Contents
The first paragraph of each chapter:
Author’s Motivation
Initially, motivated by a concern that the teachings, wisdom and insights of Nelson Mandela may go to waste and be lost to future generations, Tyrrel Fairhead was moved to acknowledge and record it all. . .
Preface
By Mike Nicol, Co-author of Mandela – The Authorised Portrait
The idea of Nelson Mandela has begun to take on significance possibly greater than the man himself. There are few individuals of whom this can be said in their lifetimes, but for Mandela it is true. He has come to embody concepts of tolerance and forgiveness that in their depth and magnanimity have even astonished those who know him well. . .
Reading Suggestions
What the text in bold, italic, and so on, mean for the reader. . .
The Goal of this Book
My goal is to provide a practical tool for all to respectfully follow his example. . .
Introduction
Until early 1990 many people believed that South Africa was on the road to civil war, a war that would finally unleash black anger against white racism. Four years later, Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the country’s first black president. Much happened during those four years, beginning with Nelson Mandela’s release from prison after twenty seven years and ending with the country’s first ever free and fair multi-racial elections. . .
Chapter 1: Why Do It?
Many of us seem unable to do things we want to do and need to do, fully and completely. We tend to feel dissatisfied with our lot or our progress. Who or what should we blame? Maybe somebody or circumstances are against us; or maybe it’s because there is too much else going on over which we have no control and which frustrates what we want to do. . .
Chapter 2: The Core of the MadibaMindset
In this chapter I explain my understanding of the core elements of the MadibaMindset. Again, I remind the reader that I am not a graduate of the Robben Island experience and that my description of these elements is incomplete and unofficial. I collected this information from an analysis of relevant in-depth reading and research, visits to Robben Island, and discussions with Robben Island graduates. . .
Chapter 3: Conviction Creates Energy
It is essential to remember the five elements that comprise the core of this model of the MadibaMindset. These five elements are actually behavioural disciplines which the Robben Island graduates practised and applied consistently. As Nelson Mandela and the other Robben Island graduates have demonstrated, these five disciplines are universal tools for great achievement. . .
Chapter 4: Write Your Own Freedom Charter
Previous chapters record many things I found useful about how the Freedom Charter was put together and how it was practised during the South African political struggle. When I faced the question of how we can do this ourselves I found no record of specific steps to do so. Over time I developed my own procedure. . .
Chapter 5: What I Can Do
This chapter does not introduce anything new. It is more about doing and wiring in some of the previous material. . .
Chapter 6: How You Can Do It
Many times in previous chapters I encouraged focussed uninterrupted attention. Yet we live in a world filled with millions of distractions. These are often experienced in the form of pictures, words – maybe a nagging voice in your head – and feelings. Sometimes the distractions are internally generated and sometimes they are externally generated. Regardless of the source, a restless state of mind may follow. . .
Chapter 7: Is It Final or Can We Aim for Chapter 11?
Before I started writing the final chapter of this book my wife noticed that it is numbered seven. I am not sure why this number fell where it did, but co-incidentally it represents serious concerns. In the United States final Corporate Bankruptcy is known as Chapter Seven. What is the relevance of this coincidence to the present and to the reader? In bankruptcy the corporation is closed down, operations cease, jobs are lost, and physical assets are sold off as quickly as possible, usually for less than their intrinsic value. When applied to countries this disaster is known as a failed state; a state some countries have already reached. . .
Appendix A: Aiming Higher
The reasons given in Chapter 1 for becoming a user of the Madiba Mindset might seem compelling however, none of these reasons explain how it was possible for Mandela and his colleagues to survive the oppressive conditions in prison and to be released triumphant with their convictions undimmed. To understand how that was even remotely possible, we need to explore a few basic ideas of behavioural psychology. . .
Appendix B: Important reader’s questions and author’s replies
Liz: The well known personalities and pithy quotes you incorporate vibrantly bring the text alive as you guide us to use these same principles in realising our own dreams. It is both more interesting and entertaining than a straight self-help book. . .