About Me
About James
One of my favourite thinkers, Christopher Hitchens, once said, “I want to live my life taking the risk all the time that I don’t know enough yet.”
This wonderful ode to free thinking, humility, and lifelong learning inspired the genesis of Deep Life Journey, which began as a passion project in the summer of 2022. I wanted to create my little corner of the digital world, a place where I could draw on decades of professional and personal experiences to share my thoughts and the wisdom of others. So, Deep Life Journey became a platform for exploring how we can achieve greater self-discovery and fulfilment in pursuit of a ‘deep life’.
The quest for a deep life isn’t new. Over two thousand years ago, the Ancient Greeks began this journey of contemplation, orienting their lives towards meaningful activities and pursuits. Today, I believe people can build a deep life by following three core principles: Intention, Balance, and Cultivation. Together, these principles create a well-rounded life, rich in meaning and fulfilment.
Intention enables purposeful choices that resonate with our deepest values, forming the building blocks of our future.
Balance promotes harmony across all areas of life, nurturing us professionally, personally, and spiritually.
Cultivation involves investing in our talents, relationships, and passions with patience, care, and persistence.
These principles—Intention, Balance, and Cultivation—are the foundations of Deep Life Journey and are deeply ingrained in my own life. In 2012, I made an intentional decision to move from my home country of Scotland to Dubai with little more than two suitcases. More than a decade later, this decision has proven to be one of the best I’ve made, creating many fantastic opportunities. I have also strived for balance, building a rewarding career while making time for exercise, relationships, travel, personal passions, and continuous learning and reflection. And in those pursuits meaningful to me, such as writing, photography, and, of course, Deep Life Journey itself, I have cultivated the craft of each over many years.
Two years since launching, Deep Life Journey has naturally evolved into my full-time coaching practice. As I began sharing my writing, I also pursued coaching as a profession. After a fulfilling 25-year corporate career, I sought what social scientist Arthur C. Brooks calls the “second curve”—the next phase of our career that focuses on using our accumulated knowledge and wisdom to teach and help others. Coaching felt like a natural fit for my second curve. Although I’ve coached in various capacities over the years, including as a running technique coach, I wanted to master the competencies and skills required to be an executive and leadership coach.
My coaching journey involved hundreds of hours of coursework, seminars, and practical experience through a leading coaching organisation called ICE. ICE is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the gold standard in coaching. The program was led by Master Certified Coach Taymour Miri, who has over 20 years of experience and has trained more than 1,500 coaches. I’m proud to be one of them: a trained coach at both the Associate and Professional levels with the ICF.
Today, as a coach, I help executives, leaders, and senior professionals live well-rounded and meaningful lives, guided by the philosophy of a deep life. Using a proven strengths-based approach, I help my clients identify and take full advantage of their natural talents, leading to greater confidence, clearer decision-making, and a harmonious balance of professional success and personal fulfilment. Contrary to popular belief, professional success doesn’t have to come at the cost of personal fulfilment. The principles of Intention, Balance, and Cultivation show us there is another path.
During the “first curve” of my career, I became a Chartered Marketer and specialised in communications and strategy, working in the financial services and technology industries. Over two decades at Dell Technologies, I held senior global roles in communications, leadership, and strategy. As Chief of Staff, I provided counsel on a $40 billion business extending across more than 170 countries. These experiences helped me develop a nuanced understanding of how to drive both organisational and personal transformation.
As an entrepreneur, I invested in and became co-owner of an arts-themed bar and restaurant in the UK in 2008. This experience, combined with founding Deep Life Journey in 2022, has enriched my understanding of business development and growth.
I’ve also played an active role in local communities, leading initiatives like Digital Futures, which encourages students in the UAE to explore careers in technology while promoting health and wellbeing. In 2022, I had the honour of being the keynote speaker for King’s College Hospital London at their annual scientific conference in Dubai, where I addressed the importance of finding intention, balance, and cultivation in an increasingly distracted world. I continue to give public talks on these and related topics, sharing insights on how to lead a more purposeful and balanced life.
I’ve always had a strong focus on health and wellbeing. Inspired by my grandfather, who was a professional footballer for Leicester City, I’ve pursued a lifelong passion for sport, especially football and running. As an ambassador for ASICS and a three-time marathon finisher, I promote a sound mind in a sound body as part of a holistic approach to health.
This focus on health became even more crucial in December 2023, when I underwent open-heart surgery to replace a severely damaged heart valve due to a structural issue. I wrote about the experience and my subsequent recovery. The support of my family and friends, along with the mindset I had cultivated from years as an amateur athlete, enabled me to face the challenge with hope and positivity. I’ve always been grateful for my health, and never more so than today. It has been a privilege to help others facing similar health challenges by sharing my experiences, guiding them through their own journeys with resilience and optimism.
In addition to my passion for health and fitness, photography is another passion of mine. It opens the door to the deep life, encouraging reflection on who we are, how we got here, and where we want to go. If you’re interested in photography, I’ve dedicated a section of Deep Life Journey to the best of my work, captured from my travels and experiences around the world. This work also stands as an example of dedication to one’s craft, aligning with the Cultivation principle of Deep Life Journey. I also love music, especially the guitar, which I’ve been playing for over 30 years, as well as travel, cinema, books, history, and art.
Writing is another passion. Every Friday, I publish my weekly newsletter, Deep Life Reflections, where I share five things I’m enjoying and contemplating, including a specific book and film or documentary. I’m also a regular contributor to Arabian Business Magazine in the Middle East. I love words and their transformative power.
Whether you would like to partner with me on a coaching journey or simply be part of the Deep Life Journey community through my newsletter, articles, and photography, I invite you to join me on a journey towards living your version of a deep life.
