The Appointment Making Formula™ is based on the concept that the target you’re calling will do anything, including lie, to get you off the phone until you give them a reason to have a short conversation with you, so why would you ask for permission to continue before you get them into that conversation?

First of all, you have every right to make the calls you do (assuming you’re calling into businesses and not into ‘no call’ lists), so don’t be apologetic. Instead, project strength and confidence when you call. Also understand that you are interrupting the person you are calling whenever you call. That means they don’t want to talk to you when you call. Also understand that surveys show that more than 95% of the targets you’re calling do not think they need what you’re offering when you call. That means they don’t think they need you when you call. The result is that they will do anything, include lie, to get you off the phone when you call. So why, oh why, would you increase the odds of your target saying no to you by asking permission to talk with them?