Wiki defines Cold calling as the process of approaching prospective customers or clients, typically via telephone, who were not expecting such an interaction. The word “cold” is used because the person receiving the call is not expecting a call or has not specifically asked to be contacted by a sales person.
I prefer saying that I make calls. I don’t think of calls as having a temperature. I think some of the responses I get are cold – actually some are frigid. But me, I’m a warm person, and when I make my calls I try to be as polite and sincere as possible, and exude warmth.
New Business Pipeline 
April 9, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Even if you’re a warm person and make polite, sincere calls, it’s still a cold call. It’s cold because it’s starting from scratch, hasn’t been warmed up yet, like when you cold boot a computer.
April 9, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Thank you for your comment, and, intellectually I have to agree, BUT, it’s where I’m coming from, my mindset, if you will. I usually know the company I am calling into, (having viewed their site) and I get a sense of them – if I’m calling a bank executive, I’m more formal than if I’m calling a .com exec. So if it’s a first call I am making to an individual I think of it as being just that – a first call. It’s just my take, and I don’t dwell on it. However, first calls for a new client….different story — that feels COLD to me. Please come back and visit with us soon.
April 22, 2009 at 4:47 pm
How about “prospect calls!” After all, isn’t that what it REALLY is?
April 9, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I agree. I never wake up in the morning thinking, “Gee, I’m going to make some COLD calls today.” Rather, I simply make “calls.” I believe the term “cold call” connotes a dreaded activity.