Before you make that Call...

One key lesson I’ve learned over the years: don’t be overly interactive on your phone. The value of your calls is directly tied to how often you make them. You don’t want to be that person whose calls are constantly ignored because your friends know it’s just about the next party or golf outing. Build a reputation for making meaningful calls—so when you reach out, it’s because it matters.

I even remember the only time I ever called a sitting President of Zambia many years ago. It wasn’t just any call, and the response I got showed the importance of timing and purpose. He picked up right away, asking, “James, is everything okay?” That one moment reinforced a principle I live by—don’t make calls unless it’s necessary.

Even friends in high positions, from ministers to CEOs, have told me they’d stop meetings to take my call because, when James calls, it’s serious. As Proverbs 25:11 reminds us, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken at the right time.”

Let your calls be valued. Keep your interactions purposeful and make your calls count. Value people's time during working hours.

Enjoy Your Tuesday