One or two million-dollar deals have been made on the golf course. However, in addition to traditional events such as golf, horse riding and tennis tournaments, more and more new leisure activities have established themselves as popular meeting places in recent years. So if you are not completely averse to making the odd interesting contact in your free time, you should keep an eye on certain events. After all, successful leisure activities and successful "business networking" are not a contradiction in terms.

It is noticeable that leisure activities in particular are becoming increasingly popular, as they represent a stark contrast to our everyday business lives. While we have to make important decisions there and have everything under control, our leisure time is a welcome opportunity to relinquish control and feed our senses with new impressions. Our three selected leisure activities offer the perfect atmosphere for an easy conversation starter and don't take up too much time alongside work.

"One should offer the body something good so that the soul feels like dwelling in it" is how Winston Churchill described his preference for good food. It seems inconceivable that politicians would discuss important issues in an unadorned restaurant or that managers would negotiate their next deal in a fast food restaurant.

For all lovers of good food, there is probably nothing better than spending a lovely weekend on a country estate and tasting wines or taking a cooking course with a renowned chef. At such events, you meet all those who do not compromise when it comes to enjoyment. A characteristic that is not only indicative of good culinary taste.

Here it is important to choose the right events, which is not easy with the now oversized range of wine tastings and cooking courses on offer. A high price is not a clear indicator that it is an upscale event, but if you are already too stingy here, you will do the same in other areas. Look at the location: good cooking courses never take place in back rooms or unadorned open-plan kitchens.

The location should resemble a classy restaurant or be hosted directly by one. After all, the home-made creations are also tasted directly on site - who wants an uninspired interior? For wine tastings and courses, it can be worth leaving the big city for a day. Upscale events often take place on elaborately restored farms and country estates. Our tip: A trip to the southwest of Germany. Here, the winegrowers themselves present their best creations in stylish courtyards right next to their vineyards. What could be better than tasting the latest creations of your favorite winemaker in pleasant company?

Whether it's a wine tasting or a cooking class - once you've found a suitable event, it's not difficult to start a conversation. You can talk about the different aromas and flavors and exchange culinary experiences. And who knows, maybe you'll soon be toasting a joint project with a new acquaintance.

Numerous studies have now proven the positive effects of yoga on the mind and body. It is not only these findings that will have prompted many business people (including more and more men) to practise yoga as a form of relaxation. Especially after a hectic day at work, it is the perfect opportunity to switch off and regenerate. This "reduction to the essentials" also helps us to distinguish the important from the unimportant away from the yoga mat. Around 2.6 million people in Germany now practise yoga - and the trend is rising!

For successful business networking, don't look for a studio far away from your workplace. In the middle of the city in the immediate vicinity of office buildings, you are most likely to meet interesting people and expand your network. In well-equipped studios, there are lounges that can be used as a place to relax after or before training and where you can chat and exchange ideas with others.

"If you rest, you rust" is an old saying that more and more people are taking to heart. Not only is the number of gym members on the rise, we are also attaching more and more importance to mental training. Especially if you are mentally challenged every day, you want to maintain your mental fitness for as long as possible as you get older. One way to do this is with the help of a so-called brain jogging app on your smartphone. But before you download such an app, you should perhaps consider another (better) way: Why not learn a new skill together with others, keep your mind sharp in the process and even expand your business network?

Evening language courses in particular are becoming increasingly popular, not least because of the constant growth in international networking. And who among us doesn't secretly dream of being able to converse in fluent Spanish, Italian, French or another language in their favorite holiday destination? For those who primarily want to improve their professional qualifications and expand their business network, a very specific course is ideal: Business English.

It is obvious that business people are the main target group here. On the one hand, the advanced courses require a certain level of proficiency and, on the other hand, the participants include in particular the employees of a company who are responsible for foreign affairs and therefore have a broad network for professional reasons.

In cities, however, the choice of courses is now unmanageably large - how do you find the best after-work course? Class groups should be neither too large nor too small. If the number of participants is too large, the quality will be questionable, and if it is too small, it is not suitable for business networking. Another indication of a good course can be whether you can obtain recognized language certificates, such as from the University of Cambridge, directly from the institute.

Whether you want to learn business English or an exotic foreign language, an evening course is the perfect way to combine intellectual training with successful networking.

Of course, traditional leisure activities, such as golf, are not losing their importance for successful business networking away from the workplace. Important people will also meet and do business with each other here in the future. However, those who are open to new areas will increase their chances and need not neglect the finer things in life.

Our fully comprehensive and personal lifestyle consulting satisfies longings and creates a lifestyle in a class of its own. It thrives on absolute proximity and personal connection. We are therefore particularly happy to fulfill our customers' dreams on site and, true to our service promise, address their concerns in one of our modern branches. You will find us in Esslingen and Cologne.