with... Pepe Marais
1. Where do you live, work and play?
Marais: I am a born and bred Capetonian who followed my heart and passion to Joburg, and today, everything I live for happens in and around this city.
2. What's your claim to fame?
Marais: I don't aim for fame, I aim to add Über value and make a significant difference to the world we live in.
3. Describe your career so far.
Marais: Incredible. Although I do believe I am only at the start of it.
4. Tell us a few of your favourite things
Marais: I am obsessed with personal growth and human potential and spend an immense amount of energy on this area. I am also a deep believer in having purpose in life. I am blessed with an incredible wife and young boy. Oh, and I am a closet rock star.
5. What do you love about your industry?
Marais: That every single day is filled with different challenges. It gives me so much energy. It's also an industry that embraces creativity more than most.
6. What are a few pain points your industry can improve on?
Marais: Over-thinking, too much head and too little heart. Not changing the way we do things fast enough.
7. Describe your average workday (if such a thing exists).
Marais: Up at 4:30am. Morning intention standing on top of my bed. Crossfit. Meditate. Goal setting. Tweet time. Breakfast. Start work on average at 7:30am. Working hard towards focusing more on creativity and being less trapped in meetings. Lunch on the run. Last meeting normally finishes at 6:30pm. Second breath, 20-minute workout. Family dinner around the table 7 days a week. Story time for Jasper. Bed at 8:30pm. Read until 9pm. Sleep. Because 7.5 hours of sleep makes you more creative. Repeat.
8. What are the tools of your trade?
Marais: My mind - that's my head and my heart - is my greatest tool.
9. Who is getting it right in your industry?
Marais: I would have to say King James in South Africa, followed by Ogilvy Cape Town, and I have always respected FoxP2 for their incredible commitment to creative excellence. But on a global level, with no doubt, Droga 5.
10. What are you working on right now?
Marais: The launch of Dialdirect's new positioning and a next-level campaign for Nedbank.
11. Tell us some of the buzzwords floating around in your industry at the moment, and some of the catchphrases you utter yourself
Marais: Integration. Although no one is really making it work.
12. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
Marais: When I am resting.
13. What's your secret talent/party trick.
Marais: I can sing and play Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones - in Afrikaans.
14. Are you a technophobe or a technophile?
Marais: I am a Twitterphile, and to prove it, here's a tweet:
The biggest thing associated with longevity? Purpose.
- Pepe Marais (@pepemarais) January 20, 201515. What would we find if we scrolled through your phone?
Marais: A very, very long list of friends accumulated over the years. I have no apps on my phone. My iPhone can only do hello and goodbye.
16. What advice would you give to newbies hoping to crack into the industry?
Marais: Hard work and passion beats talent hands down.
17. Plug your contact details, punt yourself - list all the places people can find you/your work online...
Marais: Google.
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*Interviewed by Leigh Andrews.
About Leigh Andrews
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