OUTSPOKEN:
WORDS

Well, that’s it I guess. It’s all over. As the plane made its way across London, after nearly five months navigating my way across the length of India, it’s finally over.

Entrepreneurs, bankers, analysts...even doctors They're all at it. The City's “not so little secret” is out! Everybody in the City is microdosing.

As I crossed the finish line at Kanyakumari I was filled with elation and emotion. I had tears of joy streaming down my face. My girlfriend was waiting for me at the finish line arms outstretched. There was a large crowd of locals gathered waving flags, cheering me on and embracing the grandeur of my amazing accomplishment

I honestly don’t know where to start. I’ve written and re written this post over and over again. It’s difficult to put into words. I’m only 80 kilometres away from the finish point of Kanyakumari, the southern most point of India.

Now I have to stress, that after a hard days trekking across India the last thing I want to spend my time doing is watching any long formate educational documentaries, or brain taxing YouTube shows. Basically anything taxing on the brain.

As I was sat, hesitant and slightly apprehensive, in an apartment in Notting Hill, I knew I had to face my fears. I had read how many other people had overcome major challenges in their life by medicating with psychedelic medicines such as DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) and Ayahuasca.

The way we consume media has changed considerably over the last five years. While TV and radio figures have taken a nose dive, the U.K. has seen a sharpe rise in the number of podcasts being launched on platforms such as iTunes, stitcher and sound cloud.

So much time. So much bloody time to think, contemplate and give deep rooted reflection of life. I am constantly faced with the reality of living, and yet at the same time living the reality. Every cause and concern, thought and manifestation of why?

I’ve not done too bad with regards to online trolls over the years. Bearing in mind I’ve been known to post some controversial content and I’m certainly not one to hold back on giving my opinion. 

Let’s have a drink because...
We exist in a society where there is a plausible excuse to have a drink for just about every given occasion. And, even then if we can’t think of an excuse, the mentality in the UK is to say “fuck it, we only live once” make mine a...(fill in the blank)

Throughout my life, I’ve always been searching. Searching for the next best thing. Searching for that special something, whatever that may be. Always seeking happiness, enlightenment or pleasure in my next challenge or endeavour.

There is, of course, the charity element and raising awareness for mental health, which has huge relevance (obviously). But the real reason I’m walking across India might just resonate with you!

To say I underestimated pretty much everything about this ridiculous adventure I’m on, would be something of an understatement. The heat, the distance, the terrain and the toll it would take on me physically and mentally has far surpassed anything I could have ever possibly imagined.

Do I or don’t I? That is the question I’ve pondered for the last week or so.  The reality is I’m an all or nothing kinda guy and honesty (and bluntness) runs through my veins. The long and short of it is, I got robbed just over a week ago and also fell foul to the corrupt Indian police. The less said about them the better at this stage.

I’d grafted for 14 hours to get to my destination for the day. I’d had a nightmare week, like you wouldn’t believe and I was seriously considering my options. I arrived late, but thankfully the hotel had a rather nice restaurant and bar. “Go on old boy you deserve it” I said to myself, so without hesitation, I called; “namaskha bhai; Kingfisher kitna rupee?” In my strange Hindlish accent.

I recently posted my Top 5 book recommendations, which prompted a lot of emails from people suggesting books I might like to read and people who I might like to follow (always very much appreciated). But, by far the most popular question asked was, what I personally took from each of the books I recommended?

In this post, I list my top 5 books that everyone should read in order to advance in life more effectively. Reading these books is an investment of your time and will help minimise the mistakes we often make in our iives. 

The honeymoon period is well and truly over. My Indian adventure started well, but I warn you now, I hold nothing back. So, if you’re squeamish you might want to stop reading at this point!

It’s a cold crisp morning high up in the mountains of Leh. As I wake it takes me a moment to realise where I am and what lays ahead. I dress in a hurry due to the subzero temperature in my room and quickly go in search of breakfast, eggs on toast to be exact.

A while ago I wrote a post with the headline reading - Create Your Own Adventure, Srinagar to Kanyakumari is cancelled. It wasn't click bait, far from it. It was the truth. Terrorists had planted a suicide bomber amongst a convoy of police transportation along the Srinagar highway which killed forty people.

ake away the modern scooters and Vodaphone advertising that saturates the landscape of India and certain parts of Delhi could easily be mistaken for something out the 1950s. So I took it upon myself to take you back in time with a selection of black and white images taken within the first 24 hours of arriving in India.

The first 24 hours in India have been crazy. Not crazy bad, more crazy good. From the moment I got off the prehistoric British Airways plane, I knew I was in India. I could feel it, smell it and as soon as I left the airport I could taste it.

