Today brought a mix of learning, life planning, and a little competitive sweat.
Written by:
Justin Walton
Date:
April 29, 2025
Tenders, Thinking Ahead and Tight Margins
Today brought a mix of learning, life planning, and a little competitive sweat.
I attended the third and final session in a series on tendering for public sector work. These workshops have been a great learning space, packed with practical guidance, real-world insights, and a few lightbulb moments. They have also been a chance to connect with other local business owners, some familiar, others new. It is always refreshing to step out of the usual bubble and hear how others approach opportunities, especially in the ever-evolving public sector space.
After that, I had a meeting with our financial adviser for one of our regular whole life planning reviews. These sessions are less about chasing performance and more about staying aligned. They help us update our assumptions, double-check our trajectory, and explore what-if scenarios with a clear head. I have come to value this process. It creates an opportunity to step back and look at our choices now and over the medium and long term. These conversations often give us clarity not just around money, but around the life we are trying to shape. That blend of Money, Meaning, and Mind feels especially powerful.
Later in the day, I was back on court with my wife for another Padel league match. It was a very tight game with one game in it across three sets. We had lots of long rallies and well-contested points. Competitive, but in a good-spirited way. These league nights are fast becoming a highlight: a mix of friendly rivalry, steady fitness, and a social side that makes it feel more like play than pressure. Even in close matches like this one, there is enjoyment in the learning curve, teamwork, and seeing improvements each week.
Lesson of the Day
Sometimes alignment shows up in how you prepare for the long term, and sometimes in how you play the point right in front of you. Today was about both. Zooming out with financial planning, zooming in on the next Padel point. Either way, the small, steady actions move us closer to the life we are building.
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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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