Maurilio Amorim

Month: July 2011

What to Wear: New Job Edition

A new job comes with new opportunities, challenges and, most likely, a new dress code. A friend asked me this week “I need new clothes for my new job, but I have no idea what to wear.” There are a lot of pressures about starting a new position and your wardrobe should not be one of them. Guys, here are a few guidelines to help you look your best in your new job. (I’m linking each main point to some of my previous Fashion Friday post of relevance for more in depth information).

Ask. Don’t interpret. Business, business casual, casual, Friday casual, west coast casual, east coast casual are all subjective to interpretation down to the part of town you’ll be working. I have seen branches of the same company in the same city have different dress codes because of the area of town they were located. So don’t assume you know what the employee manual says, just ask and dress appropriately.

When in doubt, step it up. Sometimes even after asking, you might not feel 100 percent sure of what to wear. Most of the time the difference between “casual” and “business casual” falls on being able to wear jeans in a casual environment. You will not regret wearing the nicer option inside any category. For example not all jeans are created equal. If you are allowed to wear jeans, you cannot go wrong with a dark pair that’s simple and yet stylish. Safe brands like Guess and 7 for All Mankind have great options and will set you apart with those who know the difference. Avoid big embroidered pockets or jeans with holes. Stay away from Diesel and True Religion brands unless you know what you’re doing. It could be disastrous. People ask me about skinny jeans all the time. You can only wear skinny jeans if

1) you have girl legs,

2) your job is to be the lead singer of a boy band,

3) you’re a middle age worship leader holding on to your dream of being at the Catalyst stage, and you have girl legs.

If everyone is wearing khakis (no pleats, for the love) your shirt will set up apart. Here’s a rule of thumb: the better fitted the shirt is, the better you’ll look. Make sure the shirt does not droop at the shoulders or has a ton of extra material around your midriff . If you’re not a fashion forward kind of guy, avoid bold patterns. And, unless you’re an actor in a 80’s play, please no button downs. No one has ever gone wrong with a long sleeve shirt. Short sleeves are tricky and you need the right stuff and attitude to pull them off. Try them at your own risk.

Take your lead from above. No, I don’t mean prayer. Even though I know some guys who don’t pray because if they did, God would have told them to change clothes. Look at what your boss and his peers are wearing. You cannot go wrong with emulating your supervisor. But whatever you do, please don’t buy the same clothing items otherwise very bad things will happen to you.

It’s casual Friday not casualty Friday. Please don’t be “that guy.” You know whom I’m talking about. He takes casual to a whole new low and ruins it for the rest of us. Be casual not sloppy or dirty or smelly.

whew! This is way more than I intended to write.

Anything critical I forgot?

July 29, 2011
HAES [Health At Every Size] and the Slippery Slope

I just found out about HAES, Health At Every Size, from a Google+ shared blog by Chris Brogan. The post By Amy Pershing titled “Is The Idea Of Health At Every Size Just Permission To Be Fat?” The implied answer in the title is “no” but I’m having a tough time with overall concept.

In her own words Ms. Pershing says,

According to the BMI chart and the cultural message, I still have about 35 lbs to go. My body, however, seems perfectly healthy and happy right here. I figure she knows better. So “HAES” is NOT about “permission to get fat.” It is about each of us individually listening with body and mind, letting our unique bodies find the way to the weight they are happy to be, and valuing whatever the result.

While there is a lot of support for HAES, I think it’s a dangerous slippery slope for those who need the most help. One of my concerns is how a HAES mind set manages the line of settling for what its supporters believe is “appropriate, comfort and enjoyable” weight and the human mind’s ability to challenge ourselves to reach goals and stretch beyond the status quo. And I’m not talking about crash diets and unsustainable exercise programs.

I’m also not advocating an idea of physical standards that’s unrealistic for every body type. But when results from the 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using measured heights and weights, indicate that an estimated 34.2% of U.S. adults aged 20 years and over are overweight, 33.8% are obese, and 5.7% are extremely obese, it’s easy to see how people who don’t want to confront their health issues can use HAES as a cop out not to take personal responsibility. “I’m big and beautiful.” While that might be true you are not healthy and your quality of life is going to suffer greatly.