Funny how our lives can change so much in just a few years. In fact, three years ago today I was packing everything I owned into bin bags, having lost my business, my house, my fiancé and nearly my life, through depression.

If you had asked me who Damian King was at twenty one, I would have arrogantly spurted some bollocks about being a City high flyer, on a mission to make my millions. I didn’t care about ruffling feathers or treading on people’s toes. I was bullish, cocky and confident.

You have just been let go from your job, your girlfriend has dumped you, or maybe you’ve just found out that the average penis length isn’t 3.5 inches. We all go through rough patches and sometimes the last thing we want is advice. Especially the type that is of no use to us whatsoever. You know the type...

Follow these tried and tested tips to ensure you start suffering from depression. I guarantee you that they work. I followed these tips religiously for 2 years from 2014 to 2016 and ended up suicidal.

You have just been sacked, your girlfriend has dumped you, or maybe you’ve just found out that the average penis length isn’t 3.5 inches. We all go through rough patches and sometimes the last thing we want is advice.

I have been getting such conflicting information as to how safe it would be for me, as a foreigner with no support, to walk through the valleys and highways in the Jammu and Kashmir region, that it would have been a complete gamble for me to take. It’s with deep regret that I’ve had to cancel…

Put the 28th & 29th in your diary now, because the big guns are coming to town! 

• Lewis Howes

• Neil Patel

• Fabienne Fredrickson

I know, who would have thought it, Mr 'I hate digital consumption' is now advising his followers to use their mobile phone whilst eating meals. How unproductive and unsociable is that? Granted, but hear me out before you conclude an opinion. 

Everyone wrote Tyson Fury off against Deontay Wilder, and rightly so. His two warm up fights were a farce, and shifting ten stone - whilst impressive  - will undoubtably take its toll on anyone's body. ‘His fitness will be be affected’; ‘his head won’t be in a good enough place’; ‘Deontay punches too hard.

It all started last Sunday evening. I was at home with my girlfriend, discussing my goals for the coming months. I wanted a challenge, something to aim for. But what, Tough Mudder? The Rat Race? I even looked at doing an Iron Man! None of them really appealed to me the more I looked into them.

I knew it had to happen sooner or later; when you’re on the journey of exploration and self-discovery time waits for no man. I knew that I had reached a point in my life where I needed to create a new adventure. Create new opportunities that will pave the way, on the untrodden path that we call our future.

I can’t believe I got it so wrong. As many of you will know, I have been stressing like hell at the thought of turning 40. So much so, that I cancelled all birthday celebrations and wanted to let it pass without acknowledgement.

How is it that some people use pain and suffering as a springboard to achieve great success in life? And yet, others use it as a ball and chain that weighs them down and keeps them from pursuing their goals in life? Is it mindset, influence, or simply that we’re all biologically different?

Let’s make no bones about it, it’s very hard. I’d say, it’s just as hard as stopping smoking or drinking. I’m fully aware that those very words might make the cynics scoff and throw the accusation as bullshit my way. My response is simple - try it! 

Have I slept with enough women? Is my house big enough? Should I have brought the coupé instead of the 4x4? Have I done enough ‘manly' things to justify my existence? These are the questions many men have been second guessing for generations,

After watching last nights’ BBC 2 documentary on Male suicide, I was amazed that 56% of the men they interviewed had contemplated ending their life. I can’t comment on their issues or causes, but I can share with you my experience and a few things that helped me get my life back on track.

I have had a love hate relationship with alcohol over the years. I’ve commented many times before, that almost all the trouble I’ve ever been in has been the result of consuming too much alcohol. It has the potential to turn a seemingly respectable person into a moronic fuckwit

I have now surpassed the 30 day no alcohol challenge and, I think, I’m on day 34 or 35? How do I feel? Exactly how I thought I might - fucking amazing! I keep attempting to write this Weekly Roundup and end up getting myself deep into the rabbit hole of the profound effects…

Is it just me that finds these irritating twats so irrelevant and an insult to humanity? It’s like society has bred a new breed of adult sized child, who has less integrity than a vegan who secretly gorges on foie gras. I call it the ‘TOWIE’ effect.

I could never understand the people that mourned for celebrities and public figures they had never met before. Admittedly, with all the famous faces who have passed away over the last couple of years, it has been a bit of an eye opener, a kick up the backside and certainly a reminder that life doesn’t last forever. 

