Jim Roberts @JimRoberts_ - Twitter Profile

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over 1 year ago

20 January 2014 was a pretty ‘Blue Monday’ for me. I tried working in a second corporate law firm in the bustling City of London. I was thoroughly miserable. I felt trapped, like being in a maths classroom on a sunny, blue-skied day. I’d spent a (mentally) bruising year across the road at a different US firm that ultimately didn’t offer me a training contract that would’ve secured the big salary and status dream. I felt I’d failed my family, my friends, myself. But had I really tried, either? Something didn’t seem quite right. A subtle longing to escape this strange world with its long hours, silly ‘rules,’ and stress-induced weekend recoveries began to grow. A longing to go on another adventure. An open road. Living from my backpack. Should I make the leap? Would you? Well, as you can probably guess, I did. I gave up my lodgings (and life) with some of my best friends in Lavender Hill. A trip to South America ensued with an ex-girlfriend—Brazil, Argentina, Chile—including a journey to the edge of the earth in Patagonia. The fresh air down there. Wow. It was, of course, a blast and has stories in itself, but I also remember, on a long bus back across the border to Brazil, scribbling a few precious words: Trust your own judgement. Now, sitting here on Blue Monday, 2025, I still cannot say whether I answered that question rightly or wrongly. Like for all of us, my life has taken many twists and turns since 2014. Some good, some bad. Some fun, some hard. Some predictable, some unexpected. Yet one thing I know for sure is those first-world struggles I had post-graduation did plant a seed. One that would take over a decade to come to full bloom. A story. An imaginary world. A fictional character. The tale of a rebellious little monkey. Claude Talador. A monkey, like me, wondering if he should escape his office cubicle. The Monkey State trilogy is for anyone who feels trapped in their work (or their current circumstances generally). It’s an escapist novel with dystopian vibes but also a dash of humour and hope. It’s a relatively short read, with (hopefully) good pacing. It takes a look at our strange old world of work. We may not know if the decisions we take are right or wrong, but we can make sure to try and have a bit of fun on the path we do follow. I'm not one for giving advice yet these words don't seem to contravene that: Trust your own judgement. And thank you for reading, Jim P.S. Please take a look at my book—available in paperback or ebook format— if any of this resonates > https://t.co/Ybfvl6st6q

JimRoberts_'s tweet photo. 20 January 2014 was a pretty ‘Blue Monday’ for me.

I tried working in a second corporate law firm in the bustling City of London. I was thoroughly miserable.

I felt trapped, like being in a maths classroom on a sunny, blue-skied day.

I’d spent a (mentally) bruising year across the road at a different US firm that ultimately didn’t offer me a training contract that would’ve secured the big salary and status dream.

I felt I’d failed my family, my friends, myself. But had I really tried, either?

Something didn’t seem quite right.

A subtle longing to escape this strange world with its long hours, silly ‘rules,’ and stress-induced weekend recoveries began to grow.

A longing to go on another adventure. An open road. Living from my backpack.

Should I make the leap?

Would you?

Well, as you can probably guess, I did.

I gave up my lodgings (and life) with some of my best friends in Lavender Hill.

A trip to South America ensued with an ex-girlfriend—Brazil, Argentina, Chile—including a journey to the edge of the earth in Patagonia. The fresh air down there. Wow.

It was, of course, a blast and has stories in itself, but I also remember, on a long bus back across the border to Brazil, scribbling a few precious words:

Trust your own judgement.

Now, sitting here on Blue Monday, 2025, I still cannot say whether I answered that question rightly or wrongly.

Like for all of us, my life has taken many twists and turns since 2014.

Some good, some bad. Some fun, some hard. Some predictable, some unexpected.

Yet one thing I know for sure is those first-world struggles I had post-graduation did plant a seed.

One that would take over a decade to come to full bloom.

A story. An imaginary world. A fictional character.

The tale of a rebellious little monkey. Claude Talador. A monkey, like me, wondering if he should escape his office cubicle.

The Monkey State trilogy is for anyone who feels trapped in their work (or their current circumstances generally).

It’s an escapist novel with dystopian vibes but also a dash of humour and hope.

It’s a relatively short read, with (hopefully) good pacing.

It takes a look at our strange old world of work.

We may not know if the decisions we take are right or wrong, but we can make sure to try and have a bit of fun on the path we do follow.

I'm not one for giving advice yet these words don't seem to contravene that:

Trust your own judgement.

And thank you for reading,
Jim

P.S. Please take a look at my book—available in paperback or ebook format— if any of this resonates > https://t.co/Ybfvl6st6q

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Jim Roberts

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