Leading from The Front

He has lived 95 years of purpose and determination. After gracing the earth with his warmth and charisma the African legend and international Icon Mr Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela has passed on. “He was a kind of person that makes me want to become a better man” President Of the USA Barrack Obama was quoted saying those words during the memorial of a great icon also first president of a democratic South Africa Mr Nelson Mandela which was held on the 10 December 2013 in south Africa.

What is worth taking from the great life of Nelson Mandela?

His compassion and humility towards other people is worth taking. The best term to describe him towards other people is the word Ubuntu. Ubuntu is an African word which describes a human spirit which is a greater degree of humility and respect to another.

His great purpose of serving people is another great trait this icon displayed. In most cases we complain about the people in power about their greed and their eagerness to be dominant in all areas at their boundary. After experiencing oppression all black people that were under the South African government(Apartheid) had a negative attitude towards all white people. But what this great man did was un-expected when he declared that they will not seek for revenge of their oppressors he responded by saying: “Never, never and never again in this beautiful country shall one experience oppression from another”. This what made him different from any other and it made him great!

His genuine charisma is one of his best traits. It is no doubt that Mr Nelson Mandela is amongst the most charismatic leaders in the history. He was poised to be savior in the apartheid era and he became more popular because of his great courage of standing for the rights of the black nation.

His focus and determination is one of the things that made him a great leader. He was sentenced for 27 years by the apartheid government charged with sabotage and plotting to overthrow the apartheid government. He served 18 years in a lonely prison at Robin Island. All his days in jail he was breaking stones and he was forbidden to wear sunglasses so that the sun may blister in his eyes. But what kept him going? He was driven by the legacy he will live for his people and his family as well. When things go tough he was kept by the desire to liberate his nation and the future he might provide for his children and the rest of the nation.

Mr Nelson Mandela’s leadership qualities were worth noting.  After he got to the presidential seat beating Mr W De Klerk he allowed him to continue living in his presidential accommodation even though he could have kicked him out as a new president and as one who had authority to do so. He not only did that but he made a peace rally between the oppressed (Black nation, Indian nation, colored nation) and the oppressor(White Nation).

He fought for what he believed in. Not a threat of a death sentence, not continuous beating from apartheid police, nothing stopped him   from persuading his dream of getting the freedom for his people.

Then the question lies in you, what then is stopping you from being a great leader, business person, sport man or musician? Let a life of this phenomenal human being inspire you to be great in every aspect of your life by just taking a hint of what he has done to be great in his!