Somehow an “average” size person today in America is by any world standards, an overweight, unhealthy individual. I live in one of the most unhealthy places in the country, Tennessee. If I compare myself with the average size person, I would probably gain another 30 lbs and still look average.

HAES advocates believe one should not use exercise to lose weight. Really!? There’s nothing wrong with exercise to maintain a healthy BMI or weight. People have been doing it for centuries. I enjoy running, but sometimes I run a little farther because I know I’m about to eat a big dinner. I run for competition, for fun and for life and that means controlling my cholesterol, my body fat and the quality of life that being lean allows me to have, and yes, it includes fitting in a size 31 jeans at age 47. I used to weigh 40 lbs more than I do today. I was lethargic, had asthma attacks, and battled depression. Since my teenage years my body had “settled’ around that weight. I was overweight, I ate too much and I was sedentary. I finally had enough and decades ago I changed my mind, my habits, my health and body in the process.

Again, I’m not advocating an ideal of beauty, but with the obesity epidemic we face in America, the last thing I want my 14-year old son to hear is that his body has found his ideal weight at 230 lbs and he should be ok with that.

How do you feel about HAES?

July 28, 2011
The Next Level: Do You Have the Right Team?

“What do we need to do to get us to the next level?” That’s perhaps the one question I get asked the most. While the answer might include strategies like better systems, seizing opportunities, new facilities, retooling business or ministry models, they are all predicated on the most important variable of all: the competence of the team.

As I look back in decades of consulting, I can point to the competence of a team as the key element on taking an organization to the next level. Most businesses, churches or not for profits have gotten where they are in the strength of their current team. In my experience, the next level always requires “next-level” thinking and performance. Good leaders realize that and want to move forward. But unless the team has what it takes to run at a difference pace, the organization will not get unstuck.

I have sat through many a strategy session where a leader would get clarity on how to move to the next level. In many of those instances, I knew that the team in the room could not go pass where they were. Some members would make the journey by growing to meet their new challenge. Others, sometimes the majority, would not. As a matter of fact, they would usually end up, consciously or unconsciously, sabotaging the new strategy until it died or they left, or were asked to leave, the organization.

Early on in my career I would gently walk my clients through these tough personnel decisions. After all, some of those on my not-making list were good people who had been part of the organization for years. In my attempt to soften the blow, I ended up prolonging the pain. Much like pulling a painful band-aid slowly. I have changed my strategy. I find myself being much more direct: “You can get there, but you will not get there with Susan, Bob and Carl. Do you still want to do it?”

Think about your team. Usually the weakest link at the highest level in the organization will determine how far the organization can go.

How do you feel about my team assessment approach? Do you prefer the slow and painful or the short, and yet painful method?

July 27, 2011
Confessions of a Hypocrite

Sometimes I feel like a hypocrite. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s quite descriptive of my feelings. I’ve felt that way since my early professional days as a pastor. Those who work in ministry might be able to identify with the sentiment. After all, pastors and church staff, just by virtue of their positions, are expected to be holier and wiser than the rest of the congregation. Their struggles are beyond the mundane issues of the rest of the non-professional Christians deal with. Therein lies my problem.

While I’m not lowering the standards for those in ministry, I know the toll those expectations can take on those whose lives are supposed to be a living example of God’s promises, blessings and teachings.

Every single day.

All the time.

With a smile.

Life under the microscope of unrealistic expectations is painful. The days you question your career path, your spouse choice, even your faith in God are often filled with appointments, counseling sessions, public prayers, faith-building social media posts where you are supposed to be a source of strength to those around. You bear and grin and hope your eyes don’t betray you and show the doubt and guilt you’re desperately trying to hide.

But somehow God has managed to use even my hypocrisy to his Glory. I can remember on several occasions feeling defeated because of how empty and non-inspiring I felt through a message, meeting or study, only to hear back how my words and actions had impacted someone. Really?!

So even though I still wrestle with issues I should have won the battle long ago, as any mature believer would have, I still share my faith, the things I know to be true, even if I find myself in the middle of doubt. Because ultimately I believe in a good God who loves me and cares for me and fills my empty offerings with His grace. I don’t understand it. I wouldn’t do it if I were Him. But I’m thankful He does it.

