27 years

Imagine being so patient that you wait 27 years for your chance to change the world.

That’s exactly what Nelson Mandela did. While many of us can’t wait 27 seconds for our coffee to brew or our Amazon package to arrive, Mandela was quietly building a revolution from a prison cell.

Here’s the thing: Mandela didn’t just sit there twiddling his thumbs. He used those 27 years to reflect, grow, and prepare for the moment he could finally lead his nation toward freedom.

His patience wasn’t passive—it was active. He didn’t waste time obsessing over what he couldn’t control; he focused on becoming the kind of leader the world needed when the moment arrived.