Get The Monkeys | Daniel Merza

A Game Changing Book to inspire resilience and optimism for the next generation

Watch Out. You’ve got monkeys on your back

They are stopping you from living a happy life. An honest life. A healthy life.

These monkeys are preventing you from reaching your full potential – in the classroom, on the sporting field and on the streets of life.

They are hard to see, and harder to recognise. Until now.

Inside the covers of this game-changing book, you will get to know Enzo, Scooter, Darryl, Tyson and Moi – and discover how to get the monkeys off your back.

Written in a conversational way, this book is packed with inspirational stories and easy-to-implement strategies to help you:

develop greater self-awareness and unlock self-belief and potential
develop healthy relationships to beat bullying and peer pressure
identify social media addiction and take the steps to beat it
manage mental health issues
overcome failure, setbacks and adversity

It’s time to step up, take control and become the leader of your life.

It’s time to get the monkeys off your back.

$29.95Add to cart

Goosebumps! Emotional, raw, relevant, and most of all, practical.

Reader Reviews

Book Testimonials

“I’m currently re-reading your book and have to say, there’s never been a much needed time for it, considering the state of the globe is in. Your words helped me 2 years ago and they’re now helping me at a different stage of life. Thank you for creating this and please keep doing what you do best.”

Bernadette

Book Testimonials

“Daniel gives a simple and practical guide to help improve both your mentality and spirituality towards achieving or accomplishing anything. Coming from a background which meant that marks were the only means of success, the book shows and reassures you that there are actually so many ways to achieve victory. Everyone goes through a tough time and this book gives a strong encouragement to help you persevere and stay determined on the road ahead in any given circumstance.”

Year 12 Student

Book Testimonials

“This is a wonderful and easy to understand book which thoughtfully draws on the many challenges and sources of anxiety in young people today and unpacks effective ways to deal with them. I found the clear and concise format of topic, exercise and summary makes this book a fantastic source for students to re-read in times they are feeling most in need for some support. Rhetorical questions throughout the book allow young readers to engage with the written text simply, allowing them to adapt the examples to their own life – A MUST READ for all teenagers.”

Year 12 Student

Book Testimonials

“Youthful, dynamic and engaging from start to finish. Our boys took away a great deal from Daniel’s presentation on resilience and achieving their personal best. Daniel’s passion was evident as he instilled in the boys the importance of making the most of their short block of time remaining at school by adopting a strong work ethic, to be true to oneself, and to be perseverant. We’ll definitely have Daniel back again”.

Michael Webb, Year 10 Boarding Master, St Ignatius College, Riverview

Book Testimonials

“As a teacher and parent, I believe that Daniel has written a very important and beneficial book that will guide students during their difficult teenage years. It will allow students to tackle their studies, especially Year Twelve, and be armed with practical strategies in building up their resilience and working to the best of their ability. I was moved and inspired by the case studies provided and particularly Daniel’s strategies and I wholeheartedly endorse his advice and guidance.”

Marella Healy, High School Teacher, Parent

Book Testimonials

“Navigating the minefield of adolescence has never been more challenging. As such, a book like Daniel’s is such a valuable tool for giving young people the tools, insights and inspiration to thrive in the all-important final years of school life.”

Michael McQueen, CSP, 5-time bestselling author and youth trends expert

Book Testimonials

“Get The Monkeys Off Your Back is a must read book for anyone interested in leveling out the peaks and troughs of their adolescent journey of self discovery. We are told that resilience is the key to survive and thrive, but are not often given the tools required to nurture or develop resilience. Daniel Merza’s monkey metaphor is a quirky and appealing one, which will appeal to his teen target audience and keep them engaged as he imparts his wisdom to educate and empower them. These monkeys, which have personalities and names, represent common limiting beliefs, allowing the reader to…

Randa Habelrih, Multi International Award Winning Speaker, Author and Social Inclusion Advocate

Book Testimonials

“Daniel Merza is both a bold and brave new voice in providing young people with the emotional literacy to identify the “monkeys on their back” and to challenge the status quo which limits their potential. Written with a uniquely distinctive voice, whilst drawing upon the wisdom of the ages, Daniel is able to communicate directly with young people to explore the challenges of contemporary adolescence and emerging adulthood. Authentic, in that Daniel draws upon his own experience and written with a lightness in tone to deflect the serious nature of much of the conversation, I would heartily recommend this book…

