In finance, the main thing is to effectively achieve your goals. Lessons from Nelson Mandela that apply to controlling your own money.
Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) was one of those people who alone can change the course of history and influence the fate of people. Unlike great leaders and charismatics like Genghis Khan or Napoleon, Nelson Mandela was a supporter of peaceful influences on the system, he always called for avoiding revolution, violence and revenge.
In his opinion, it was possible to achieve the goals set no less effectively by peaceful means. It was for this position that the South African leader received the Nobel Peace Prize.
This great man, unfortunately, who recently left our world, has a lot to learn, not only in the field of politics, but also in dealing with personal finances. It's just that his example can be easily transferred to the sphere of interest to us, because his principles are, in fact, universal. So here are the lessons from Nelson Mandela that apply to controlling your own money.
First, it's important to have a goal in front of you. Mandela's goal was to create a state in which democracy would ensure the right to vote for every citizen, and there would be no place for a despotic regime. When we talk about personal finances, you just need to come up with a goal - so that there is something to strive for.
Likewise, since we decide to fix the situation with personal finances, we will have to limit ourselves in some way, and maybe in many ways. However, the already set goal as a guiding star will help you not to go astray and withstand the tests of temptations.
Third, focus on the future is extremely important. Sitting in prison, Mandela could grieve about the situation and look back on the past - where there was injustice and cruelty towards his people and towards himself. However, the most important thing here is not to let the past dictate our behavior.
Indeed, it is in the future that we must achieve our goal, correct and improve our life. This is what Mandela did, and we need to do this too - think about the future, choose a line of behavior that is consistent with the plan, and not retreat in difficult moments.
It was necessary and very useful to him later, to achieve his goals. Likewise, we must invest time and resources in achieving the goal, albeit sometimes to the detriment of today's free time or the entertainment available to us and so desired.
There can be many options with opportunities, whether it be the rejection of some excesses (as an opportunity to save money) or the same education in order to improve qualifications (and develop oneself as a valuable cadre for future employers). Regardless of the situation and our steps, you must try to use the available chances. What if something comes in handy in the future?
Fifth, healthy pragmatism will not hurt even avid idealists. At one time, Mandela had to accept help and support from the communists, whose methods and positions he did not share, but who were ready to support him in the struggle against the regime existing in his country. Of the two evils, he chose the lesser and enlisted the support of allies, albeit not the most pleasant to him, but at least capable of really helping with something at the right time.
The main thing here is not to make a deal with your own conscience and not to compromise your principles, which is what a sensible politician did. In our case, the compromise may be the need to work in an unpleasant job when there are no other options, and there is no way to lose employment.
The main thing is not to turn off the chosen path even when, it would seem, there is no one to expect support from. In this case, we will not be afraid of any obstacles, and our financial goals will seem and will be quite achievable.
Success comes to those who go to their goals without giving up under any circumstances. And the willingness to sacrifice something in order to achieve them will only prove that we are serious. With this approach, anyone will be able to effectively implement their plans, and, no less important, temper and test their own character. After all, people with a strong spirit certainly can handle any task.
