Why You Should Call That Person You Just Thought About
We don’t need perfect timing or polished excuses to reach out. Sometimes, the best connections start with no agenda at all.
We just moved into a new office in Athens—right at the corner of Clayton and Pulaski.
That meant packing up my old one. While cleaning out a desk drawer, I found a business card from someone I genuinely like but hadn’t spoken to in years.
I set it aside, thinking I’d reach out when I had a reason.
Then I remembered what Glen Jackson teaches all of us at Jackson Spalding:
When you think of someone, call them.
Don’t wait.
Don’t overthink it.
Just pick up the phone. If they don’t answer, leave a voicemail.
That’s it.
After reading last week’s post, my friend Jane Kidd said, “Most of the successes I’ve had were because of connections and/or the gumption to just pick up the phone and call — or write a compelling letter with follow up call.”
I still struggle with this simple advice, although I know it works. I raised millions of dollars for my nonprofit by picking up the phone and calling. But my mind still fills with reasons not to call.
What if I’m interrupting?
What if it’s weird after all this time?
What if they think I want something?
The mental gymnastics we do to avoid basic human connection is almost comical.
But here’s what I’ve learned: those spontaneous check-ins—the ones that happen for no other reason than “you crossed my mind”—often lead to the most meaningful moments.
They say something rare and powerful: “I wasn’t reminded by a birthday alert or a meeting. I just thought of you.”
The business world trains us to be strategic about relationships. We schedule follow-ups. We set quarterly reminders. We build outreach plans.
That all has its place.
But when every connection becomes calculated, we lose something essential.
Your network isn’t just a professional asset. It’s a living, breathing ecosystem of people who matter.
When you act on that passing thought to reach out, you’re nurturing those relationships in their most human form. You’re honoring the person, not the potential.
I called the person from that business card last week. We talked for seven minutes.
No agenda. No ask. Just a conversation.
Funny how that kind of call—quick, unplanned, sincere—can do more to strengthen a connection than any formal follow-up.
So next time someone pops into your head—during your commute, while folding laundry—don’t wait for a “reason.”
The thought is the reason.
Make the call.
And if you do, let me know. I’d love to hear how it went.