One afternoon in 2009, I visited Ben Sang in his room and found him engrossed in something on his personal computer. After we exchanged pleasantries, I sat beside him to continue reading My American Journey, the memoir of Colin Powell - a black American, born to immigrant parents, who rose through the military ranks to become the National Security Advisor under President Ronald Reagan.
As I became hooked on the memoir, Ben Sang interrupted me and asked, "Now, how will that book help you?" Apparently, he thought computer programming books were the only meaningful materials to read. But I didn't get discouraged by his remark; I continued devouring the 606-page memoir with the zeal of a he-goat on heat.
And wow! Reading the memoir made me absorb Colin Powell's clarity and fluency of thought. It's one of the books that led me to be the great writer that some people say I am. And I ended up gleaning a number of valuable lessons from it.
Firstly, I learnt that no one ever made it to the top without getting into trouble. That was an encouraging lesson given the way I have messed up in a number of times since I was second year student at JKUAT.
Secondly, I learnt that we should never be buffaloed by experts; we should be ready to challenge them, even in their own backyard. That's a lesson I have strived to apply in my life.
Thirdly, I was touched by a quote which Colin Powell used to President Ronald Reagan with whom he worked on ending the Cold War that could have led to a nuclear holocaust. The quote read: "Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers who cut through arguments, debates and doubts to offer a solution everybody can understand."
Perhaps the best lessons I gleaned from Colin Powell were his rules which he listed at the end of the memoir. So if Ben Sang had discouraged me from finishing the book, I would have missed the enlightening rules. They are:
- It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
- Get mad, then get over it.
- Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
- It can be done!
- Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
- Don't let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
- You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours.
- Check small things.
- Share credit.
- Remain calm. Be kind.
- Have a vision. Be demanding.
- Don't take counsel of your fears and naysayers.
- Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
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RECOMMENDATION: If you've enjoyed the above story on lessons from Colin Powell, you might also enjoy another one on "Lessons from Ronald Reagan" which I wrote sometime back. Just click on that link in blue to dive straight into the story.
