Cold Calling Sucks (And That's Why It Works) by Armand Farrokh & Nick Cegelski Summary
Overview of Cold Calling Sucks (And That's Why It Works)
In a world where everyone avoids cold calls, Farrokh and Cegelski reveal why that's your advantage. Backed by 300 million cold calls, this guide turns discomfort into opportunity. As Jeb Blount says, "Read it now. Your bank account will thank you!"
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Key takeaways
The Paradox of Cold Calling: Why Discomfort Creates Opportunity
Ever notice how the things we avoid most often yield the greatest rewards? Cold calling sits at the pinnacle of sales avoidance, yet paradoxically, it's precisely this universal dread that makes it so effective. While most sales professionals hide behind mass emails disappearing into crowded inboxes, a select few brave the discomfort of picking up the phone-and reap disproportionate rewards. The mathematics are compelling: top performers connect with 106 prospects and secure 18 meetings from 800 dials, while average reps connect with just 43 prospects and book only 2 meetings from the same number of calls. What's the difference? Not talent or luck, but simply the willingness to embrace what others avoid. Think about your own inbox-how many sales emails did you delete today without reading? The average professional receives 121 emails daily, with sales messages having an open rate of just 18%. Meanwhile, 57% of C-level buyers prefer phone contact. Even more striking, voicemails nearly double email reply rates even without live connections. The numbers don't lie: reps making 60+ calls daily achieve 160% of quota on average, compared to just 54% for those making fewer than 25 calls. Cold calling works precisely because it's difficult-and that difficulty creates your competitive edge.
The Critical First Minute: Creating a "Sit-Up Moment"
Speaking Their Language: The Problem Proposition
The Mr. Miyagi Method: Disarming Objections
Navigating Gatekeepers and Maximizing Voicemails
Building Your Cold Calling Machine
The Commitment That Changes Everything
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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