SUCCESS = Sacrifice

I was reading Dr. Nelson Mandela's autobiography called "Long Walk to Freedom". It was such an engrossing real life story of success that gripped me from its first page to the last. It is not only an remarkable document, but also would inspire anyone and everyone. Amongst several events that touched me which brought forward several sutras of success, one thing that dominated my mind and that is "Sacrifice"! And "what a great sacrifice that it was, that led to end of an apartheid era in South Africa. But, how many of us really noticed the value of this success for Dr. Nelson Mandela, an imprisonment of long 27 years! How many of us would be prepared to spend even 27 minutes not in jail, but in an uncomfortable situation for principles, and would go through 0.00000001 time of hardship that visionaries and prophets like Mandela has gone through. Thus, sacrifice has great value and strength if you are determined to go through it, and stand by your principles. Such individuals would continue to go through it, because they are determined to be successful in their purpose.

Amongst several incidents that impressed me, one touched my mind and heart is ability of Mandela to continue to offer sacrifice even after 27 years of torture. In his reception address he said,

"I stand before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands".

What a great commitment, and strength this uncommon individual has! In this world where people struggle and compete to take credit for things that even they have not done, and here is this angle who attributed his success, and struggle for that success to people, that he fought for! What a great sacrifice. But then if your sacrifice is true and real, and undoubtedly unique and outstanding, humanity would certainly recognize it. And would strengthen you to achieve every bit of success that would have been out of your sphere of dreams. Thus,

SUCCESS = SACRIFICE!