[quote style=”boxed”]I recommend everyone to constantly evaluate their course, their choices, and themselves as individuals.[/quote]
Anderson is an innovative leader who has experienced developing educational programs in two countries. He has developed a Language School in Brazil and a Preschool program in Missouri. He was the lead layout designer for what was then the 3rd largest billboard company in Vitória, Brazil. He has a track record of successfully interacting with parents, students, faculty and staff of all ages.
Currently he serves as the President of the board of directors of a private school with 35 years of superior education. Designing curriculum, developing programs, and effective communication are a natural element flowing from his almost 20 years of hard work.
In addition to a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, as well as the ability to apply appropriate instructional methodologies, Anderson has combined experiences overseas and in the United States, as a businessman, an educator and a minister. His background overflows with tremendous multicultural, innovative, and educational drive which enriches his public speaking engagements. Mr. Maestri has published five books, and is currently working on one more.
Anderson has been married for almost a decade to his beautiful wife, Allison. They have a 3 year old boy. A native of Vitória, Brazil, Anderson received his Bachelor of Arts in Bible from Freed-Hardeman University and his Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction/ESL from the University of Phoenix.
Where did the idea for publishing your works come from?
Accidentally, I believe, in college. I had written two different essays for two unrelated classes, but both revolved around the family theme, so when a third class required a service project, I asked the professor if I were to publish my material and give it away free of charge, would it count for the project? He said yes, and my first book ever took shape a few months later (Bilingual Parenting and the Preacher’s First Ministry).
What does your typical day look like?
After dropping my son off at preschool, I get to my office, and spend most of my mornings reading, writing, then reading some more. I try to schedule all my out of the office commitments in the afternoon. Despite the schedule flexibility of my current position, I still spend most of my days 8-5 behind the computer screen. Most of the time, I am successful in turning work off when I get home, “time with wife and son always comes first”.
How do you bring ideas to life?
What a great question! I believe in the saturation & rest process. When trying to come up with a new idea, or working through the initial stages of a new idea, I like to become so involved in it, to the point of being overwhelmed. Once my mind is saturated with the idea, I take my mind off of it, and do not return to it for at least 24 hours. Only then, I tackle the process of turning ideas into reality. Another rule of thumb for me is to visualize the final product. I may start a book by first designing the cover, or organize an event by first designing the posters for it.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
New technology. I joke with my wife that the day they invent a phone system embedded straight into our brains, I would sign up for it! However, I would settle for holographic computers. I admire entrepreneurs that have taken the imagination of some, combined with the research and genius of others to made what was once science fiction a reality.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I’d call it a pet peeve more than a habit. I can’t stand unread messages. If there are indicators that a message has not been read, I can’t help but read it, which translates into no email, update, text message, or notification goes unnoticed. If the phone is by me, or if I’m in front of the computer, messages will be handled. This has improved my ability to stay on top of things.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
At the risk of sounding cheesy. All my jobs have been exciting in one way or another. Each one had challenging aspects, but none would strike me as worst.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
Nothing. I believe I wouldn’t arrive where I am if I had made different choices. And every stage I came across, I left with no regrets.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I am constantly reevaluating the viability of pursuing my books. If cost-benefit no longer pays off, I would be satisfied with simply dropping it. I recommend everyone to constantly evaluate their course, their choices, and themselves as individuals.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
Identify a niche. The books with a broad audience seemed to have greater possibilities, but my most successful book has a very narrow window of clients. I wrote Coaching Futsal thinking of the emerging Futsal market in the US; however to my surprise, it started selling very well in the UK. As trivial as it may seem understanding your product and narrowing down your target audience can focus your marketing efforts and increase how much time and energy you can utilize successfully. In my case, I learned by trial and error.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
The fall of a breakthrough – When I finally got my book “Neither Heads nor Tails” into a physical bookstore, I felt the momentum picking up. A local purchasing manager bought most of my books, and I was seeing them in the shelves around the region. Very exciting moment for an author! A major chain was starting to carry my book, even if it was initially only local stores. So when they closed their doors nationally, it took all the wind off my wings. I simply went back to square one, and started all over again.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Eat and pay by the pound. Opposite of “all you can eat” places, a restaurant that charges for how much your plate weighs could be an excellent business for a city or crowd tired of paying to eat an entire cow when they only want a little slice. However, the restaurant business is not for everyone. This system has been very successful in Brazil.
Tell us something about you that very few people know?
I could have been an Olympic athlete, if life had not brought me to the US. But I would not trade the path I chose, even I were to make the Olympic team, and win a medal. Life in this path has been too good for me to imagine “what if?”
What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
I use all the usual suspects; however, I would have to say I love how Dropbox have made my life so much easier. Being able to access my files anywhere have been handy numerous times. I know that cloud capability is used by numerous software, but Dropbox has been my pick and it has not disappointed.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend. It is rare to find a person with a healthy sense of personal boundaries. Understanding our personal boundaries and the boundaries of others can affect our business interactions, our family interactions, and any other area of our lives.
What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
My wife, Allison, has influenced me tremendously. My business choices have been greatly molded by her input. She is an accountant by trade, but for those who enjoy blogging, crafting and home décor, I would highly recommend dropping by her blog www.littleloveliesbyallison.com. As an entrepreneur, she went from zero to over 1000 followers in no time, before being a corporate woman and fulltime mom slowed things down. However, the network she assembled in that short period of time still amazes me.
Connect:
Anderson Maestri on Facebook :
Anderson Maestri on LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/andersonmaestri/
Anderson Maestri on Twitter : @maestriad
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.