Every SDR starts with the same mistake: “Hi, this is [Name] from [Company], how are you today?” That line kills your call before it starts. It’s not confidence — it’s camouflage. In outbound, your first 10 seconds decide everything. You’re not selling a meeting. You’re selling a conversation. Here’s the operator move 👇 1️⃣ Start like a human. “Hey — Louis here, quick one. You got 20 seconds?” → Fast, natural, no fake smiles in your voice. 2️⃣ State your intent. “I’ll be brief — we help SDR teams lift connect-to-meeting rate without adding headcount.” → Clear, calm, confident. 3️⃣ Earn permission. If they sound open, then dig in. If not, reschedule and move on — that’s pipeline hygiene. Elite SDRs don’t wing it. They control tone, pace, and purpose in those first 10 seconds. 🎯 Try this tomorrow: Record three calls and replay your openers. Would you stay on the line? Add your best one below.