Through the lens of an African safari, Steve Fredlund shares the “Big 5” keys to becoming happier and more successful in life, work and leadership.
Steve Fredlund is a multi-passionate visionary who has had profound impact as an award-winning actuary, humanitarian, coach, consultant, author, speaker, podcaster, entrepreneur and leader of African safaris.
For ten years, Steve’s journey included two parallel paths: a good life that was becoming increasingly unfulfilling and humanitarian trips to east Africa that ended on safari. Like chocolate and peanut butter, Steve’s research into happiness and his experiences leading African adventures blended into something remarkable. He discovered the “Big 5” factors that impact both, becoming the foundation of his approach to life, work and leadership. “The Safari Way” has become a movement increasing the happiness and success of people around the world.
Steve’s best-selling new book, “Do the Unright Thing: Memoir of a People Pleaser” shares his incredible transition from someone focused on doing everything ‘right’ (as defined by everyone else) to finding great joy in doing ‘unright’ things.
As a two-time TEDx speaker, Steve communicates in a compelling way, using remarkable stories and memorable phrases that keep his ideas front-of-mind years into the future. His captivating, authentic and humorous approach keeps audiences engaged and longing for more. Steve has been called “genuine”, “hilarious” and “the only actuary, in the history of actuaries, you actually WANT to sit next to during dinner.”
Steve earned fellowship in the Society of Actuaries and holds a Masters in Business Administration. When not working, he can be found on the disc golf course, playing a poker tournament or suffering through another season as a Minnesota sports fan.
Topics:
THE SAFARI WAY: ROARING SUCCESS WITH THE RIGHT PEEPS IN THE JEEP
Summary: This 45-90 minute talk is perfect for leaders and other audiences who hire and manage staff. Grounded in Steve’s experience as an HR actuary personally analyzing the data on 150,000 global employees, he shares breakthrough insights into how we can build more powerful teams to increase productivity, engagement and retention
Description: It is so frustrating to have high potential team members who aren’t as productive as they could be. They have the skills, knowledge and abilities to make a huge impact but are disengaged and don’t stick around. The problem is not their potential, it is converting that potential to actual contribution. How can we add team members who will have the impact they are capable of? As an award-winning actuary, Steve Fredlund analyzed data on more than 150,000 global employees, uncovering the core drivers of productivity, engagement and retention. In this session, he will teach you how to enhance hiring to build a more productive team. Known as “The Safari Dude”, Steve calls this “getting the right peeps in our jeep” and it is one of the “Big 5” in his breakthrough approach to live, work and lead The Safari Way.
THE SAFARI WAY TO GREATER HAPPINESS
Summary: This 45-90 minute talk is ideal for general audiences (leaders and non-leaders) who need a boost to become happier in life and at work. This talk explores five things (the “Big 5”) that make an African safari epic and increase personal fulfillment.
Description: Life can feel like an African safari, an ongoing experience of ups & downs, high & lows, knowns & unknowns, where excitement and tension run side by side. As we learn to apply the same principles that make safaris epic, we become more engaged, less burnt out, and happier in life, work and leadership. Steve “Safari Dude” Fredlund uses compelling stories from the savannah to invite us into The Safari Way by choosing our experience, getting the right peeps in our Jeeps, doing the unright thing, taking in the view and embracing the adventure.
HOW THE UNRIGHT THING IS THE CATALYST FOR BREAKTHROUGH
Summary: It’s hard to break through to the extraordinary. After years of working incredibly hard to do everything “right” most of us give up the fight. If we couldn’t get there with all the time and effort we poured in, it must not be achievable. Although we still long for something more, we dampen our expectations and instead focus on trying to improve our good and expected experience. But what if the extraordinary was not the result of working hard to do everything “right”? What if the extraordinary is reserved for those who have the courage to do the “unright” thing?
Description: In this talk, Steve shows the framework to reaching the extraordinary, whether that is on African safari, in our personal lives, or within our organizations. While there are five elements necessary to achieve breakthrough, there is only one that is the true catalyst for the extraordinary: doing The Unright Thing.