The Sunday Mail
Book Review
Edmore Zvinonzwa
INTERNATIONAL leadership coach, transformational and motivational speaker Noah Mangwarara has just released another title “Self-Leadership: Inspiration for Inside Out Impact”.
The 138-page book seeks to show that leadership is not about positions, power and possessions but rather is a lifestyle.
It is about the pursuit of one’s purpose with passion towards the accomplishment of a great feat for human civilisation.
“Leadership is something that you do yourself before you are assigned an office or before you are appointed or before you are elected which is based on the biblical narrative of creation. Adam was given the mandate to dominate, he was made a leader in the garden of Eden well before Eve was there.”
The author shows that while the major objective in human life is success, they must strive for significance.
Mangwarara quotes from the late former South African president Nelson Mandela who once said: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
He writes: “When someone gets successful in one area, the tendency is to strive for more. The quest for success is ingrained in the very psyche of every living soul. The greater part of what we call success is mostly inward looking. Real fulfilment is the one that is outward looking whereupon there is need to add value to the good and welfare of other world citizens. When we are service oriented, we get out of the self-serving behaviour and start to think about others.” (p21)
In real everyday life, we have seen people whose actions have transformed or changed the lives of others or even whole communities. It is this impact in other people’s lives that becomes paramount.
The author goes on to give example of philanthropist Jairos Jiri who went out of his way to help others even though he had meagre resources.
“When he saw people in the streets of Bulawayo who were half-naked, blind, hungry and begging, he was moved with compassion and jumped to help even though he was a mere garden boy by that time.” (p23)
The book has 35 short chapters with titles that begin with the letter “s’.
Examples are “Survival”, “Stagnation is deadly”, “Success”, “Significance and Succession” among others.
Most of these chapters begin with nuggets from other notable persons. Mangwarara also looks at the biblical Nehemiah.
“Nehemiah, upon hearing about the fallen walls of Jerusalem and how his people were in distress, did not waste time but did what true leaders ought to do –offer a solution to the problem. What separates true leaders from the many pretenders is the ability to deliver a solution even amidst the hardest of conditions.” (p46)
Tracing how he began inspirational writing, Mangwarara –who has been in training for the past 20 years, focusing on Management Training –told The Sunday Mail Society that it was from the training sessions that he developed an interest in inspirational writing and speaking.
Perhaps one of the most important observations that Mangwarara makes is: “Professors are occupying high offices in educational institutions but the level of ignorance is increasing by the day. The number of anointed preachers is on the increase but the state of moral decay is alarming”.
Mangwarara, who is turning 44 soon was born in Mutasa District, Manicaland Province. He attended Mutare Boys High School before proceeding to the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) in Bulawayo where he acquired a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Management.
His other works include “Success Favours the Brave”, “Soar Like an Eagle”, “Success in Leadership: Lesson from the Elephants”, “Teamwork –The Beehive of Effectiveness”, “Teamwork –Lessons From the Lion Pride, Adapt or Die: Leadership Lessons from the Jungle”, “Effective for Life: Life Lessons From Bees” and “Dimensions of Success”.
He has also contributed articles in local newspapers as a leadership and motivational columnist.
His latest book is a must-read for those keen on knowing more about leadership as well as practising real leadership in whatever spaces they operate.
The book will be available in local book stores soon.
