Maurilio Amorim

Month: July 2011

Innovators Don’t Ask

I’m convinced you cannot use focus groups to describe a ground breaking idea. I’m usually a fan of research, but not when it comes to introducing a cutting-edge idea or new product into the market. Focus groups might be a valid way to improve on an idea, or a help on choosing new features or services but they fail when they’re are asked to envision something completely new. This morning I read a comment on a blog that drove the point home: “I remember reading an article about the first-generation iPod and thinking: I can’t imagine ever needing one of these. Within months I had purchased one and I never went anywhere without it.” Innovators don’t ask permission. They bet on their instincts and create the experience we cannot live without.

Can you imagine if Steve Jobs had decided to get validation from a focus group before building the first iPod? It would probably never have been built. I can see a room full of people and some market research guy trying to describe an iPod: “imagine you have this device the size of a deck of cards and in it you could have thousands of songs and blah, blah, blah. ” Most people would have said, my CDs work fine, I don’t need another device. Until they saw, touched and used the iPod, the idea of one wasn’t compelling enough to change everything. Oh, and can you see Tony Hsieh, Founder of Zappos.com trying to get a focus group to embrace his online shoe retailing behemoth concept? “That’s crazy. People will never buy shoes online.” Most people cannot imagine a future; only after they experience it they are able to change their perspective.

That’s why most entrepreneurs don’t spend a lot of time asking for validation on something truly groundbreaking. They spend their time and resources actually building and deploying their ideas. However, let me say that you can be successful and not be an innovator. I work with a lot of business that take a niche and explore it, that take a product and improve it, or that are good at marketing and selling products and services. But breakthrough companies are not afraid to spend resources on an idea before most people see its value.

Where have you seen the most innovation lately?

July 6, 2011
Judging the Struggle

I haven’t met anyone perfect yet. There are few people who want me to believe they have it all figured out, but I’m not buying it. Some struggles are easier to hide, others play out in the public eye, and some are devastating. But part of the human condition means that we are fallen creatures and that we often sweat the small things, wrestle with big questions, doubt was supposed to be certain. Some refer to these struggles as baggage. I don’t agree. Baggage is something you choose to carry around. Our struggles are too often tied in to the very core of who we are, to the human condition.

As a Christian, I find myself wanting to judge people whose battle is different than mine more harshly and empathize with those whose struggles mirror my own.

That’s very hypocritical.

Today as I run into hurting people whose struggles are so different than mine that I can’t relate to, I’m committed not to judge them. I’m going to try to love them. While judging comes naturally for me, loving takes a lot more effort. That means showing,

respect,

kindness,

attention,

grace,

friendliness,

I believe this will be harder than I expect, but I must start sometime. Today feels like the right day.

Is there a change you need to make in your attitude, life, thinking that you’ve been putting off? Why not join me and make this your starting point?

July 5, 2011
Manscaping: A Man’s Basic Grooming

Some men think grooming is optional. Others feel it’s less masculine to be well groomed . But a well-groomed man always looks better than his frumpy, sloppier counterpart. “Manscaping” has been a term used to describe the grooming/hygiene habits of human males. Even the most unattractive guy can look his very best by taking care of the basics. Here’s how you can best present yourself without having to spend money on fancy, expensive clothing.

a multi-head grooming kit is a must for most men.

Trim.
Nose, ear, neck, hair is not attractive to most people in the western hemisphere. I don’t make any claims on some indigenous group of Papa New Guinea, but most people don’t want to see your nose, ear, or neck hair. And while you’re at it, look on top of your nose, yes, on top. I’ve seen guys with long hairs growing out from the tip of their noses. Not attractive. At all.

When you look in the mirror, you should see two eyebrows. Also take a look and make sure there are not long, rogue hairs growing out of your brow. Trim them with clippers or cut them back. While you might not see them until the next time you look in the mirror, the rest of us are looking at them all day long. Do it for us. Do it for the children.

Cut.
Cut your fingernails and toe nails. Unless you’re a guitar picker, men have no business having long fingernails. And if for some unnatural reason you want to keep them long, make sure you keep them clean. No one wants to see you cruddy fingernails.

Men, we have a tendency to neglect our toe nails to the point of embarrassment. Un-kept nasty toenails didn’t look good on Shrek and they certainly don’t look good on you. And if you need professional help to get your toes ready flip flops, get a pedicure and make sure you tip the poor soul that works on you.

Clean.
It amazes me to see grown men finish a hard, sweaty workout and put on deodorant, change back into their business clothing and head back to the office. Axe body spray does not clean, it just masks the offensive odor with other obnoxious smells that, I assure you, no woman finds pleasant, no matter what the commercial says. Even when you cannot smell yourself, the rest of us can. And we do. The French have tried to make a science of masking their odor with powerful colognes. But if you have ever found yourself in a Paris subway at rush hour, you know that they’ve failed. Miserably. This is not France. For cleanness sake man, take a quick shower.

What other manscaping tip I should have included?

July 1, 2011