Why ‘Good Enough’ ISN’T — and How One Commercial Agency Built Its Future on Defying the Norms
- Chris Spence
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
In this episode of our podcast, I sat down with Shaun Simons, the founder of Compton, a London-based commercial real estate agency rewriting the rule book on what an occupier-first, human-centred property business can look like. What unfolded was an unfiltered conversation covering everything from early hustle and grit, to building a culture of difference, to how the future workplace must evolve beyond square footage and rent rolls.
From Apprentice to Industry Disruptor
Shaun kicked things off by taking us back to his first big leap: entering the real estate world at 16, founding his first venture amidst the 2010 financial crisis. It wasn’t a shy start. What stood out is his mindset then—and now: if you’re going to show up, show up early, show up bold, and show up differently.
As he remembered:
“If I’m at my desk by 6:30 and my competitor is at his desk at 8:30… that’s two hours a day… 500 hours a year.” It’s a simple metric, but applied obsessively. He isn’t coy about it: “We don’t charge by time, but you can do as many deals as time allows you to do.”
The experience from his first agency, the sale to a global firm, and then launching Compton in 2021 gave him a sharper lens. At Compton, the mantra isn’t just “be a little better” — it’s “be different”. That meant everything: from how they hired, to how they marketed, to how they treated their clients. Being different is how SPOR like to do it too. Which is the reason we put together our AV Bundle. Now you can design AV Meeting rooms easily, quickly and FREE. Check out the AV Bundle here.
The Culture & Experience Edge
One of the themes we unpacked deeply was this: the real estate game has been stuck in an image-freeze for decades. Black-and-white A4 brochures, a single photo, zero energy. Shaun recalled how at his prior agency they disrupted that entirely: motion pictures, 10+ photos, social media engagement.
At Compton, this evolves further: they opened a restaurant under their offices, not because they wanted to be restaurateurs, but because they wanted an “experience anchor” for the community and clients. It’s brilliant because it signals that:
You’re not just leasing space.
You’re offering a place people want to go.
You’re integrating brand, culture, hospitality and business in one package.
Shaun is candid about the fact his style isn’t for everyone. He says there will be clients who don’t want him, who prefer others in his team. And that’s fine. The point is authenticity: give people choice, let them see the personalities, let them pick who they want to work with.
Takeaways for the Future Workplace
Lead by Example. Shaun’s discipline—being in early, greeting people, setting the tone—isn’t about ritual. It’s about establishing momentum and credibility. In a scaling business, the founder’s behaviour sets the structural tone.
Treat Your Business Like an Experience Operator. Property isn’t just about bricks & mortar. It’s about how a person arrives, how they feel, how they stay, how they leave. The restaurant under the office? That’s the metaphor made literal.
Don’t Chase Perfection — Chase Evolution. Shaun says that in a world this fast-moving, if you’re standing still you’re moving backward. He tells of how every time Compton thinks they’ve cracked something, someone copies them. So they have to move again.
Create Your Own Identity (Don’t Try to Behave Like Someone Else). If you try to be everyone’s cup of tea you end up bland. Shaun and his team want to be distinct enough that the right clients see them and say: “Yes, that fits me.”
The People Element Wins. Every Time. “Property is a people business, make it about the people,” he asserts. Whether it’s your staff, your clients, your community—your competitive edge is human.
I left my conversation with Shaun feeling like this: it’s no longer enough to be competent, you must stand apart. In the workplace-industry, where the market is crowded with commoditised solutions and tired marketing, we get to choose whether we play by the old rules or write better ones. Compton is a case study of the latter.
So, if you’re doing the usual—promising “efficiencies”, “cost savings”, “best-in-class”—know that the future is going to reward the businesses who go one step further: those who promise experience, identity, human connection, and distinct voice.
Next time you walk into a meeting room, into an office, into a pitch—it’s not just about what’s on the spec sheet. It’s about what the people walking in feel, think, choose. Because the space will always say something. The question is: what will yours say? We drive that conversation by giving you AV Tools early. We give you the tools to design your own meeting rooms without having to worry about getting lost in the complicated noise of tech. You can download your AV Bundle here
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