B2B Networking - this is my 'why'

B2B Networking Online relaunched this week. An emotional week for me.

B2B Networking Online has a new brand, a new vision, a new way of building long-term sustainable relationships, and an ambition to help with the climate emergency. All very valuable 'why's' and what any good B2B professional probably wants to hear?

It's only half my 'why' though. Let me explain the other half of my 'why'.

Did you know there are 1.4m chronically lonely older people (aged 50 and over) in England, with many more across the UK, even before the COVID-19 pandemic?

Do you know the difference between 'loneliness' and 'isolation'?

The words “loneliness” and “social isolation” are often used interchangeably, but loneliness is not the same as social isolation. People can be isolated (alone) yet not feel lonely. People can feel lonely and yet be surrounded by people. The difference between these two concepts is so important in modern-day life.

Another group that experiences both 'loneliness' and 'social isolation' are micro-business owners, SME business owners & business development managers. Whilst their friends and family have visions of Canary Wharf, PA's and dinners in swanky restaurants, the harsh reality for many is long-hours working remotely from others, with the support network of a larger community having been removed and exchanged for supposed freedom.

Sound familiar? It does to me.

Why is there a picture of an elderly lady above Chris?

This is my Great Aunt Rose, who recently celebrated her 94th birthday, lives on her own in a top floor flat, is completely independent, and has no family except me, my sister, and a nephew who all live a minimum of 150 miles away. The picture was taken by me when it was safe for her to accept me into her COVID 'bubble' after 7 months of feeling both 'isolated' and 'lonely'! I naturally took her some presents and we went out for a meal

Seeing, hearing, and feeling the joy that she felt, through having a supportive person around her for a few hours (I stayed longer) cemented my 'why' for my B2B networking business. She told me she had been looking forward to this event since I phoned a week earlier. She asked if we could put another date in the diary. My answer was obviously YES!

Got me thinking? Weekly events people could look forward to.

So back to the business owners.

So many business owners feel cut off from their support network. I was one when I started out with my other business CSRB Limited 3 years ago. I made a vow to myself that nobody in business would be allowed to experience 'loneliness' or 'social isolation' and that there would be a weekly national network for them to build supportive, sustainable, and enriched relationships.

So upon returning from the above trip to see Great Aunt Rose, I set to work on bringing my vision to life. Let's end loneliness and social isolation, yes for the elderly, but also for those in business. Why not support each other? Why not have people in our network from the same business sector (I am not going to exclude someone because of a job title)? Why not build a strong, caring, national business community of business professionals that challenges the traditional stereotypes of what a business networking community has to be?

With the help of my trusted business connections and family, this is what I launched this week. Please visit www.b2bnetworkingonline.co.uk and read about the other 50% of my 'why' but come back and read this again afterward.

Furthermore, please do not feel 'lonely' & 'isolated' and never think that support is not there.

If you are unsure of your 'why' and whether a caring supportive network is right for you - just pick up the phone or drop me a message - as the great late Bob Hoskins said "it is good to talk"! I am a fairly good listener (but do like talking as well)!

Thank You to you for reading and engaging - it means a lot. Oh and Thank You Great Aunt Rose for being 50% of my B2B Networking Online 'why'!