It is happening more and more frequently.

There was a time when people were reluctant to share their cell phone numbers. Perhaps less so now and people are more accepting of being reached on their cellphones.

In any event, if I must speak to someone (as contrasted to email), I generally first try them on an office line (unless I have an established familiarity that the cellphone is best).

However, if I know that a person is hard to reach and doesn’t return messages left in the office (and doesn’t respond to emails), I’ll call the cell phone.

Sometimes they answer which is positive reinforcement for my startegy.

Increasingly, I get a message....and then an automated voice that tells me the mailbox is full and not accepting messages.

And so, I call the office and leave a message.