What makes Nelson Mandela such a great leader?

1) Discover and embrace your passion in life.

'The struggle is my life' - Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela personifies passion. He has sacrificed his private life and his youth for his people, and remains South Africa's best known and loved hero. Mandela participated actively in politics to oppose the apartheid movement. Seeing the unfairness and discrimination that the black and coloured people are subjected to in South Africa, he strives to end the racial segregation.His whole life is lived in the vision of creating racial equality.

When you are passionate, you have a clear purpose in life. You attract passionate people into your life. Passion is the fuel of life. It creates an abundance of energy that sustain your actions. We all now what it is like to be near someone who has found their passion in life. They have this charisma and forcefulness that compels us to follow their lead and do great things.

Action: Find your passion and live your life according to it. Only by doing this can you achieve great heights in life.

2) Never give up, ever.

Mandela spent 27 years behind bars as a political prisoner. But that has not left a dent in his spirit and stop him from continuing his struggle to rid South Africa of Apartheid. In 1994, 4 years after his release from prison, he became the first democratically elected president of South Africa at the age of 75.

Few could say they face the same kind of challenges and setbacks Mandela did. Even against a powerful, repressive government, he persisted. Even with his freedom taken away, his reputation grew as the most significant black leader of South Africa. In prison, Mandela kept at his struggle and influenced greatly the young black activist imprisoned in Robben Island, dubbed 'Mandela University', signifying his great influence in the anti apartheid movement even when imprisoned.

'Not giving up' has a new meaning observing the life of Mandela. When faced with challenges, he kept working to realize his dream, each time with new vigor, denying his enemy any chance of crushing his spirit.

Action: When you have a clear goal, work towards it's achievement despite all challenges. Setbacks are not failures. The only failure is when you decide to give up.

Setbacks are not signs of your incapability, but opportunities to learn to become the person worthy of your goal .

3) Accepting the differences of others. Practice tolerance and compassion.

Nelson Mandela's lifelong struggle is about racial equality. It is about having the compassion and being able to live with the differences and respecting each other.

In the Rivonia Trial, Mandela was charged with sabotage. Mandela's statements in court during these trials are classics in the history of the resistance to apartheid, and they have been an inspiration to all who have opposed it. His statement from the dock of the Rivonia Trial ends with these words:

I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

'Even after his release from prison, as President from May 1994 until June 1999, Mandela presided over the transition from minority rule and apartheid, winning international respect for his advocacy of national and international reconciliation.Mandela encouraged black South Africans to get behind the previously hated Springboks (the South African national rugby team) as South Africa hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup.(This is the theme of the 2009 film Invictus.) After the Springboks won an epic final over New Zealand, Mandela presented the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar, an Afrikaner, wearing a Springbok shirt with Pienaar's own number 6 on the back. This was widely seen as a major step in the reconciliation of white and black South Africans.'

Source

Action: To be at peace with yourself, learn to be at peace with others. Only through tolerance and compassion can humanity be expressed. Accept the differences of others, relinquish the need to judge,and you will find inner peace.

4) Simplicity in life and Humility.

Mandela's daily habits (source):

'The years in jail reinforced habits that were already entrenched: the disciplined eating regime of an athlete began in the 1940s, as did the early morning exercise. Still today Nelson Mandela is up by 4.30am, irrespective of how late he has worked the previous evening. By 5am he has begun his exercise routine that lasts at least an hour. Breakfast is by 6.30, when the days newspapers are read. The day's work has begun.

With a standard working day of at least 12 hours, time management is critical and Nelson Mandela is extremely impatient with unpunctuality, regarding it as insulting to those you are dealing with.'

It is my belief that Mandela's strict daily habits contributed to his health and long life. He is, today (February, 2010), 92 years of age.Simplicity and good habits pays great dividend in life.

Mandela has honorary degrees from more than 50 international universities and is chancellor of the University of the North.

'Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades, most notably the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. In November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly announced that Mandela's birthday, 18 July, is to be known as 'Mandela Day' to mark his contribution to world freedom.'

Source

Mandela retired from public life in 1999. He currently resides in his birth place - Qunu, Transkei. After retirement, Mandela is active as an advocate in numerous social and human rights organizations.

What's remarkable is Mandela has successfully maintained his integrity and stature even after taking office when so many freedom fighters become dictators, intoxicated with power. Thus, he is hailed as one the great moral leader of our time.

Action: One of the best thing we can do in our life is to simplify our life. Practice minimalism. Know that more is not always better. Many times, just by simplifying our lives, we gain more. The blind chase for more leads to addictions, corruption and suffering. Be true to your roots. The more you have, the more humble you should become.

Doing what's right versus doing what's popular.

Heroes are not perfect.