Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace prize in 1993. This is a remarkable achievement for an extra ordinary man. A man who was able to change from within and in doing so change the society that he lived in. He was imprisoned for fighting for what he believed in, his tools of the trade were marked with violence. In prison, he refused to compromise his beliefs and commitment to the cause, and while imprisoned, became the most significant black leader in South Africa.

He was released in 1990 and soon continued where he left off. He succeeded and the world is better for it. What was previously a choice of color now became black and white. He did this by showing a change from within, from previously espousing change thru violence to change from non violence and dignity. He went on to oversee the end of apartheid as President of South Africa, and the transition to a multi cultural democracy.

Nelson Mandela is a man that human society owes a tremendous debt of gratitude. He challenged the status quo and won, using tools that are not associated with battle. Here are some of the lessons that he shared on how he accomplished it.

Courage is not the absence of fear — it’s inspiring others to move beyond it. – It is ok to be afraid. The key is not to show it. To inspire your followers that they can do it. Acting courageous can lead to courage. Nelson Mandela says, “Sometimes you just need to put up a front.”

Lead from the front — but don’t leave your base behind. –“To achieve great things, It takes a village.” You cannot achieve great things alone, you need to marshal and bring your supporters. Bringing and showing that you had the critical numbers to succeed is very important.

Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front. – A leader does not necessarily always need to be in the limelight. By allowing others to shine, he can inspire them to achieve greater things for him.

Know your enemy — and learn about his favorite sport. – Communication is very important. You should not allow your mistrust of your opponent to burn all communication lines. Looking for a common bond, or interests can go a long way to continuing the discussions.

Keep your friends close — and your rivals even closer – Knowing what your rival’s intentions are will always allow you to “manage” the situation. Identifying their motivations allows you to shape their actions.

Appearances matter — and remember to smile. – Showing and acting will allow people to predict you.

Nothing is black or white.- There are always other choices. Sometimes, you are allowed to choose both options.

Quitting is leading too. – Admitting that you are wrong and cutting losses allows you to move forward.

These are fantastic lessons that we can learn. We can also find hope for our country. If Nelson Mandela was able to change South Africa, a task that the world deemed improbable, change can also happen in our country. Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until its done.”

Let’s follow the examples of these ordinary individuals as they strive to make a difference. Each week, lets all get together and share knowledge, stories, experiences, information, all for the sole purpose of getting One Step Up.


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