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The Serengeti Of Your Life

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with New York Times Bestselling Author & International Speaker

Have you ever woken up dreading the day ahead? Ever lost a job or thought you were in the wrong one? Ever struggled to keep your company afloat or balance household expenses? Ever struggled to raise a teenager or been a teenager with parents who just didn’t get it? We have all faced challenges similar to these at some stage of our lives, and many of us are there right now.

On a recent trip back to Africa, it struck me that there were strong parallels between life in the Serengeti plains and in the business world today. The animals of East Africa must migrate, they must keep moving forward and they must rely on their inborn skills to survive. The same is true in business; while it’s not usually a life-or-death scenario, as is the case in the Serengeti, people looking to advance their career or successfully run their own business – or succeed at any other challenge – must realize their innate skill and capitalize on it.

My new business fable, Surviving Your Serengeti, is about persevering over whatever challenging conditions you may be facing and surviving your own “Serengeti.” Whether you’re looking for a job after a long period of being unemployed, struggling to keep your job while balancing more projects with fewer colleagues to help you juggle the load, trying to keep your company alive through the recession or dealing with challenges in your personal life, this book provides a strong, and hopeful, message of survival – something I think we all need, particularly in today’s economy.

The metaphor in the book outlines seven skills.

No one skill is any more important than the others; in fact, each of these skills is essential in business and in life in general. What is important is that you realize which skill you instinctively turn to when facing a challenge. We are multi-facetted humans with multiple talents and skills. So while we are not limited to just one “Serengeti” skill, there is one skill that is the most dominant in each of us. Your task is to identify that innate skill that makes you, you!

This book is written for anyone who has faced, is facing or will one day face a challenge. This is a story that shows you that you can survive.

Know yourself. Accept yourself. Understand the skills that make you who you are. Maximize the skills and talents you have. Make sure you know and understand whom the other “animals” in your urban jungle are and what their skills are.

Start your journey by taking the short, three-minute online quiz at www.WhatAnimalAmI.com. This is not intended to be a complicated DISC analysis or an in-depth Myers Briggs assessment, but it is a fun way to open a discussion with a co-worker, a colleague or a friend about their skills and strengths.

Download and review the first two chapters of Surviving Your Serengeti this weekend and earn 2,500 points in the Serengeti ActiveRain Challenge - ONLY ONE MORE DAY.

Surviving Your Serengeti is officially released next week and you can get your copy at your neighborhood bookstore or online at Amazon.com.

Comments(26)

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Karin Lundeen
Keller Williams Realty - Denver Southlands - Centennial, CO
Realtor Centennial Homes For Sale

Stefan~ Loved hearing you speak at KWFR...even if you were in safari clothes and a hat...LOL!  I especially love how you feature the positive characteristics in each "animal" and we should do the same.  We can build our team using each other's strengths!

Feb 25, 2011 01:05 AM
Judith Parker
ProStead Realty - Charlotte, NC
CRS, GRI, CMRS, Charlotte, NC

Hi Stefan, I absolutely enjoyed the first two chapters and am hungry for more.  I enjoyed hearing you speak in Charlotte, NC with the KW group.  Am looking forward to receiving my book. 

Feb 25, 2011 01:14 AM
Debbie Jean (DJ) Artrip
Debbie Jean (DJ) Artrip, Cardinal Real Estate, Northern Mich - Hawks, MI

Hey Stefan~ I, too, had no idea you were an AR member.  I'm anxiously awaiting March 1st.  Are you offering any AR Signed Copies?  If so, I'd love one, just tell me where to send my check.

A dear friend of mine is going through a painful divorce right now, I feel your book would be extremely beneficial to him, too.

PS. I'm a Crododile. 

Best of luck on your new incredibly insightful book.  DJ

Feb 25, 2011 03:52 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Hello Stefan~ I love the way you tell the story so that we don't even realize we are learning valuable lessons about life and business. 

Feb 25, 2011 04:25 AM
Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate
Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming - Laramie, WY
Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming

HI Stefan,  I'm a Giraffe married to a Lion.  It explains so much! 

Feb 25, 2011 05:44 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

Stefan - Having read the first two chapters, I too am looking forward to reading the rest of the book.  The quiz was interesting.  While I too think that we all posses a whole set of survival skills, there is most certainly a dominant factor that does remain constant throughout every challenge we face or every obstacle we overcome.  As a Wildebeest, my survival instict is strong but does, at times, wear me down physically.

This post was kind of timely because in my effort to survive my professional challenges and forces, I have not been taking care of my physical needs and that neglect has caught up with me in the last 48hrs.  My body needs rest but that's hard for me to do when I feel like there are predetors gaining on me every single day.  Anyway, have a good day Stephan and a wonderful weekend and stay dry too (it's going to be a wet one this weekend).  :)

Feb 25, 2011 05:50 AM
Stefan Swanepoel
New York Times Bestselling Author & International Speaker - Ladera Ranch, CA

Gerard: Been with AR at for some 3 years - since about 2008. How time flies!

Michelle: Looking forward to the photos. Tag me on facebook too!

John: Life is a journey and we should have fun along the way. Looking forward to your post.

Amy: You can also get it on Kindle and Nook!

 

 

Feb 25, 2011 06:00 AM
Stefan Swanepoel
New York Times Bestselling Author & International Speaker - Ladera Ranch, CA

Emily: Enjoy the safari!!

