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There are two t's in spaghetti.

By
Real Estate Agent with Roy Wheeler Realty Co.

"People who exhibit single - minded determination understand that it’s often not the fastest or the strongest one that wins the race — it’s the one that stays the course and goes the full distance," from Stefan Swanepoel's character Zachariah, in Surviving your Serengeti: 7 Skills to Master Business and in Life.  It's a little of the tortoise and the hare, isn't it?  Surviving our Serengeti, meeting our challenge... it's about setting our sights on something and staying the course.  It's about being tenacious and determined and making sure we get where we want to be.  It's also about being smart and flexible, because the landscape of life and business is in a constant state of change. 

I came across the post Surviving your Serengeti: An Active Rain Challange this morning and was immediately intrigued.  I watched the video trailer embedded in the post and started taking notes.  I couldn't figure out why www.serengettibook.com wouldn't get me to Stefan Swanepoel's book, Surviving the Serengeti.  Then I realized the mis-spelling and decided at that moment that it was important to know if spaghetti was spelled the same as Serengeti, so I asked Google that question. 

Google gave me the Urban Dictionary and a note that "spagheti isn't defined yet", but there is such a thing as "mom's spaghetti", and the definition goes something like this:

"To choke in a pressure situation. To fail to deliver on expectations when it becomes time to perform, often due to nervousness."

How close I came to failing to deliver.  I remember more clearly than I wish the "drought" that nearly extinguished me personally and professionally.  I remember when I decided I had to find the light again or die;  I remember the meeting with that first unknown prospect and how I was nervous to the point of almost being sick; and I remember that that meeting was the day I began putting one foot in front of the other again.  That was five years ago and it has been a slow, uphill climb, but this crocodile is no longer estivating.  (Do you want to know what animal you are?  Take the "What animal are you?" quiz.) 

 

crocodile

 

Comments (7)

Ralph Gorgoglione
Metro Life Homes - Palm Springs, CA
California and Hawaii Real Estate (310) 497-9407

What a great post! Thank you for sharing this post.

Feb 23, 2011 09:29 AM
Melanie Hedrick
Elite Texas Properties, the best homes from McKinney to Dallas! - McKinney, TX
972-816-7205

Hi Virginia, this was a great post -- very inspirational.  I like how you described how tough the "drought" was on you personally and professionally, and how you took determined steps to overcome it.  And what a photo!  I'm a crocodile, too.

Feb 23, 2011 09:37 AM
Virginia Gardner
Roy Wheeler Realty Co. - Charlottesville, VA
Realtor, Charlottesville, Serving Central Virginia

Thanks, Ralph; I'm going to find yours now...

Hi Melanie, the hardest part was not going into full detail of that terrible time! I'm anxious to read your post, too...

Feb 23, 2011 10:43 AM
Shannon Milligan, Richmond VA Real Estate Agent/Associate Broker
RVA Home Team - Richmond, VA
RVA Home Team - Winning with Integrity.
It's great to hear others talk about their climb and journey. And I have to laugh when I read the "mom's spaghetti" as that is a line in a Eminem rap ;)
Feb 23, 2011 10:53 AM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Great review and post for this contest Virginia.  I thought it very imaginative.  I too always wonder if there are two t's in spaghetti :)!  Now I am hungry!

Feb 23, 2011 11:03 AM
Virginia Gardner
Roy Wheeler Realty Co. - Charlottesville, VA
Realtor, Charlottesville, Serving Central Virginia

ding ding ding! Shannon, you're the winner! I know our ages are world's apart, I certainly did NOT know about mom's spaghetti!

Brenda, thanks; I just read & loved your post!

Feb 23, 2011 12:08 PM
The Scott Loper Team Bux-Mont Premier Properties
Keller Williams Real Estate - Montgomeryville - Lansdale, PA

Hi Virginia,

Very clever post.  I think I get nervous and choke occasionally on mom's spagetti.  Glad you were ableto rise to your challenges a few years back.

Lisa

Feb 25, 2011 01:40 AM