MEET THE FOUNDER

Hey, I'm Brian!

My name is Brian Boyd. I’m not here to fix you. I’m here to help you stop lying to yourself so you can fix your own life.

I built Rebel Philosopher for people who feel the quiet, constant itch under the skin – the sense that life has drifted into scrolling, coping, and pretending.

I’ve worked in the real world, in real organisations, with real stress. I’ve watched people burn out, numb out, and give up on themselves while talking a big game about “success” and “mindset”.

This project is my answer to that: a place where philosophy, Zen, and blunt honesty meet practical action.

The Rebel Philosopher Is Not Your Guru

The Moment I Got Bored of Bullshit

I've seen enough:

  • • Self-help that feels good and changes nothing.
    • Spiritual takes that float three feet off the ground.
    • Productivity advice aimed at turning you into a slightly more efficient machine for someone else’s goals.

  • At some point I realised:
    I wasn’t short on information. I was short on clarity, honesty, and practice.

  • Rebel Philosopher grew out of that frustration – and a simple question:


    What happens if we stop pretending and actually do the hard, small, un-glamorous things that change a life?

What Rebel Actually Means Here

This isn’t about shouting at the world for being unfair. The world has always been unfair.

“Rebel” here means:

• Refusing to let comfort decide your life.
• Questioning the scripts you were handed about work, success, identity, and “who you’re allowed to be”.
• Choosing to build something real instead of waiting to be rescued.

You don’t need to burn your life down. You do need to stop sleepwalking through it.

Why A Blade?

The Blade of Zen is not about violence. It’s about precision.

A blade doesn’t negotiate with what needs to go – it cuts it away.

In this project, the “blade” is:

• Attention – seeing clearly what’s actually happening in your life.
• Honesty – admitting how you’re contributing to the mess.
• Action – small, repeatable movements that reshape reality over time.

No rituals. No worship. Just the work of cutting through illusion and habit.

What You’ll Find Here

  • The Blade of Zen – the core book. A mix of modern philosophy, Zen ideas, and hard truths about comfort and self-deception.

  • BREAKING FREE: The Anti-Comfort Protocol – a 5-module mini-course (in development) for getting out of “stuck” and into consistent action.

  • Behind the Blade – deeper dives, long-form reflections, and conversations.

  • Level 7 Archive – a future vault of tools, experiments, and field reports for those who want to go further than social media posts and quotes.

Or jump straight to the homepage at any time: Home.

Who I Am (In Brief)

I’m Brian Boyd – writer, coach, and the voice behind Rebel Philosopher and The Blade of Zen.

I’ve spent years working inside complex organisations, leading people functions, and watching how humans break under pressure – and how some quietly rebuild.

This project is not my “perfect life” on display. It’s my ongoing experiment in living with more clarity, courage, and integrity – and sharing what actually works along the way.