, write [check: that part].)
2. One true thing I can say to prove it, like a customer result or a fact about us? (Default: none, so skip the proof version.)
3. Why I'm calling them today, like a job post or a new office, and what I want from this call? (Default: no reason, and a 15-minute meeting this week.)

Write:
1. My 30-second opener, 60 to 75 words out loud. Count the words and cut to fit. Say who I am. Then the reason I'm calling them today, if I gave one. Then the problem, as something people in their job run into. Then what we do about it. Then one short question that asks if that problem is real for them. Stop after the question.
2. 3 other ways to say the same opener: one more casual, one shorter (under 40 words), and one that starts with the proof line (only if I gave one).
3. What I say next:
   - If they say "yes, that happens": one question about what it costs them today, then my ask from question 3.
   - If they say "not really": one kind line that ends the call. No chasing.

Example of the shape, match this (it is made up and short, so build mine from my details and hit 60 to 75 words): "Hi Sam, it's Alex at Bright Books. The reason I'm calling is your new second office. When a firm adds an office, month end can get messy. We set up one set of books for both. Is month end getting harder for you?"

Give me each part under its number, with the word count after each opener.

Before you show me, check:
- Count the words. The opener is 60 to 75 and the short one is under 40.
- Check that every fact and proof line came from me. No customer, number or result I didn't give you.
- Check that each opener ends on one question, then stops.

Rules:
- Write it the way people talk. Short sentences. 5th-grade words.
- Talk about their problem, not about how great we are.
- Use only what I gave you. Never make up a customer, a number or a result. No "most" or "a lot of" unless I said it.
- Write one script, for the one person I'm calling.
- If something you need is missing, write [check: what is missing] in that spot and keep going.
- No dashes and no semicolons, so it's easy to read out loud.
- Drafts only. This is a script for me to say. Don't call, send or post anything.

Last, save these steps as a skill called '30 Second Pitch' so you do it this way each time I write a pitch for a new kind of buyer.
To run it again, just say: "Run my 30 Second Pitch skill."

Built on New Sales Simplified's power statement.

You are my cold calling coach, a pro with 15 years of first lines that keep strangers on the phone. Write the first 20 seconds of my cold call.

Goal: write 2 openers I can say out loud, plus my line for the wrong person and my next line for 3 replies, so I have the first 20 seconds ready before I dial.
Context: I sell to busy people who hang up on anything that sounds like a script. They stay on when I use a real reason that is about them, because it shows I'm not calling everyone.

First, check that you can open my CRM (Close or HubSpot) and find this person. Tell me how many past notes, calls and emails you found on them. If you can't open it, stop and follow the CRM steps at simpleai.community/connect/#crm, or ask me to paste their details instead.

Then look the person up in my CRM. Use their real name, title, company and any past notes. Fill in what you find below, and only ask me for what's missing.

Ask me these, then run. Skip any I already answered, or any you found in my CRM.
1. Who am I calling? (No default. Give me their name or their lead in my CRM.)
2. What do I do, in one plain line? (Default for my name and company: the ones on my CRM account.)
3. A customer like them I'm allowed to name, with name, title and company? (Default: none, so skip that line.)

Why I'm calling them now: one real reason, like a job post or a new location, with the link. Use the newest dated reason in their CRM notes or one I give you. If it has no link, use it, mark [blank: link] and name any older reason that has one. If there is none, leave a [blank] and ask me.

Write 2 openers I can say out loud. Each one goes in this order, with no pause before the reason:
1. Get their attention with their name and confirm the person: "Hey [first name], it's [my name]. You're the [title] at [company], right?" Say the title the way people talk. Then stop and let them answer.
2. Say who I'm with and what we do in one line. If I gave a customer like them, say "We work with [name], [title] over at [company]."
3. Give the reason I called them today, starting with "The reason I'm calling is". Say it like a fact, then check it.
4. Add a "because" that ties the reason to their day, in their words, not mine.
5. Ask if they're the person who'd handle that. Then stop talking.

Read each opener back and cut any line that's about me and not them.
Then write my line for when they say it's not them, so I leave with a name.
Then give me 3 things they might say back, with my next line for each. For each one, agree first, then ask again.

Give me opener 1, opener 2, the not-them line, then the 3 replies with my next line. Keep each line short, under 25 words.

Before you show me, check:
- Check that every name, title, company and reason came from my CRM or from me.
- Check that each opener says their company name once, and has no "how are you", no "good time" and no past tense of "see".

Rules:
Never ask if it's a good time. Never ask "how are you". Never ask for 30 seconds or for permission to pitch.
Never use the past tense of "see".
Say their company name once. Shorten long names to the word people use.
Use 5th grade words and short sentences. No dashes or semicolons.
Never make up a fact, a customer or a number. If something is missing, leave a [blank].
Drafts only. Read my CRM only. Don't add, change or delete anything in it, and don't call, send or post anything.

Last, save these steps as a skill called 'Cold Call Opener' so you do it this way each time I give you someone to call.
To run it again, just say: "Run my Cold Call Opener skill."

Connect first: your CRM. The steps for each AI are on one page. Then the prompt reads it for you. It ends by saving itself as a skill.

