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Surviving Your Serengeti--A New Book by Stefan Swanepoel

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with RE/MAXCamosun (Chatterton)

Last year Sefan Swanepoel released a new book entitled Real Estate Trends. On March 1, 2011 his newest book--Surviving Your Serengeti: 7 Skills to Master Business and in Life--will be released through the bookstores. I recently had the privilege of reading the first two chapters. It is a good read.

image of book--surviving the serengeti

Mr. Swanepoel spent his formative years in Africa before emigrating to America. Surviving Your Serengeti is a look into the survival skills employed by seven wild animals of Africa and the similarities they share with business people of the western world—an intriguing metaphor. After reading the pre-release of the first two chapters, then taking the quiz, I found that I was placed into the class of the gentle graceful “giraffe”, which was a confirmation of other personality tests and quizzes I have taken in the past.  

I consider myself to have a permanent buoyant outlook and am motivated to do my very best when dealing with clients.  The giraffe is a graceful animal, and while I have never thought of myself as graceful, I am flattered to be described to be the kind of person quoted here by Stefan Swanepoel, “Graceful individuals develop interdependent relationships that are fostered through patience, self-discipline, dignity, honor and respect. They accomplish this by recognizing others’ strengths and weaknesses, and attempting to build them up. They realize how vital it is to nurture others without expecting recognition for it.”

While these are the qualities I strive for--both in my real estate business and in my personal life—I often feel that I have missed the mark and fallen on my face. When this occurs, however, I attempt to reset the course and move forward in the appropriate direction.

Take the quiz to see where you fit in the kingdom. See what animal is most like you.

Thanks ActiveRain for the challenge and the preview of an interesting book looking at interesting ways of analyzing personal and business qualities. I shall be purchasing this book and adding it to my library.

Laura Giannotta
Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Your Realtor Down the Shore!

A giraffe...I'm a crocodile!  I'm waiting to read the whole book on the first!

Feb 24, 2011 10:06 AM
Juli Vosmik
Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Dang, I still haven't met a fellow elephant. 

Feb 24, 2011 04:17 PM
Melanie Thomas
Oviedo, FL

Here's a fellow elephant right here.

Feb 24, 2011 05:53 PM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

Ah, so there are some elephants!  Ted, I'm a giraffe also,  Nice review of the book!

Feb 27, 2011 01:22 AM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

Nice review of the book.  I haven't had a chance to look at it yet.

Feb 27, 2011 11:09 AM