CONNECTION - IT MATTERS..

One of the most frustrating things for me it that I no longer drive, this is the person who has probably circumnavigated the M25 enough times to have at least used up 5 years of her life.

In my career it has always been so important to connect with people face to face, after all how can you expect people to trust a product if they don’t know you?  Most of the products I have promoted I have genuinely adored and therefore it’s been natural to sing the praises of the holidays, whether that’s basking in the Maldivian sun, cruising the Caribbean or trying to catch the Northern Lights in Lapland.  At the same time if I didn’t believe in something I’d be honest, I once compared a mini cruise from the UK as a floating ‘Southend-on Sea’, not exactly a career defining moment.

Now the whole point of writing these articles is to stay visible plus they are a great vehicle for mental health well-being, Id encourage anyone to write about themselves even if it’s just notes on your phone. One thing I’m working on at weekends is my life timeline, on paper – just key dates and activities I’ve achieved in my life so far, do your own you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I’ve of course made mine funny, just anecdotes of memories, it’s a cool thing to do, especially if you approach it as if trying to write an episode of Fleabag!

 I’m writing today because the weather outside is completely miserable, I’ve hit a roadblock with a work project and quite frankly I’m feeling sorry for myself which in my book is a big fat No No.  Do you remember that scene in Matilda where Mrs Trunchbull forces the kid Bruce to eat chocolate cake – a bit overreacting but I could quite frankly stick my head into that chocolate cake right now – oh its ok I have a Kit Kat!!

Right self-pity over, Kit Kat devoured, where were we?  Ah connections.  I’ve been blessed with work contracts in the last few years even with a disability. Now they are essentially roles whereby I need to meet with people and influence.  The whole aspect of Teams’ calls is very much the norm and for that I am eternally grateful as they have in fact kept me in the game.

Recently in my efforts to attract new business I reached out to contacts I haven’t spoken to in years, decades even.  It’s funny because of the few calls I did they were really uplifting; people don’t really change that just have more life experience and to be fair we all have a few more grey hairs and wrinkles. Once Id completed this exercise, I did question myself as to why it took me to have a work project to reach out, sure they have been working acquittances in the past but whenever is ‘hello how are you?’ out of the question? It’s not like I’m the Cable Guy!

This Autumn I had a personal visit from someone I worked with over a decade ago. She drove up from Brighton to Cambridge just to spend the day and catch up. It was great we laughed, reminisced, discussed the industry – its ok we were not Gossip Girls – those days are long gone.  We had a buffet at my apartment and fours hours speed past, we had a hug and off she went with me promising to visit Brighton at some point, chauffeured by my daughter. I will make this happen in 2025 for sure albeit it will involve the logistical efforts as seen on the Krypton Factor.

So, the point of this article was to convey the fact that Connections are just so important.  From acquittances to friends to family, it all matters. I’m blessed because I speak to my Mum and Dad every day via Face Time, I have Teams calls most days, I live with my youngest daughter, my eldest daughter visits and talks via What’s App, I have work, friends and family What’s App Groups – I am connected.

I know a lot of people are ‘over’ connecting by video but for me it’s essential, without it id be like Rodney without Del! As much as I’d love face to face meetings it is hard for me, as I said I don’t drive anymore. Hey that’s for me to work on I just might have to take influence from Madge in Benidorm after all!!