How to instantly connect with anyone

How to Deal with a Caller When You Don’t Know Who the Heck It Is I’m sure it’s happened to you. Your phone rings. You answer it.

A cheery voice says, “Hi, this is Peter.”

Peter? Peter who? I don’t know any Peters.

Most people would ask precisely that, “Uh, Peter who?”

But because you have Emotional Prediction, you know Peter—whoever he is—would be devastated.

A rude Peter might respond, “You don’t remember me? You know, from the golf course.”

Mr. or Ms. Average would try to save the caller’s face by saying, unconvincingly, “Peter, of course. I’m so sorry.” But it’s too late. Poor Peter feels forgotten, and you feel flustered. Not an auspicious start to a pleasant dialogue.

Let’s do the numbers. Business researchers tell us we meet about a hundred people a year by name—social acquaintances, business contacts, and a few distant cousins who come out of the woodwork. About half of them will have the gall to think you should actually remember their names! Another half of that half could possibly contact you. And, for one reason or another, half of that half will.

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