Fernando: I sure you will enjoy the read.

Karin: Should I keep my safari clothes? :-) Glad you enjoyed the talk!

Judith: NC! One of my fav places!

Feb 25, 2011 06:04 AM
Elizabeth Byrne
Keller Williams Realty - Arlington, VA
Arlington Virginia Real Estate

Stefan, congratulations on your new book - I have no doubt it will become a bestseller. I truly enjoyed reading the first two chapters of "Serengeti", and cannot wait to get my own copy on March 1st.  You have a wonderful way of making the images of Africa come alive. I hope to see the Serengeti with my own eyes one day.

Feb 25, 2011 11:43 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Stefan, I really cannot wait to read the rest of the story.  You are a good storyteller as well as a good teacher, thank you for sharing your insights and assistance to help me along my journey!

Feb 25, 2011 11:52 AM
Lynda White
Bluegrass Homes & Farms Realty, Agent Know How - Louisville, KY
Admin. Mgr., Keller Williams Realty

Stefan, thanks for the preview. I'm looking forward to reading the book in its entirety.

Feb 25, 2011 02:14 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Stefan, I really enjoyed your first two chapters. You have me talking to everyone about your book. Today, I was at the Baltimore Craft show looking for crocodiles and yes, I found a couple. Even suggested they put a couple  copies of your book around. They also had a giraffe and I will be sending them a copy of the post I wrote for your challenge  Surviving Your Serengeti..The Rome Way

 

                                                     crocodile HomeRome

Feb 25, 2011 03:17 PM
Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, ePRO, GRI
Realty World Indy - Fishers, IN
Carmel, Fishers, Westfield IN Real Estate Expert

Stefan--Congratulations on what looks to be a bestseller! 

Feb 25, 2011 05:18 PM
Emily Medvec
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Stefan, your book is a compelling story and an inspiring call to action on self-discovery and change. Your test quiz What Animal Am I in itself is an extraordinary gift for thinking out-of-the-box. My application to pass it forward is to make it part of the mastermind series I do for the brokerage on social media. I appreciate your contribution to the African Wildlife Foundation of some of the proceeds from each book.

This crocodile in Santa Fe thanks you for all you do for us.

Feb 26, 2011 12:03 AM
Ann Hayden 636-399-7544
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties-St. Louis Missouri 314-775-2050 - Des Peres, MO
SelectAnn.com

Stefan,

Whether it be the rainy season or the dry season, the animals know this too shall pass....  I try to keep this in mind when I am faced with what seems like an impossible situation.

I am looking forward to reading the rest of the book.

Thank you for sharing your insights.

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

Feb 26, 2011 04:32 AM
Matt Grohe
RE/MAX Concepts - Des Moines, IA
Serving the metro since 2003

Stefan: Thanks for sharing the chapeter of your bokk. I look forward to digging in. Best of luck to you. Cheers,

Feb 26, 2011 02:48 PM
Liz Lockhart
Riverbend Realty, Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau, MO
GRI, Cape Girardeau Real Estate

Stefan~ I can hardly wait to see you on the New York Times Bestseller List! I can say that I knew you when.... on AR and that I was among those who got to read preview chapters! I downloaded and printed the hard copy and then found the Amazon preview for Kindle, which I now have downloaded.

Shall we all take bets on how long it will take you to get on The List?

Feb 26, 2011 04:50 PM
Bob & Leilani Souza
Souza Realty 916.408.5500 - Roseville, CA
Greater Sacramento Area Homes, Land & Investments

Stefan, thank you for offering a wonderful challenge to AR members...I really enjoyed not only reading the first 2 chapters, but my self-discovery when reading the results of the quiz and writing a blog post about it.

I also had my husband Bob take the test (he's a crocodile), as well as my mother (we did it over the phone since she lives in Hawaii and doesn't have a computer.) We were glad to find out that we were still related...even in the Serengeti...as we're both graceful giraffes! :)

Leilani

Feb 27, 2011 08:05 PM
Robert Schmalz
West Los Angeles Real Estate Group - Santa Monica, CA
Cal. Lic Broker

Hi Stefan

You asked....

  1. Have you ever woken up dreading the day ahead? ---- YES
  2. Ever lost a job or thought you were in the wrong one?  --- YES
  3. Ever struggled to keep your company afloat or balance household expenses? -- YES
  4. Ever struggled to raise a teenager or been a teenager with parents who just didn't get it?  YES YES YES

I mentioned in a previous comment on one of your posts that I was at Family Reunion a few weeks ago and was blown away by your presentation. I believe in following the Serengeti in my life. However reading your posts and answering your opening questions I think I am ready to move to the Serengeti.

 

Mar 06, 2011 01:53 PM
Stefan Swanepoel
New York Times Bestselling Author & International Speaker - Ladera Ranch, CA

The response to the original Serengeti ActiveRain challenge was so overwhelming (review of my new book), and I read so many touching stories of people that have overcome their own “Serengeti” that I decided to create an opportunity that would enable people to “Share Their Serengeti.”

Perhaps it’s an illness, loss of a loved one or financial troubles in this tough economy. No matter what, tell your inspiring story today and encourage others with your strength, tenacity and grace.

 See my new post on the Serengeti website at http://www.SerengetiBook.com/Share-Your-Serengeti

May 03, 2011 01:03 PM