Maurilio Amorim

Month: December 2010

  • Men’s Fashion Trends for 2011

    For the last Fashion Friday of 2010, we look forward to the trends in menswear for 2011, specifically what’s coming up for the Spring. A see a fee overarching trends that will carry into the new year among them the continuing reinvention of the 80’s fashions with argyle sweaters, skinny ties and the resurgence of the Member’s Only jackets. Linen, while it has never been out of style, I believe will make a stronger come back next summer. in 2011 we’ll see more pattern mixing for men and bold color accents in traditional gray or navy suits. Here’s what top designers trends are showing for next season:

    2011 mens fashion trends
    Armani pairs up a slim cut gray suit with bold accent collor, even down to the yellow shoe. Yep.
    Dolce and Gabbana brings back linen mixing whites and tans. Also the skinny tie is here to stay another season
    Prada is betting on bold colors and strong lines.
    Etro: It's ok to mix up patterns just make sure they're subdue so they don't strongly compete with each other

    John Varvatos has gray as a Spring color. Just make sure the fabric is appropriate for the season.

    In 2011 men’s clothing will still be cut slim and tight. That means it’s not a very forgiving look if you’re carrying on a few extra pounds. Designer clothing or not, remember that ill-fitting clothing will make even the most expensive items look bad on you. Personally I look forward to being more bold with accent colors as well as mixing patterns. While some of that makes me nervous, sometimes you just need to get out of  your comfort zone. Not long ago I looked at my closet and all I saw was black and white with a few hits of brown. Boring. I’m changing that in 2011.

    Any of these trends push your personal comfort envelop? If so which one?

  • My Top 10 Posts of 2010

    Some I saw coming but others I must say caught me by surprise. The top 10 posts of 2010 are interesting reflections of me: eclectic, serious, fun, and honest.  In August I changed platforms from Blogger into self-hosted WordPress, did a major face lift, and began posting every day. The results were significant: traffic jumped 10 times what it was earlier this year and commenting and interactivity also spiked. I have gotten to know some new friends who are stopping by on a regular basis, and I feel more a sense of community building with each post. These posts reflect reactions and thoughts of events, ideas and lessons I’m facing daily. I usually write them after a full day of meetings, ideas and conversations. There’s always a nugget of truth, a funny story or something that drives me crazy during my day that makes its way into a post. I hope you’re enjoying reading them as much as I am writing.

    top 10 blog posts 2010 Maurilio Amorim

    Hipster vs Polyester Christianity and the Cultural Trap This post was a response to Brett McCracken’s  book “Hipster Christianity” . It hit a nerve and it drove the highest daily traffic of any post.

    Looking Sharp in a Vest I started Fashion Friday as a joke. It has turned out one of the most widely read features. Who knew?

    Narcissism, Social Media, Christianity and Me Very introspective look at our motivation in social media.

    Fashion Friday Dilemma: Pleats or No Pleats? I had no idea pleats would be so popular and controversial. America is the last frontier for the pleated pants.

    What Social Media Will Never Do For You Even the best of tools have limitations. Social media fails when we try to miss use it.

    Really, Really Bad Church Signs The title says it all.

    Self Discipline Is Not Enough: How I Get My Butt Out of Bed at 4 AM People have asked how I’m up so early most mornings. I answer it in this post.

    Yet Another Reason Men Need Women As if we needed more reasons. Here’s another one.

    How Men Should Wear a Scarf It’s amazing how many men don’t know how to tie or wear a scarf. Wonder no more.

    Bad, Really Bad Church Signs, Part II If you liked Part I, you’ll love this one.

    What was your favorite post of 2010? Did it make the top 10?

  • Are You Addicted to Social Media?

    This is a very funny video parody on why social media will ruin your family.

    Are you or a family member at risk?

  • My White Tennessee Christmas

    Yesterday was my first white Christmas ever. It was a beautiful, quiet day at home with my family. I decided to put together a quick video of our Tennessee White Christmas. I hope you enjoy it.

    Here’s another format if you have trouble with seeing the YouTube video on your mobile device

    How was your Christmas?

  • Your Unexpected Christmas Blessing

    I’m blessed. In the next few days my home will be filled with family, friends, cats and dogs coming together to celebrate Christmas. For some that many people in a house is a recipe for a fight waiting to break out, but for me it’s a true blessing. But I remember in years’ past not being able to be with family for the holidays. What kept me from being completely depressed was the love of friends who opened their home and took me in as one of their own.

    Who really needs your at Christmas

    While we are all running around looking for those last-minute gifts, baking goodies, and preparing for the big Christmas dinner, we can easily bypass those who might be near us without a place to be on Christmas day. I can barely keep up with my own family, their children and pets much less think about someone off my radar. But that’s the person who might need me the most.

    There’s no big wisdom to impart in this post, no big revelation, no saucy confession. I just want to be the voice of the quiet and lonely person next to you who might never speak for himself or herself, but who desperately wants a place to belong this Christmas. I was once that person. I know how it feels. Someone reached out to me and took me in.

    Take a deep breath and disengage from the Christmas craziness long enough to find the person who needs to be part of your Christmas. It might be your best Christmas gift ever. I know it was for me.

    How do you feel about inviting someone you barely know to celebrate Christmas at your home?

  • A Giving Perspective

    Ti’s the season for giving. There’s no question about it. My good friend  Sal Sberna raised 1.4 million at last weekend’s mission offering at his 4,000-member church in Houston, TX.  A lot of non profits depend on  December’s giving in order to survive the rest of the year. But no matter how often we give, there’s always the nagging question that seem to pop in the back of our minds: what if they misuse my money? What if instead of missions, my money goes to buy the pastor a new boat? Should the risk of my money being misused stop me from giving? The answer is a resounding “NO.”