Dr Steven Middleton, Head of Berwick Grammar School

Book Testimonials

“Daniel Merza has written from the heart. As a high school teacher with many years of experience and as a mother of two teenagers, reading this book gave me many new ideas in how to manage the various curved balls that life throws at our kids these days. Especially the newer problems, such as cyber bullying and internet addiction. Every chapter is packed with stories from real life and each one suggests practical, well-balanced thoughts on how to cope with these challenges. It is written in simple, easy to read language that teens can relate to and understand, and the…

Rita Fin, Assistant to the Headmaster, Sydney Grammar School

Book Testimonials

“Daniel Merza’s new book – Get The Monkeys Off Your Back is an exciting new book. Filled with real life stories, from himself as the author, and others he has interviewed, this book is emotional, raw, relevant but most of all, it is practical. With summary’s at the end of each chapter and practical application exercises, so it won’t just be another nice book you read, but it will be something that you can apply to your life, to change your life, literally! Young people need to read this, older people should read this. Bravo Daniel, a brilliant book that…

Brett Murray – CEO, Co-Founder Make Bullying History Foundation, Author, Professional Speaker

Book Testimonials

“Daniel has provided an inspirational, practical resource for teens to see the light in any situation, build resilience, develop self-awareness and ‘get the monkey’s off their back,’ so they can truly thrive. It’s current, readable and the personal stories make it real and provide HOPE for any teen facing challenges. There’s also an underlying message of compassion and understanding towards others by reading the trials and tribulations of a diverse group of people. This is an important book for any teen.”

Amanda Rootsey, youth mentor, author and Founder of teen academy, Shine From Within

Book Testimonials

“In his latest book “Get the Monkeys off Your Back”, Daniel Merza, accomplished motivational speaker, draws on personal experiences as an adolescent, to provide insight into what holds young people back. As a Principal in a Positive Education School, his message spoke to me and will touch the lives of young people, parents and educators alike. His personal accounts of being bullied, give this highly readable and accessible work, true credibility. Written from the heart, as a young man who experienced the effects of bullying, his brutal honesty is inspiring and his practical exercises will give young people from all…

Peter Wade, Principal, Patrician Brothers’ College, Fairfield

A must-read for both teens and adults.

A Night Of Inspiration
- Official Book Launch

Inspiring, practical, and written from the heart. A compelling read.

About The Author

Daniel’s resolute mission is to liberate and empower 5 million individuals worldwide from the burdens (monkeys) that weigh them down.

Through his captivating presentations, empowering writings, and influential social media initiatives, he is dedicated to guiding and inspiring others to break free from self-doubt, overcome obstacles, and unleash their true potential. With each encounter, Daniel strives to help people ‘Get the monkeys off your back,’ empowering them to live a life of purpose, resilience, and limitless possibilities.

Having worn the “underdog” cap growing up, Daniel’s story can be summed up in three words – “Defying the odds”.

Bullied for a decade, diagnosed with a mental illness aged 13, and labelled as a student with “no hope”, Daniel faced up to his tormentors at 16 and turned his life around.

A Chartered Accountant (CA) at 23, Daniel enjoyed an illustrious corporate career spanning 15 years, with leading companies like KPMG and BDO in senior management roles before embarking upon his mission.

In 2018, Daniel was thrilled to be awarded the prestigious Kerrie Nairn Scholarship by Professional Speakers Australia to assist the development of an emerging speaker to become an outstanding professional leader.

Also in April 2018, Daniel published Get the Monkeys Off Your Back to empower and equip readers with practical strategies to build resilience, overcome adversity, find purpose, and become the best version of themselves.

Daniel has developed clever and fun ways to engage, empower and equip thousands of people worldwide – from students, parents, educators to corporate professionals and business entrepreneurs – to get the monkeys off their back and thrive.

He has been featured on the radio and various newspaper and media outlets, and his work has also been acknowledged in NSW parliament.

Daniel is an accredited Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), an international designation that recognises the experience and professional capability of Australia’s leading speakers.

Daniel is also an accredited Mental Health First Aid Trainer, a role he is deeply passionate about.

Daniel lives in Sydney with his wife and daughter – they are without a doubt his greatest achievement and a boundless source of joy.