What’s up with the “cold call?” How has this decades-old term taken on new meaning as defined by today’s generation? Evidently the meaning, or, er, understanding, has changed ever-so-slightly from when cold calls were legit, a real phenomenon – still annoying, but expected and accepted. So, in the spirit of how to redefine the Cold Call for the current generation so it is understood and respected by all (or at least attempted), here we go…

The confusion over exactly what defines a Cold Call did not come to my attention until my son was in college. Typically, I waited for him to call me. It worked better this way for both of us as it kept our long-distance relationship intact. There was no set date or time for a call but rather it occurred when he was free and needed to unburden himself.

I loved hearing his cheerful, chatty voice as he rambled through what was on his mind. I could picture him perfectly, smiling, nodding, gesticulating his way through our cyber conversation. However, one day I broke our unspoken rule, created havoc within the balance in place.

My mistake? I called him. Out of the blue. Without warning. Just ‘cuz. I wanted to hear his voice. No big deal, right?

Wrong. The reaction I got was not receptive but rather a harsh, “Why are you cold calling me?”

My initial thought was, “What? Cold calling? What is he even talking about?”

Then I had an a-hah moment when I realized I caught him off-guard; I was unannounced in his world, and he did not like it. In other words, I committed a huge faux pas by making a “cold call.” For me, it was a huge learning curve, never to happen again, as I quickly gleaned the proper protocol for calling one’s child.

Original Definition of the Cold Call

Wait just a minute! Doesn’t a Cold Call mean to solicit someone for business purposes? The only business I had conducted was to dial my dear son’s number to say hello. I did not realize we had different definitions of a Cold Call.

This encounter got me thinking. What exactly did a Cold Call mean to me back in the day of, let’s say, oh, the early ‘80s? Think big hair, big shoulder pads, and big attitudes.

I had jobs where randomly I did pick up the phone and dial a list of potential customers for business. I had jobs where occasionally I even drove to customer sites. Thus, docking miles for reimbursement, nervously knocking on doors, hoping to be granted entree so my sales pitch could be heard. I had to be brave and bold, living with the possibility of acceptance… or rejection. Simply put, it was my JOB.

It was a harsh, cruel world out there, and only the tough could survive the Cold Call.

Apparently, my definition of the cold call aligns perfectly with that of Merriam-Webster, and she’s been around since 1828.

How We Redefine the Cold Call

Fast forward to when phone solicitation (aka the Cold Call) became a daily nuisance constantly coming into our own homes. For instance, intruding during dinner, during kids’ bath times and nap times, during down time, So, we tried to outsmart the Scammers who eventually became Spammers by utilizing caller ID so we no longer had to answer these Cold Calls. Still, the Spammers were persistent.

So, what did we as consumers do? We outsmarted them again. We blocked them. And when that didn’t work, our smart phones, which have outsmarted us, created technology to block them once more. Poor Spammers.

It is not lost on me that they are just trying to make a living. I have been there.

Recently I went online to browse for new health insurance. However, in order to get a quote, you must enter your phone number. Ugh. Immediately, over thirty unsolicited calls came barreling in, begging for my attention to offer the best deal on health coverage. The barrage lasted for days. They took the Cold Call to a whole new level.

But I digress.

Have We Finally Redefined the Cold Call?

While I have not discussed my outdated version of the Cold Call with my son, I did apologize for reaching out unannounced. True to my word, I have never done it again. Yet somehow, this new etiquette has now infiltrated my world as I now hesitate to even call MY friends with advance warning. Typically, my calls now come with a text first, gently asking, “Are you available to talk?” or “Is now a good time for you?”

I am reduced to setting up appointments, if you will, just to talk to my friends! Is this today’s new standard? Now, a warning followed by a call if, and only if, permission is granted.

And with that, I believe I have revealed the point of how to redefine the Cold Call for the Current Generation.

May the Cold Call, as we originally know it, RIP.

Since we are only a month away from Mother’s Day, and since the author is often inspired by her interactions with her boys, here is a look back at how they honor her on Mother’s Day: What Mothers Really Want for Mother’s Day – scribingwithscout