    Giving perspective Maurilio Amorim

    Most of us know not to give to churches, ministries or solicitors that are not familiar to us. At least I hope you don’t. Unfortunately, there are too many shysters who pray on gracious people, specially the elderly.  But if you’re not sure, take some time and check the charity out. Make sure they are an IRS recognized non profit (501 c3 status). But even the right credentials, longevity, and assurances are not enough to full-proof your gift.

    Over the years I have developed a simple mindset for giving. No matter the size of the gift, my donation is to God first and foremost. Whether I’m giving to my church, to a ministry or to a stranger holding up a sign on the side of the road, I’m ultimately giving my money to God. The issue then, is not what people are going to do with my money; it becomes how they are going to use God’s resources. Once I give developed this mindset, I no longer worry or have the urge to follow the homeless man around to find out if he’s buying food or booze with my gift. Wherever the money goes is now God’s problem, not mine.

    Have you ever given reluctantly to a cause?

  • A Bedroom Intruder Christmas

    Creativity finds inspiration in the most unlikely of places. A few months ago, two young men decided to set the somewhat humorous news interview with Antoine Dodson, brother to a woman who had been assaulted in her apartment by a rapist, to music creating an instant Youtube sensation. Mr. Dodson has moved away from the projects with the proceeds he’s made from the “song.” He also performed live at the BET awards last month. The “bedroom intruder song” has now made its way into the Christmas repertoire of the Liberty University singers. Below is the evolution of the original newscast, the song and finally the Christmas version.

    What’s your take on the “Bedroom Intruder” phenomenon?

  • What Your Tech Accessory Says About You

    Fashion accessories say a lot about a person. Your technology “clothing” says even more about the kind of person you are. Since everyone at The A Group got iPads as Christmas gifts this week, I’m featuring in today’s Fashion Friday edition iPad covers and how they are a reflection of their owners. Take a look at these:

    You're important. You're serious. You're wealthy.

    You're an Artiste mon ami!
    You're a woman, an European man or a man wishing he were an European woman

    You're a rebel but a geeky one. Rock On.
    You're cutting edge with the original Apple cover. People wish they were you.

    You work for Microsoft. What? This is my letter box.

    You're a man's man. Bacon says it all.

    You own a Yacht

    You're a Playa. Love the bare touch feel and yet the full protection.

    I'm not even going there. I'm already in trouble for the last comment.

    What’s your iPad cover of choice? What does it say about your style?

  • Finding Your Perfect Job Has More To do With You Than The Market

    Lately I have spent time with several friends on their careers. The tough economy, life transition and leadership issues have forced some of my friends to reconsider their current employment.  It’s not uncommon for what you thought to be your dream job turn into your living nightmare. Over the years I have heard plenty of times, “I was hired to do one thing and now my job is doing something completely different.” It happens–more so these days than ever before.  While I empathize with their pain ( I have been there before)  I usually tell them: Don’t run away from a bad situation. Instead run toward the future you want.

    Find your perfect job career

    Every time we run from a job, we risk of ending up in a similar situation later down the road. Before you search for another job or decide to make a career move, take time and do some honest soul searching. Here’s where I would start:

    know your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest with yourself. Don’t buy into your own PR. You’re not good at everything. None of us are. Unless you can understand what you do well and what you don’t, you’ll never put yourself in a place where you can succeed. If you’re not a numbers person, then admit it. Stay away from business administration and accounting. Your perfect job will never be something you are not good doing. Never.

    Understand the environment you work best. Work environment makes a difference in performance. If you’re a collaborative person, than a job where you work alone or from home is not going to get the best out of you.

    Create a list of your past “wins” and find a common thread. Look back and catalog the projects, jobs, or situations where you had positive results or feedback. What made them succeed? If you can find the winning pattern, it will help you identify the key elements that will help you succeed in your new position. 

    Design your ideal job/career in your mind. It’s easy to say “yes” to a lot of things when you don’t have a strong idea of what you really want. It’s easy to say “no” to a good opportunity when you’re waiting to say “yes” to your perfect job.

    Connect the dots. In my experience, the perfect job you want is usually two or three steps, jobs, opportunities away from where you are. Learn to connect the dots and strategically pursue the next logical opportunity.

    What other advice would you give someone who is ready to make a job or career move?

  • What Social Media Will Never Do For You

    I love social media. It has changed my professional as well as personal life. I have made new friends, found new clients, and re-connected with my Brazilian high school as well as my American college friends. It’s by far one of the most significant shifts in human interactivity I have ever experienced. Because of it the world has become small, very small.  In most cases, I recommend and encourage my clients to be active in social media whether they are business leaders, ministry heads, authors, or performers. I have taught social media seminars for years to leaders all over the world. But even at its best, social media was never intended to replace face-to-face interactivity, and the sooner we understand that, the better off we are.

    social media

    As I considered how far we have taken our online interactivity, here’s a few things it can never do for us:

    A post on your Facebook wall will never be able to look deep into your eyes and see the pain you’re feeling.

    A Skype call cannot hold your hand or hug you close.

    A Twitter DM is not able to unpack the complexity of a tough day or a difficult loss.

    A YouTube video cannot sit quietly next to you and enjoy just being together.

    A Twitpic of your best meal ever will never be a memory shared, but an opportunity lost.

    A blog post might share your heart with the world when what you really need is to share your soul with someone.

    If it weren’t for my online presence, I would not have met some great friends. But as I looked into a friend’s eyes, held his hand, and prayed with him, I was reminded of how meaningful the human experience can be.

    What other area(s) are we trying to use social media where it cannot deliver?