The bio on my personal website sounds pretty impressive even if I do say so myself. Travel, wealth, properties and endless opportunities. Fast forward two years and alcohol, drugs and depression cost me everything and nearly my life. In light of Mental Health Awareness month, here is my story

Let's be honest, when we watched movies as kids such as Rocky or Enter The Dragon it may have gotten us all excited and for a short period of time, it might have even been enough to inspire us to go jogging in the park, hit the pads in the gym or bash the kid that’s been pissing you off

Biology or psychology, that is my dilemma when it comes to the Whole30 diet. I made it to day 24 and I’m actually pleased to say I’ve stopped. Some of you might say I’ve failed but I know in my own mind I got what I needed from the experiment - insight.

As homo sapiens we often take things at face value, it’s human nature after all. But, for the best part, it's a trait that doesn’t serve us well. The true leaders of this world have a tendency to look beyond the facade and look at scenarios in a more objective perspective.

I hate fad diets! Nearly as much as I hate the people who seem to spend their life jumping from one ridiculous eating regime to another. Why? Becuase they never shut the fuck up about whatever diet they are on, they are inconsistent, often moody and very judgemental. Is that enough reasons? 

I will stick my neck on the line and say that the majority of people who made New Year's resolutions have fallen off track - Eat better, drink less and exercise more. People don't like to be reminded that they have failed, hell I certainly don't. I still see people slogging it out in the gym, most likely because:

Let me get straight to the point. I have spent many years in the City working with supposedly super confident alpha males. Money-driven self-obsessed maniacs, bullish arrogant and egotistical males. Each one trying to prove their worth in a fast-paced cutthroat environment.

I can still remember the feeling when I packed the last of my belongings into The Big Yellow storage facility I had rented. I felt a slight apprehension and nervousness but also a feeling of freedom, knowing that for the next 12 months I didn't have a care in the world, at least from a work perspective anyhow. 

I’m not a betting man but like many, I was caught up in the hype of Mayweather Vs McGregor fight. I ended up betting quite a bit of money on McGregor and the experience ended up costing me dearly. In my heart, I knew McGregor didn't stand a chance but I’m a huge advocate of The Law of Attraction

This is a step by step method to help you create better habits. It's a simple procedure that can be implemented into any area of your life be it business or personal. The aim here is to be consistent and by doing so you will find your ability to achieve your goals greatly increases.

I am not preaching any type of “I’ve seen the light bollocks”. My time in the City was spent burning the candle at both ends I can assure you. Most of what I write about comes from my own personal experiences - *or from trusted sources I might add!

The power of visualisation. More commonly coined "The Secret" by advocates and believers. I actually watched the movie before reading the book and wasn't blown away if I'm being completely honest. You see, I was looking for "The Secret".

What makes Conner McGregor so special? There is no question the man has talent, an unorthodox style, and a first class work ethic. But he is far from the most technically gifted fighter in the UFC. I am a huge McGregor fan but even I wouldn't put him in the top 5

Now I am not going to tell you how to suck egg's, but.... actually I am because when you hate your job taking that first step seems like such a mammoth task, when in actual fact it's not if you break things down into smaller tasks. I personally used to get a mental block

bumped into an old colleague of mine called Ian one lunchtime in a bar in the City. I worked with him back in 2001 and to say he had changed considerably would be an understatement. It wasn't until he called over to me that I actually recognised him.

I must admit that when I first heard about Kambo I was less than impressed. My initial research consisted of a quick search on youtube where I watched several short clips of people getting small dots burnt on certain areas of their body, a poison from an Amazonian frog

Fillers, compounds and unlisted ingredients. You might be surprised to know I'm not talking about an underground drugs den cooking up the latest batch of party drugs. No siree I'm talking about the so-called healthy supplements and vitamins you can buy over the counter

Are you fucking crazy? Those were the very words spoken by my boss when I handed in my notice. A month later I dropped off the keys to my company car, said goodbye to my colleagues and hopped onto the tube to Heathrow.

As the sun was going down in the far distance, I took in the sounds of the streets below. I was enjoying the cooler evening temperature and the slight breeze that blew across the bustling roof terrace. The sky was filled with a vibrant orange glow, the air filled with a mixture of incense and spices.

In life, you will always get advice from people ill qualified to offer it. They mean well but it never actually makes you feel any better at the time of offering. 'it will get easier', 'things will sort themselves out'. Ask them to give you real life examples of how they have come to that

Joining the 5 am club may be all the rage at the moment with the likes of Gary Vee appearing to work 25 hours a day and crushing life. But failing to get enough sleep can be a major cause of your downfall. Why? Becuase sleep is equally as important as your diet and exercise. 

Firstly, as an independent observer, I feel I'm well placed to look at both sides. But one thing that becomes more apparent is that one side seem unprepared to listen to reason and they are hell bent their political stance is the correct one. I thought the whole point of politics was to debate?