Simon Mainwaring

Simon Mainwaring is the founder of We First, the leading social branding firm. He is an Advisory Board member of Sustainable Brands, the Center for Public Diplomacy at the USC Annenberg School and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London, as well as a contributor to Fast Company, Huffington Post, Mashable, GOOD and Forbes. His New York Times, Wall Street Journal & Amazon bestseller, We First, was named Best Marketing Book of 2011 by strategy+business. Prior to We First, he was an award-winning Nike creative at Wieden & Kennedy and worldwide creative director on Motorola at Ogilvy.

Why does the world need a work revolution?
Human capital is not being optimized in a way that fulfilling for people or building a better world.

How are you or your organization reinventing work in some way (big or small)?
Staying small, lean and nimble.

Why do you do what you do?
Contribution is the most selfish thing you can do.

What kind of art do you like (any recommendations we should know about)?
Calligraphy because it’s fluid and free.

What is one discipline/industry totally different from your own that has inspired you?
Cliff diving.

What piece of technology (other than your laptop/smartphone/tablet) could you not live without and why?
Earplugs. It’s is the quickest way to peace.

What do you do for fun?
Swim in the ocean.

How do you stay productive throughout your day?
Adrenaline, anxiety and coffee!

What time of the day do you do your best work?
Whenever I feel rested.

What’s your preferred work environment look like?
Looking at the water.

Tell us something surprising about you:
I will when you’re not ready.

What’s a free business idea you’ll give away to our entrepreneurial readers?
There is no such things as a free idea as they all cost you something in the past or future.

How can people connect with you?
@SimonMainwaring
facebook.com/Simonmainwaring
SimonMainwaring.com

Where in the world are you?
California, USA.

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