Have you ever felt like a hypocrite? How do you deal with it?

July 25, 2011
The Rise of the Embroidered Pants

One of the most conservative men’s clothing brands is selling some of the most outrageous slacks in the marketplace. We all expect leather pants from Dolce and Gabbana or skinny jeans from Diesel, but these pants are coming from Brooks Brothers. Who knew?!

It's chocolate brown and has different dogs embroidered all over it.

If bright pink is not enough attention, these pants also featured the embroidered whales.

This collection is not just for summer fun. You can wear them all through the holidays with this plaid version featuring embroirdered Santas. Yep.

What’s your take on the embroidered pants? Guys would you wear them? Ladies, would you buy them for your guy?

July 22, 2011
The Right Stress: Yet Another Reason I’m an Entrepreneur

We all have stress in our work, but there is a big difference between what I call “corporate stress” and “entrepreneurial stress.” I have dealt with both and I have chosen the entrepreneurial stress. Here’s why.

I hear often from friends who work in a corporate environment about the challenges they face daily. While the size of businesses vary, they all share some of the same dynamics, particularly the personnel, policy and culture dynamics that are beyond their control. While I know that control is elusive at best, entrepreneurs have a simple creed we all live by: we eat what we kill. While that might sound simplistic, it’s ultimate the bottom line for those of us who work for ourselves.

As a business owner, I cannot blame anyone else for making bad business decisions, or for not moving forward fast enough to take advantage of opportunities. These are usually my decisions, or decisions I make with a small team of executives. We don’t have a board of directors, a group of investors or bankers we have to seek their blessing for every major decision. We don’t have to ask permission to spend more than 25 dollars.

My friends in the midst of the corporate world have to manage up, down and side ways. They worry about how their boss perceives them, or whether their boss’s boss knows how incompetent their immediate supervisor really is. They worry that their peers perform better or take credit for work they do. They stress over how to lead those who work for them and make sure they meet the assigned quota whether or not that number is based on reality or arbitrarily pulled out of thin air by someone else at the corporate office.

Sadly, at the end of the day, there’s no security for the corporate worker, even for those who perform well–sometimes specially for those who perform too well. Office politics, budget cuts, re-structuring, or whatever the reason might be, the corporate job stress never subsides. While you might be killing your dinner, your boss’s dinner and village chief’s dinner, you still wonder if your job will be there tomorrow.

After years of living in the corporate dilemma, I decided that, for good or bad, I was ready to live with the consequences and rewards of my own talents and decisions. I have yet to regret it.

Which is more your style: managing the corporate or entrepreneurial stress?

July 20, 2011
Without Systems Your Vision is Just a Dream

Systems, not vision, determine the sustainability of your dream. This has been a difficult lesson for me to learn, but over the years, I have met many a visionary leader whose dreams grew to a fraction of their potential because of the lack of an environment where the vision could thrive.

Vision must come first in any organization, otherwise systems tend to get a life of their own and become what we hate the most about government: bureaucracy, a means into itself, a self-preserving, self-entitled nothingness.

However, vision without systems is like a train without tracks. In a growing organization, sustainability means understanding strengths, threats, opportunities, trends and how to design organizational culture and procedures to address them. I’ve heard someone put it this way: what determines your product is what happens down the hall and not what’s hanging on the wall.

I’m saddened every time I run into a business, not for profit or church that got the vision part down, but can’t get its systems in place. Unwittingly, they sabotage growth at every turn.

Take a look at your organization. Do you have systems in place that allow for growth or are they keeping it from moving forward?

July 19, 2011
Renewing My Faith in the Millennial Generation

Research tells us that while the millennial generation wants to make a difference in their world, they are not willing to do the hard work it takes to get the job done: “I want to save the world, so I bought this cool bracelet.” This past week I experienced just the opposite. I have renewed my faith in a generation some have given up on.

Rebekah Daggett and Meredith Jones coordinate the intern, recruitment as well as the medical oversight program for all the outreaches.

