April Talk with Stefan Thomas

It’s April, the second month of Spring, Easter has been and gone and we're now almost into May. We’re catching up with some business owners this month to see how things are looking for them at the moment. Today were talking to Stefan Thomas, author of Business Networking for Dummies and founder of Connect Networking. Stefan lives in Oxfordshire yet works all across the UK and overseas.

How is April looking for you in your business? 
April and May are looking amazing. I am speaking at The Stoke Business Show this week,  have just been booked to speak at a major European sales conference (the first major speaking booking since restrictions eased) and in May I will announce the first licensee running their own independent groups under the Connect banner and brand.

Are you taking part in any wider events or business collaborations this month? 
I have already spoken for The Welsh Business Show, The Oxfordshire Business Network as well as constantly speaking with small business owners on a daily basis.

This month it’s Stress Awareness Month, what does stress mean to you? 
I make sure my clients know they have 24/7 access to me and, in the case of a few close friends who I believed were struggling, I made sure they knew they were on my ‘phone ‘Favourites’ list so my phone would ring even if they called at 3am. They never did, but told me it comforted them to know that I was there if they needed it. 

For myself, I make sure that I recognise if I am becoming anxious and go for a walk or, as I’m doing this week, flying off to Lanzarote for a few days r & r (and g & t too!).

Tomorrow is Pay It Forward Day? Who could you ‘pay it forward’ to? Has anyone ‘paid it forward’ to you? 
Many of my old bosses have paid it forward to me - allowing me to be where I am today. Last year I wrote to all of them and met up with them to let them know how much I appreciated what they’d done for me in the past. Some of those conversations were 30 years ago but I still remembered what they’d taught me.

I try to pay it forward. That doesn’t mean always giving stuff away for free, because often that doesn’t help in the long run, but I am generous with my time and advice where I can be. 

Have you got any special offers you’d like to mention?
Not a special offer as such, but Connect Networking is different. Networking facilitated by me, author of Business Networking for Dummies, and the members really are getting spectacular results.

And finally:
In 2022, it really is time to ditch the elevator pitch. The business world has moved on and the more people who realise that the better and more successful they will be.

For more information visit https://www.thenetworkingretreatconnect.com