This Child Will be Great

For my second book club meeting of the week, our group read the memoir "This Child Will be Great" by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.  Sirleaf was awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with Leymah Gbowee and Tawakel Karmen.  Sirleaf is the first female president of Liberia.


I haven't read many memoirs, so I don't have much to compare it to.  In this case, Sirleaf's story reads more as a series of dry events that could be one long bulleted list.  I wonder if this writing style is a reflection of her time spent in the business world, where that type of writing is more common than a sentimental style.  Either way, as I reflect on all she has encountered, and what she has accomplished, it is apparent that she is quite the amazing human being.  Here is a series of her passages that spoke to me, almost as tidbits of advice:


Still, once I took the position, I had stepped into a stream that would carry me along toward the future of my professional development.  So often it is the small decisions in life that end up shaping our future the most. p 32

• The learning here - pay attention to your small decisions as they may have bigger repercussions than you may originally anticipate.  

All of this I said, but in the end, it was really one word - idiots - that got me into trouble.  That was the word that did it.  That was the word that they really, really did not like.  p 123

• The learning here - people may focus on one or two points and ignore the rest of your message.  The theme of education, or lack there-of, is common when defining a gap for Liberians in this book.  I wonder if this is why the word "idiot" offended so much - many of the regime did not have much of a formal education, and did not want to appear weak because of it.  

Leadership has many challenges, and those challenges are serious.  Too often people, in their eagerness to stand and shout 'Follow me!,' neglect to consider the downside.  They do not, for example, consider the possibility of ostracism.  But the truth is that if you want to lead and be hailed, you must also be prepared to be ostracized, because it surely will happen at some point in your career.

• The learning here - there are ups and downs to any situation.  Leaders may be glorified on one hand, but there will be people wanting to tear you down and you must be prepared for both aspects to move ahead.

On the challenges Sileaf faced as newly-elected president: "On that glorious day Liberians had not experienced government provided electric power for more than sixteen years... Pipe-borne water was nonexistent in the city center and parts beyond.  Civil servants' salaries were in arrears and woefully inadequate at any rate.  Our schools were in ruins, not just physically, but also in terms of the loss of trained teachers.  Mortality rates among all sectors of our population were frighteningly high.  Our hospitals lacked equipment, drugs, and most critically, doctors..." p 273

• The learning here - it would be difficult enough becoming leader of a developed nation today, and yet knowing the state of Liberia and what she faced, Sirleaf fought for her election to bring change to these situations.  Wow.  What a strong, brave woman!