Long Walk to Freedom is the story of former South African President Nelson Mandela and how he spent most of his life imprisoned while still fighting for the rights of suppressed South Africans. 

 

• Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
• Published: January 1, 1994
• Pages: 656
• Read: September 6, 2023 – November 24, 2023
• Rating: 5/5 Stars

Let Them Ask Questions

“When I first visited the homes of whites, I was often dumbfounded by the number and nature of questions that children asked of their parents — and their parents’ unfailing willingness to answer them. In my household, questions were considered a nuisance; adults imparted information as they considered necessary.” – Nelson Mandela

 

Nothing will ruin a child’s curiosity faster than an inpatient parent.  Then when our kids get older, we wonder why they trust their friends more than us and don’t confide anything in us.  When they were little, they had that trust in you, but you would prioritize other things and treat them like a nuisance.  We need to encourage our kid’s curiosity and encourage them to continue to ask questions.

Work So Hard They Think You’re Gifted

 “I developed the reputation of having a fine memory, but in fact, I was simply a diligent worker.” – Nelson Mandela

 Do you ever see people who are so good at something that you automatically assume they are just naturally gifted?   When you begin to peel back the covers you realize that they don’t have any special abilities they just worked hard.  There are certain exceptions but for the most part, try to be so good at something that people can’t imagine that it was possible just from hard work and that it must be some God-given abilities.

 

“Running taught me valuable lessons. In cross-country competition, training counted more than intrinsic ability, and I could compensate for a lack of natural aptitude with diligence and discipline. I applied this in everything I did. Even as a student, I saw many young men who had great natural ability, but who did not have the self-discipline and patience to build on their endowment.” – Nelson Mandela

 

Even if you have the natural ability, the training and hard work still count for more.  I’ve heard many athletic coaches say I much rather have someone unskilled but disciplined, over someone skilled and undisciplined.  Being disciplined is available for all of us so at least take advantage of that, if you also have natural ability then do not waste it, because being gifted and disciplined makes you unstoppable. 

Using Books as Mentors

  “I began the only way I knew how, by reading and talking to experts. What I wanted to find out were the fundamental principles for starting a revolution. I discovered that there was a great deal of writing on this very subject, and I made my way though the available literature on armed warfare and in particular guerrilla warfare. I wanted to know what circumstances were appropriate for a guerrilla war; how one created, trained, and maintained a guerrilla force; how it should be armed; where it gets its supplies — all basic and fundamental questions.”  – Nelson Mandela

 

Nelson Mandela oversaw the starting of an army with zero military experience.  Like everyone should do when needing to learn something new, he turned to books for mentors.  Nothing beats having an in-person mentor teaching you something new, but how often is that available to us?  Mandela’s peers looked to him to find the necessary way to build a militia to take down the South African government, not because he was experienced but because they knew he had the skill and willpower to dedicate his entire life to a cause he believed in.  They knew that whatever was required of him to do, he would find a way to do it.

The Power of Writing Things Down

 “I went from contemplating the natural beauty to ruminating on the fact that the railway line, being so close to the highway, offered a convenient place for sabotage. I made a note of this in the small notebook I always carried with me.” – Nelson Mandela

 

In most of the biography, history, and self-improvement books I’ve read, almost every person had a way to write their thoughts down quickly.  Before smartphones there were notepads and commonplace books, it didn’t matter what it was, we just needed a way to put our thoughts on paper.  Our brains are optimized for critical thinking, we need not waste resources trying to memorize everything.

 Ignore the Noise

 “In the days before we were due to reconvene, I wrote papers for a set of London University examinations for my LL.B. It might seem odd that I was taking law exams a few days before the verdict. It certainly seemed bizarre to my guards, who said I would not need a law degree where I was going. But I had continued my studies through the trial, and I wanted to take the examinations. I was single-minded about it, and I later realized that it was a way to keep myself from thinking negatively. I knew I would not be practicing law again very soon, but I did not want to consider the alternative. I passed the exams.” – Nelson Mandela

 

Sometimes we let the craziness of the day derail what we are supposed to be doing.  We need to find stillness and find a way to ignore the noise and continue to do what we are supposed to do.  This is when the importance of discipline comes in, if we are solely relying on motivation to get things done, then when things go awry and our motivation is lost, we won’t do anything. 

 Final Lesson

 If you are interested in a true story about the sacrifices you must make to be all in for something you believe in, then Mandela’s story is for you.  The part I found resonated with me most was the willingness to sacrifice himself for the cause at any moment and I believe that’s why his followers rallied around him.  They knew if their leader was willing to fight beside them and sacrifice everything then they would do the same.  My favorite moment was when Mandela and the ANC leaders were willing to not contest any sentence given to them even if it was the death sentence.  They were willing to die for their cause because they thought if they contested any sentence given to them, they would let the enemy win.  I believe that his full commitment is the reason he was elected the first black president of South Africa only a couple of years after becoming a free man and spending nearly three decades behind bars.  If you are in any kind of leadership role within your job or community and want people to be inspired and follow you, then show them you are willing to sacrifice just as much or even more than they are to the cause.

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