Author: james

Last year I almost drowned in the Ganga. I attempted to rescue a drowning man and failed. It was an exhilarating experience. As close as I felt to drowning, I knew that it was in my power to live – it was more an awareness of extreme danger than that of a near death experience. […]

I’ve often felt that music has the power to transform. I’m a big fan of many genres and styles but it’s lyrics that tend to stay with me. There’s a magical transcendence imbued in the words of a great song. For me that song is ‘Sometimes‘. It’s a kind of mantra. I feel fucking elated […]

I’ve just switched back to my old instagram account. Running two personal accounts wasn’t working for me. I’ve created a new handle @bikebookbreath. Join me for all the latest daily inspiration in pictures. The content may vary from time to time so if you have an account, it’s probably worth signing up. I’ll share a […]

Ernest Shackleton advertised in London papers in the early 1900’s for men to join his latest expedition. “Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.” He was overwhelmed by the response. Turns out that setting expectations from […]

When will I be in Varanasi, by the banks of the Ganga, river immortal, in just a loincloth, my hands held up, beseeching, ‘O lord of Gauri, O Shambhu, be pleased with me,’ and pass my days like a blink of the eye? -Bhartrihari

Yesterday, I wrote about the need for freelancers to know their ABC’s.  It’s an old school sales mantra that helps earn commitment from prospects. But I missed a step in the process. The key skill of a good sales professional is asking great questions and listening to the answers. This is called the ‘need find’ […]

When I was a sales rep I used to love the buzz of closing a sale. It was addictive. The thrill of winning new business was a high that’s hard to describe. I loved it. Running your own business is even more hustle than 9-5 in a sales role. It’s full power 24/7. You are […]

Here in India it is possible to walk into a clothes factory wearing your favourite garment and inside of a couple of hours, have a perfect reproduction. It’s a testament to the ingenuity and the creative flair of individual practitioners that this is a reliable way to produce clothes to order. The challenge comes when […]

Amazon is modern slavery. Workers are paid poor wages to work in awful conditions and they’re the lucky ones. It’s consumers that are the real slaves in this equation. With each new purchase sovereign power is surrendered. Local spending power for the good of the local neighbourhoods of our towns and villages is diminished. Every […]