Maurilio Amorim - Latest Comments

Re: Why We Need Deadlines

Scott Kantner — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:00:29 -0000

The Tyranny of the Urgent

Re: A Giving Perspective

Sheryl Tuttle — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:33:37 -0000

I really like your thoughts on giving with the mindset that first and foremost your gift is to God. Sometimes it's hard not to wonder what that street corner beggar is doing with the money, but I think your philosophy will help. Thank you.

Re: Work Smarter Part 2

Roy — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:15:38 -0000

These are more excellent guidelines.

Here are two I suggest (I'll likely think of more):
- Delegate: You can't do it all.
- Ask questions: Rather than make pronouncements, ask questions to draw others to your conclusions (if they are correct) or challenge you (if they're not).

Re: Work Smarter Part I

Roy Wallen — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:52:04 -0000

The most difficult task I have as a manager is hiring well. The converse is also true: finding a position that is the "right fit" (that euphemistic excuse for telling someone they will not be successful) is key to retaining the position you accept. Your 3 Cs are the most important elements to meet but also difficult to assess in the hiring process (an hour or two on the phone or in person will not suffice).
Looking forward to more parts to this series.

Re: Work Smarter Part I

Scott Kantner — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:13:08 -0000

The first one. When you stop doing the things where you bring no unique value, others accustomed to seeing you do them begin to look askance and wonder why you "don't care" anymore.

Re: Before Creating an App, You Need a Mobile Strategy

Maurilio Amorim — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:04:37 -0000

"low star reviews don't easily disappear." Great point, Michael.

Re: Before Creating an App, You Need a Mobile Strategy

Maurilio Amorim — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:03:53 -0000

Thanks for stopping by, Mark.

Re: Before Creating an App, You Need a Mobile Strategy

Michael Bianco — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:53:14 -0000

I feel as though releasing a mobile app without a comprehensive and long-term mobile strategy is dangerous.

First impressions are very important on mobile apps – low star reviews don't easily disappear. Repacking your website in a app shell doesn't help. The company I'm working for has taken a bit of a slow route in regards to apps, but I think in the long term its the right decision: thinking it through and aggressively executing the correct strategy.

Re: Job Advice to Young Creatives

Sean — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:16:03 -0000

Great tips here, just because one desires to be creative does not mean they should stray from the traditional qualities of a hard worker.

Re: Before Creating an App, You Need a Mobile Strategy

Mark Ousley — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:28:24 -0000

Thanks for the information. Good stuff.

Re: This is Not the Way to Thank Someone

Roy Wallen — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:34:54 -0000

@Maurilio - In this day of impersonal communication, where we do business without ever meeting the person, a personal response goes a long way. From my perspective, you are NOT being too sensitive. If it was as generic as you say, why did he not just send an e-mail thank-you message?

Re: This is Not the Way to Thank Someone

Sharon Henning — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:56:08 -0000

No! You are not being too sensitive. It's so important to show people they matter to you for the reasons you stated.
I once played for a friends wedding. Later I received a long, beautiful letter stating heartfelt thanks, what my friendship meant to her, etc... only to find out at the end her mother had written it. I never received a personal letter from her. I don't care how wonderful the letter was, it came across as empty because the wrong person wrote it.
Thanks for the post.

Re: This is Not the Way to Thank Someone

paulaswift — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:14:29 -0000

I also don't think you are being too sensitive. I would rather have received an email thanks instead of a generic thank you pretending not to be. Even a phone call JUST to say "thank you" is preferred.

Re: This is Not the Way to Thank Someone

Scott Kantner — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:03:06 -0000

I don't think you're being overly sensitive on this. Moreover, I think your moral to the story is spot-on. In my world of app-development, execution is what you get judged on - every single day.

Re: Summer Essentials: The Hybrid Boardshorts

andi mcbain — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:08:50 -0000

Would you wear underwear while having hybrid shorts on?
i wear boxers so...

Re: This is Not the Way to Thank Someone

Erica Cosminsky — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:23:29 -0000

This is precisely why I hate those pre-printed, mass ordered cards.

Re: This is Not the Way to Thank Someone

Tim Dahl — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:52:40 -0000

No, you're not to sensitive on the issue. If you're going to take time to do it, then do it right.

However, this does remind me. I need to get some "thank you" cards out!

Tim

Re: This is Not the Way to Thank Someone

Jason Vana — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:37:04 -0000

I don't think you were too sensitive. I feel the same way about generic Thank You's. They come across as very stock, with no thought or real effort put into them. It's more like they are doing it just to do it, than really being thankful for your business. That's why I send out handwritten thank you notes. It might take longer to do, but it's more meaningful.

Re: This is Not the Way to Thank Someone

Patricia Rains — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:59:39 -0000

well said!

Re: Critical Brand Mistakes

Robert Blackburn, Jr — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:24:56 -0000

My company used to use the "voice of the customer" technique to try and determine the customer's true requirements and to get a heading check on our success in meeting those requirements. This process is not followed as well as it was in the past in some key areas, but when used properly it can be an invaluable way of also evaluating your brand and how it is working for you.

Re: Christianity, Hospitality and Immigrants

Jason Vana — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:52:59 -0000

I haven't yet for someone new the country, only because I haven't had the opportunity. The colleges in my area require you to be married to host any international students, so I'm out of the loop. I have, though, invited many college students over for meals or taken them out to dinner to help give them that "home" feel. Many will even just stop by the house to hang out in the air conditioning or get to sit on a real couch. It's why I bought a house close to the college campus in my town. Course, my calling and heart is for college students, so I am a bit abnormal that way :D

Re: Critical Brand Mistakes

Steele Jansen — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:30:37 -0000

The benefit of "sneezers" marketing your product is so valuable. Great point!

Re: The Case for My Smallest Office Yet

Jason Vana — Sun, 06 May 2012 18:53:09 -0000

I love how you're allowing the natural to reflect the spiritual in your work. It's something more companies should look at doing. Not only is it symbolic for you, but for your whole company. I work at a place where the ideas have to come from certain top people to be implemented. It breeds laziness, carelessness, and kills creativity, not to mention is a horrible use of human resources, when companies act that way.

Re: Christianity, Hospitality and Immigrants

Adambowles — Sat, 05 May 2012 00:49:06 -0000

I hear you! I'm a pastor - former journalist - doing this doc on immigrant students. Believing people will "shout for joy" when they see it fully funded. http://www.kickstarter.com/pro...

Re: The Case for My Smallest Office Yet

Joseph — Fri, 04 May 2012 09:14:57 -0000

Great symbolism here and something more companies should look at.

I find it interesting that as the Team grew, your office shrank which is truly a depiction of role transitioning.

Most CEO's do just the opposite and the larger a company becomes, the larger the space and thus the more disconnected they become.

An interesting experiment would be to place a CEO in a cubicle for a couple of months to see what insights they would gain from around them? hmmmm.... I think I have my next blog post :)

Great read as always.