Survival of the Fittest
There’s been a book circulating the “airwaves” in the world of real estate marketing and management that has been intriguing to me. It’s not exactly an ideal template for my business model, but it offers some interesting analysis of business in general and real estate in particular.
Surviving the Serengeti by Stefan Swanepoel compares the brutal yet tender life in the Serengeti to what we face as business owners and managers. “As a brutal business environment meets a soft economy, business leaders and managers are looking for sources of both inspiration and survival. This compelling new fable offers a riveting tale of life in Africa’s Serengeti and what lessons it holds for today’s beleaguered business people and struggling society."
The author encourages people to take a quiz to determine their business strategy and leadership style. According to the author, “The wildebeest rely on stubborn endurance and support from the herd to survive; the alligator is opportunistic; the cheetah ruthlessly effective; the giraffe embodies grace, the lion a master strategist, the mongoose is a risk-taker, the elephant is an excellent communicator.”
So what animal am I? Surprisingly, I am the Graceful Giraffe.
From Surviving the Serengeti by Stefan Swanepoel: “The giraffe symbolizes the broad meaning of the word “grace”. While some see grace in human terms as one’s elegance or charm, for others it’s divine in origin and represents that indispensable gift for the development, improvement and expansion of one’s character and the ability to rise above the negative events of time.
The word “grace” tends to vary in meaning from one person or situation to another, often depending upon the context in which it is used. While many see the grace of the giraffe in human-like terms such as elegance, charm, or a positive attitude, others consider it to be divine in origin. They believe that it represents that indispensable gift for the development, improvement, and expansion of one’s character.
No matter how you see it, grace is a disposition that requires compassion toward others and the desire to extend goodwill. It incorporates the exercise of love and kindness—most importantly, to those who may not deserve it. Grace is as crucial in business as it is in life.
This truth is embedded in the fiber of who we are, what we believe, our appreciation, and the contribution we make to society. Gracious people exhibit the following characteristics:
- They seek to make others feel like they’re the most important person with whom they can spend time, and always put the needs of others first.
- They live according to personal standards that are higher than any given code of conduct, and incorporate dignity, honor, and respect in extending grace to others—even when things have not gone their way.
Whether it’s in our job or in personal matters, grace can open up a richer and more fulfilling life. It’s not an inherent quality that some people have and others do not; rather, grace is learned and acquired by observation and practice. It is first and foremost a skill that is centered on others—how we treat them and how we put their needs above our own without any consideration or expectation of a return in kind.
Our ability to develop grace isn’t based on what we have or don’t have. What matters in terms of grace is whether or not we appreciate what we do have, and how we interact with those around us.
Swanepoel breaks down styles and skills into seven “Serengeti Skills” and believes all seven are critical for businesses (and ecosystems) to survive and thrive.
After 20,000 people have taken the quiz: 31% are Crocs; 24% Giraffes; 13% Elephants; 10% Lions; 8% Cheetahs; 7% Wildebeest and 7% Mongoose.
The book is widely available at bookstores and online.
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Claudia Harris
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