Simon Woodroffe OBE

After leaving school at 16, Simon spent almost 30 years in the entertainment business. Through the 1970s and 80s his production companies, based in London and Los Angeles, designed rock 'n' roll stages for artists like Rod Stewart, The Moody Blues and Stevie Wonder and events like Live Aid.

In 1997, Simon founded YO! Sushi, a conveyor belt sushi bar. The concept was to make eating a complete entertainment experience and featured call buttons, robot drinks trolleys and Japanese TV

In 2001 he was awarded the accolade of Best Venue at the Retailer of the Year Awards. In recognition for his contribution to hospitality, Simon was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2006.

Simon is developing new YO! brands including YOTEL, the world's most revolutionary hotel that opened in 2007. YO! Zone: part spa, part cafe, part bar and part nightclub, and YO! Home: residential property are in development.

Key Insight

CAN I? stands for Constant And Never-ending Innovation

Allow yourself to fantasise - if you are enjoying it you are in the right place

Often the really good ideas start out as the wacky ones, so don't dismiss them before they have a chance to mature

Allow yourself lazy time, whether it's in the garden, the bathtub or the car. Let your mind loose to fly

Try behaving out of character or go to a meeting and act as if you are someone to admire

Go to a supermarket and wander around looking at shapes with a blank in mind

The most impossible ideas sometimes have the most useful content