I spent the last seven days in Honduras with a mission team from my church, Cross Point, in a ranch near San Marcos de Colon owned by Mission Lazarus. In the past decade, this work has been able to start 19 churches, 4 schools, 3 medical clinics, a sustainable life program, 4 vocational schools, an orphanage and employing over 140 Hondurans. It’s one of the most dynamic young mission organizations I know. Interestingly, while its founder and board of directors operate in the US, most of the hands-on work is done by a group of very talented and committed 20 somethings.

His official title is Project Director and Rural Evangelism. But Cameron Hartsell has his hands on every facet of the ministry, including a goat-buying trip I happened to tag along

I was impressed by the breadth and depth of the ministry but even more impressed by the commitment and maturity of its young staff. While most people in their 20s are trying to figure out what they want to do in life, Cameron 26, Meredith 27, Rebecca and Seth 25 are managing the local staff, leading thousands of gringos in medical brigades, school programs, construction projects, food distribution, while operating a large working ranch. Oh, and they also work alongside the Honduran church leaders to make sure the work is owned and led by nationals.

Personally, I am processing of what that means to me as a leader, employer, and father of millennials. While I’m not sure of all the implications, one thing seems to stick out to me: wisdom and leadership are not the product of age; however, energy is. I’m sure to remember that next time I interview for a new position at my firm.

What’s your experience with the millennial generation?

July 18, 2011
Getting Off The Privileged Bubble

Could my money be more useful than my non-medical skills? I had to reason with myself about the merits of going on a week-long mission trip. Rationally the answer was a resounding “yes,” but, as it turns out, the answer is a big “no.” At first thought, I have no business being on a medical mission trip. Since I haven’t been able to find a marketing or technology mission trip yet (hey, now that’s an idea!), I decided to join the Cross Point Honduras mission team and brought my 16-year old son, Marcus along. I’m glad I did.

While my money can be used to buy supplies and hire more help, my presence here is more important than just my resources. Here are some thoughts:

Looking into the eyes of the Honduran people, touching them and letting them know they matter is a deep personal experience no funding mechanism can duplicate.

Working for 10 straight hours doing something simple but important ( I did over 200 blood sugar tests yesterday) brings an amazing sense of accomplishment to someone who is used to days filled with strategy meetings, creative briefs, and software feature development.

Marcus has checked the blood pressure of over 200 people in the first 2 days

There’s nothing like walking through muddy streets in a poverty-stricken village to remind myself of how privileged I really am. Interestingly there are no diet drinks to be found around here.The locals need the extra calories. Obesity is no where to be found.

I’m glad I left my privileged bubble and brought my son along. He’s having an education of a lifetime and I’m recalibrating my world view.

What about you? Have you ever left your bubble?

July 13, 2011
Do You Have a Brand or Just a Brand Document?

A brand strategy exercise is a great tool, a map, a guide to make sure your product, message and promise are aligned and working together. A brand strategy helps you define and know your story, your language, your customer. However, it is a means and not an end. The plan must be executed in order for the strategy to have any value whatsoever. But without an internal brand champion, a brand strategy is seldom is implemented.

At The A Group we do a lot of Brand exercises. These are usually a full day of distilling brand identity, promise, positioning and creating strategic next steps. Even though I’m usually exhausted by the end of them, I love these sessions because they help to define, guide and focus an entire brand, marketing and sometimes even a business plan. But a plan is just a map. Without implementation it does as much good as a unfilled doctor’s prescription.

Unfortunately some businesses, churches and not for profits think they have a brand strategy. What they really have is a brand document. In my experience that happens because there is no brand champion to make sure the plan goes from the hard drive into real life. Brands are not made by the crowd, but by the relentless intentional watch and work of its champion. Apple went from the brinks of bankruptcy to surpassing Microsoft in revenue because of the efforts of its brand champion, Steve Jobs. Jobs knew what he wanted Apple to become and didn’t give up or let up until he got there. I’m sure he’s not finished yet.

While you might create a logo, or even an image overnight, your brand is crafted daily with every product, interaction, hire, phone call, and exchange. The champion’s job is to protect, remind, refine the organization to be true to its brand promise. It must be intentional. It never happens by accident.

Does your workplace have a strong brand? Who is its champion?

July 7, 2011