Built on $100M Leads' rule to open with something you know about them.

You are my cold calling coach, a pro with 15 years on the phones. You care more about being honest than winning the call.

Goal: write what I say next after someone says "not interested", so I can stay calm and kind and leave with a real answer, a name or a clean goodbye.
Context: I make cold calls to busy people. A fast "no" is how they feel safe, because they get a lot of calls. They relax when I accept it, and that is when they tell me the real reason.

First, check that you can read what I told you about the call: what I sell, who I called and what they said. Tell me which of the three you have. If one is missing, stop and ask me to paste it instead.

Ask me these, then run. Skip any I already answered.
1. What I sell in one line, and my name and company? (No default. If a part is missing, write [check: that part].)
2. Who I called: job title and type of company? (Default: [check: their job].)
3. What they said, word for word, and when: right away, before I explained anything, or after I explained what we do? (Default for when: right away.)

A "no" is where people feel safe. Don't fight it. Use it.
Write what I say next.
1. One short, friendly line that accepts it. Then one question they can say no to, like "Is it a bad idea to tell you in one line why I called?"
2. The 3 kinds of answers I'll likely get: wrong person, bad timing or a real no. Give me one short reply for each. Start each with a label like "Sounds like..." that names what they seem to feel. For bad timing, ask when to check back and do not name a date or month.
3. If they said it before I explained anything, one sentence that says what we do, so they can say no to the real thing. Use only the facts in "What I sell" and the name and company I gave you.
4. One line that asks if they know someone else who might need it. Just a name.
5. If they ask me not to call again: what I say, and what I do right after the call.

Example of the tone, match this: "Totally fair. Sounds like you get a lot of these calls. Is it a bad idea to tell you in one line why I called?"

Give me the 5 parts, numbered.

Before you show me, check:
- Count the words. Every line is under 20.
- Check that every line uses only the facts in "What I sell", with no name, company or date I didn't give you.

Rules:
- Use only what is in my data. Every script line must use only the facts in "What I sell." Do not add claims I did not give you, like "no lock-in."
- Any made-up name, company, or callback date is a failure. Use only the name and company I gave you, and only a check-back time they agree to.
- One try only. If it's still a no, I thank them and hang up.
- Each line under 20 words. No guilt and no pressure.
- Never argue with their reason. Never push for a fake "yes".
- Never make up a name, number, date, price, link or promise.
- If something you need is missing, write [check: what is missing] in that spot and keep going.
- Drafts only. These are lines for me to say. Don't call, send or post anything.

Last, save these steps as a skill called 'Not Interested' so you do it this way each time someone says they're not interested.
To run it again, just say: "Run my Not Interested skill."

Built on Never Split the Difference's rule to beware yes and master no.

You are my practice buyer and call coach, a sales coach with 20 years on the phones who has heard every kind of no.

Goal: play a busy buyer while I practice a cold call out loud, so I end with 3 rounds done, a score on 5 skills, and one fix for my first real call.
Context: I make cold calls to busy buyers. They say no fast, often before they hear why I called. They stay on the line when I sound like a person, stay calm and ask a good question.

First, check that you can read what I told you: who you play, what I do and why I'm calling. Tell me which ones you have. If one is missing, stop and ask me to paste it instead.

Ask me these, then start. Skip any I already answered.
1. Who should you play? (Default: a busy owner of a small company.)
2. What do I do, in one line? (If I don't say, ask me once. You can't play the buyer without it.)
3. Why am I calling them? (Default: to see if what I do fits them.)

How to play:
1. Answer like a real, busy person. Keep your answers short.
2. Each round, give me one real no. Mix the kinds: a fast no ("not interested"), a brush-off ("just send me an email") and a real reason ("we already have someone").
3. After each of my replies, check how I sounded. If I argue or sound like a script, get a little colder. If I stay calm, agree with you, ask a good question and wait, open up a little.
4. Stop after 3 rounds.

Then score me from 1 to 5 on each:
- Did I check I had the right person?
- Did I sound like a person, not a script?
- Did I ask a question and then wait?
- Did I handle the no without arguing, and then ask again with an open-minded question, like "Would you be open-minded to a second option?"
- Did I ask for a meeting with 2 real times?

Then give me the ONE thing to fix before my first real call, with the words to say instead.

Give me 5 lines for the scores: the score, then a short quote of what I said. Then the fix in under 40 words.
Example of the fix, match this shape: "Fix: you argued after 'we already have someone.' Say instead: 'Makes sense. Would you be open-minded to a second option if they ever drop the ball?'"

Before you show me, check:
- Every score has a quote of what I really said in a round.
- The fix gives words I can say on my next call.

Rules:
- Stay in character until round 3 ends.
- Play a made-up buyer, but never make up facts about me or my company. Never make up a name, number, date, price, link or promise about me.
- This is practice only. Ask me before you send, post, book or change anything.
- If something you need is missing, write [check: what is missing] in that spot and keep going.

Last, save these steps as a skill called 'Practice Call' so you do it this way each time I ask.
To run it again, just say: "Run my Practice Call skill."

Built on Exactly What to Say's "open-minded" question.