As a serial entrepreneur who has been able to finally craft a life I love, having consciously created a business to fill my days with my favourite things – people, connections, and incredible luxury experiences, I am in the midst of planning ‘the event of my life’ set to help business owners bring the fun back into being a founder, after my own entrepreneurial journey has seen me experience; burnout, loneliness, imposter syndrome and online trolling, and despite earning 6 figures in a career I loved, at the age of 41, I felt that life ‘didn’t feel worth living’.

So, having been in those shoes and having experienced this flip side of success, I am passionate about supporting others in business, to take time to stop and enjoy life, alongside building connections and their empires. Trust me, it’s what leads us to greater productivity and success.

Through Peakes Private Members Club – a non-cliquey business membership for ambitious entrepreneurs and founders – I create opportunities for business owners to network in a variety of unusual settings, so far these have included posh restaurants, spa days, comedy clubs, afternoon teas, drag queen tours, and luxury retreats in Scotland… I am constantly seeking out new environments to help my network, exercise self-care, and as a result thrive when they are back in their businesses.

Later this year, I am set to achieve one of the biggest challenges of my career to date, bringing 1000 founders together for a business festival, in Shropshire in September 2024. ‘Peakefest’ will be a unique business festival retreat that seamlessly blends luxury and learning – this festival will be for fired-up founders, and I’ve already announced a cracking line up, which includes; Dragon on BBC Dragons' Den, Sara Davies MBE and Bianca Miller-Cole, who appeared on BBC's "The Apprentice".

The power of connection is everything, and whilst I believe, if done right there is very much a place for online networking, following the pandemic, there is nothing like the ‘buzz’ and ‘uplift’ you get from getting in a space, face to face, with like-minded people.

In order to build connection effectively, we need to put others before ourselves. This is how we can be a true connector. The power of helping people, connecting with and to people and being the conduit to amazing collabs, is where connection is key over just standard networking. Be of service, give without expecting anything back and you will be rewarded.

Proactively create and build connections by working with others who already have your target audience in the palm of their hands - this is a super way to accelerate your growth. Too often we are nervous to approach others who we see having successful businesses, but with the right approach you can collaborate powerfully. Think about what you can offer them, be it access to your network, or your knowledge and don’t be scared to value what you can bring to the table too.

Listen to and learn from others. Hearing other entrepreneurial and start up founder stories encourages us to keep following our dreams and helps us feel heard and reminds us we are not alone on this journey.

We need to remember that we don’t need to do all this by ourselves, and that when we include others we also make the ride more fun!