Business Uncorked continues to draw great interest, which is a sign it’s resonating.
Written by:
Justin Walton
Date:
June 3, 2025
Business Uncorked continues to draw great interest, which is a sign it’s resonating. It also means I need to keep evolving the marketing. I spent time today speaking to a few people to gather ideas on how we can keep engagement high and build momentum. It's always useful to get external perspectives on this kind of thing.
I visited the venue for next week’s Financial Mastery event. It is always worth a walk through to anticipate the unexpected. The venue is a performing arts centre, and it really shows in the set-up. Professional, well-equipped, and a great space to host something impactful. It’s made me even more excited for the event.
I also met with someone I’ve known for a decade but hadn’t spoken to in recent years. They’ve got a senior role in a professional services firm now, and it was a timely reconnection. We’re both in places where we can potentially collaborate. I’d like to work with them, and today was about exploring whether the fit is right.
In the evening, I went along to the pre-opening night of a new wine bar. It is the second venue from the team behind Business Uncorked’s current home. It’s stunning. A beautiful location and a great atmosphere. I heard about the behind the scenes challenges it took to get there too. It is a good reminder that opening night polish usually follows months of mess. It’ll be a brilliant new venue option for the future.
Good things take groundwork, whether it’s nurturing a network, planning an event, or opening a business. Vision needs infrastructure.
Today was the second Business Uncorked of the year, and what a great energy in the room again. We were joined by a trustee from The One Love Project, a local charity doing vital work around homelessness and food poverty. They shared a short piece about what they do and how the business community can support.
It’s important to me that Business Uncorked becomes more than just networking. I’d like it to serve as a platform, a space where local causes and people doing good work can be heard, seen, and connected with by the business community. Today felt like a strong step in that direction.
The event itself flowed well, with great conversations, new faces, and familiar friends. It’s always rewarding to see the right people in the right room. The combination of great wines, shared values, and open conversation never disappoints.
Business is about people, and people are part of communities. When the two align, great things happen.
It was a weekend to slow down and soak things up. A bit of switching off, but with two standout events that definitely deserve their own space here.
First up, Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes to Hollywood fame who performed the 40th anniversary tour of Welcome to the Pleasuredome. It was a total nostalgia trip, and the atmosphere in the venue was warm, energetic, and full of people smiling at shared memories. The Power of Love is one of my all-time favourites, and when it came on as the encore, it landed with real emotional weight. A moment ticked off the bucket list, even though it wasn’t on there!
On Sunday, we swapped music for football by heading to Wembley Stadium to watch Southend United take on Oldham Athletic in the National League play-off final. Now, I’ll admit it, Southend are my adopted team. Since moving to the area, I’ve been getting to know the club and everything it represents. Their turnaround story from the brink of collapse to a full community-backed revival has been nothing short of inspiring.
They led twice but ultimately lost in extra time. Still, the day wasn’t about the final score (although a win would have helped massively). It was about being part of something bigger. A city, a club, a community all pulling in the same direction. That crowd at Wembley was the biggest ever for a non-league match. That says everything.
Some wins don’t show up on the scoreboard. Whether it's singing your heart out at a concert or backing your local team, connection and shared experience matter more than results.
I should have mentioned earlier that I’ve set myself two daily challenges for this month. Both are pretty straightforward on paper: 2 miles of walking and 100 press-ups each day. The walking is fine as I’m already clocking up steps most days. Press-ups though! Let’s just say I’ve never been a fan. I’m only on day 2 and already counting the reps like they’re miles. But it’s all part of sharpening physical discipline and sticking with it will no doubt teach me something.
Today also included a financial coaching session that really got to the heart of things. The focus wasn’t on spreadsheets or saving strategies it was about difficult conversations. The kind that sit unspoken and slowly spiral into negativity if left unchecked. Helping my client work through those emotions, reframe the situation, and build a plan felt like real progress.
Coaching isn’t always about the numbers. Sometimes the numbers are the easy bit. It’s what sits behind them. Those beliefs, fears, unresolved stories that really shape financial behaviour.
Progress doesn’t always look like numbers going up. Sometimes it’s showing up, having the conversation, and doing the reps, even when you don’t feel like it.
More financial coaching today and it’s always rewarding when a client shares the real-world progress they’ve made as a result of our sessions. One particular conversation stood out. It was with a client who reflected not only on how far they’ve come, but on how much they’re now looking forward to continuing that journey. They’ve made some intentional, positive steps to enhance their relationship with money and, perhaps most importantly, they’re excited about it.
It’s a reminder that financial coaching isn’t just about sorting finances, it’s about shifting mindset, easing emotional weight, and creating new stories. It starts by offering people a space where they feel safe enough to open up. That kind of trust is something I never take lightly.
Elsewhere, a bit of bad news. We had a cancelled viewing on one of our investment properties. Disappointing, of course, but it comes with the territory. Property is a long game, and things don’t always go to plan. It helps having a portfolio where the ups and downs can level out. It puts days like today into perspective.
I rounded off the day with a few hours on the padel court which was part social hit, part friendly match. There’s a rhythm to the game that I really love. It always brings me back to balance.
Progress, setbacks, and play all sit side by side. What matters most is the story we tell ourselves about each of them.
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Justin Walton is an Executive and Financial Coach, and Consultant working in Essex and London. He writes regularly on financial well-being and brings his lived experience and professional expertise together to benefit clients and partners.
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