Book Review: ‘Take Charge in Times of Challenge’

In any challenging environment — be it economic, social or otherwise — human beings find it easier to apportion blame than to take responsibility.
It is satisfying to speak of the irresponsible individuals who have messed things up in a situation gone bad or recline in one’s cocoon as a justified response to a difficult situation.
However, South African educationist and motivational speaker Dr David Molapo brings a different perspective in responding to challenges in his book “Take Charge in Times of Challenge”.
He gives lessons on learning to lead when life becomes difficult.
In his introduction, he speaks of modern day immense challenges, describing them as 3D times — dark, dismal and difficult times.
Dr Molapo takes a journey from the history of the Bible where characters like Moses confronted challenges right to the days of the fight against segregation when the likes of American civil rights activist Martin Luther King and South Africa’s late president Nelson Mandela, among others, rose to the challenges unique to their days.
It is in these descriptions that Dr Molapo takes the reader on a journey of how people become leaders, drawing similarities between different individuals who went on to make history and be admired in today’s world.
In a bid to make any reader identify themselves in his book, Dr Molapo delves into the issues that confront individuals such as failure, lack of self-belief, uncertainty and ability to make right choices.
Having attended one of Dr Molapo’s motivational sessions, this writer was amazed at how he translates his simplistic and humorous speech into writing.
Dr Molapo, a former convict, uses his personal experiences to draw his readers in and ensure that they also identify with the day to day challenges of any ordinary individual.
The book also takes on a counselling tone in the chapters when Dr Molapo speaks on “believing in oneself”, “being passionate about what one does” and “learning from bad experiences”, among other chapters.
In the chilling experience of the terrorist attacks of September 11 in the United States, Dr Molapo brings in lessons of the qualities of leadership in the face of adversity. The writer does well in highlighting adverse situations in which ordinary people became extraordinary due to their willingness to take charge.
Dr Molapo’s approach in writing is also commendable as he draws the reader through various levels of leadership, thereby leaving no one out of the equation.
His message is that anyone can lead in their sphere of influence if they choose to.
With the inspiration of quotes from renowned philosophers, the book becomes an easier and interesting read. Through this tactic, Dr Molapo ensures that the reader gets to the final pages of the book without any effort.
In his concluding chapters, Dr Molapo presents the topic of “Project Africa”. He highlights the problems bedevilling Africa in contrast with the vast resources that the continent boasts of.
In presenting “Project Africa”, Dr Molapo takes the reader into the future of the continent, probing how future leaders can begin to rise and take charge despite current challenges.
Even as it comes to its conclusion, the book serves as an empowerment tool for anyone.