Sleeping Giants

by Nathan Mellor

  The final treasures that meant the most to me were my grandparent’s high school yearbooks from 1940. When I visited my grandmother for the last time, I had noticed them on the bookshelf in the guest bedroom. At that time, I had thumbed through each page. What I found most interesting were my grandfather’s responses to the questions in the back of the yearbook. He had taken time to respond to a series of questions like, “Where would you like to be in five years?” and “What profession would you like to pursue?” His dream had been to be either a machinist or a mechanic.

  GLEN MELLOR

  Glen’s father, Charles Benjamin, was born in 1889. Tall and lean, he went by the name Ben. According to the 1910 census, Ben was working as a butcher in a local slaughterhouse two years after graduating from the Marietta High School. By 1920, he was a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service, and he would continue in this job until his death in 1947. Glen’s mother, Clara, was born in Pennsylvania in 1895 and then moved to Ohio where she would live until her death in 1985.

  Glen enlisted in the Army on August 20, 1944. He had been drafted earlier, but his service had been deferred due to the hardship it would bring upon his young family, which included one son and a daughter who would be born in October 1944. Once deployed, he was assigned to the 164th Infantry, Company G in the Pacific Theater. He served until he was honorably discharged on February 16, 1946.

  Based on a few clues found in some of the documents that were preserved from that time, it appears that he entered the war as a cook, but upon arrival in the Philippines, he served as a rifleman. Grandma kept the documents that pertained to his service and a few pictures from that time. The only insights I have about his service are harvested from these items. His Separation Qualification Record includes the following description:

  Served in Pacific theatre of operations for 11 months. Worked with Company G, 164th infantry. Worked as rifleman, used M-1 rifle in combat. Loaded, aimed, and fired at enemy troops and installations. Used all small arms and hand weapons. Captured and imprisoned enemy personnel.

  The photos below were apparently about a year apart from one another. The photo on the left is from his enlistment in 1944, and the one on the right is near the end of the war in 1945. From my perspective, his eyes tell the story about the impact of war on the mind of a young husband and father who was doing his best to get home safely.

  When Glen came home from the war, he had hoped to pursue his dream of becoming a mechanic or a machinist. Unfortunately for him, due to the war, there was an abundance of mechanics and machinists available. He found the best job he could and became a letter carrier. Later, he would take on additional work as a janitor at a downtown bank and a local church.

  Although he did not have money, Glen was known as a man of his word. When my dad wanted to go to college, it would have been impossible unless he could get a loan. My dad and his parents did not know much, if anything, about the financial aid process, and they did not know anything about student loans, which were just becoming available. So, when dad was accepted into college, he and granddad went down to the bank—the same one where granddad would work as a janitor—to see if they could borrow the money. My dad said:

  Dad and I went down to the bank, and dad told the guy working there that he needed a loan so his son could go to college. The people at the bank knew him, and they knew he was good for the money. They listened to him, and then a few minutes later, they were making out a check that would let me get started. I felt really proud of my dad. It meant a lot to me that he was the kind of person that the people at the bank trusted.

  A year ago, I was invited to speak at a university located just across the river from Marietta in Vienna, West Virginia. I was thrilled to get the invitation for a couple of reasons. The first was because I enjoy working with institutions of higher education, and this was one that impressed me. The second was due to its proximity to Marietta.

  I called my dad and asked if he wanted to join me, and he agreed. While there, we planned to go see some sights, and then on Sunday, we would go to the church he had attended while growing up, which was the same one that granddad cleaned as the janitor. Dad made arrangements to present the work he was a part of in Guatemala. I kept to myself the reason I was interested in going until we got there.

  When my grandfather would clean the church, he did something that I thought was unusual. He took the time to make sure every songbook was facing the same direction. I asked him about it once, and he said, “When people come in here, if they notice that someone took enough care to get the details right, maybe it will help them know that what happens here is important.” This approach to life is one that I have adopted. Consequently, if you ever attend a Strata Leadership event, hosted anywhere in the United States or abroad, you might notice our attention to the details. When someone walks into one of our programs, we want to set the tone for the event by taking care of the details. Not only is this a reflection of our belief in the “2M2N” approach to life, but it is also a nod to my grandfather’s memory.

  When we decided to attend the church where he had worked, I was curious to see if his small gesture persisted after his passing. At that time, it had likely been 25 years since he had cleaned the building. I parked my rental car on the curb, got out, and crossed the brick-lined street. I opened the front door, was hit with the familiar smell of the church, and was instantly transported back to my childhood. I crossed over the lobby and made my way to one of the wooden double doors that opened into the auditorium. I pushed the door open and scanned the pews. Although the songbooks that I had known as a child had been exchanged for new ones, I smiled when I noticed that every single one of them was facing the same direction. If they had not been, I would not have been surprised, but the fact they were meant a lot to me. Specifically, it meant that when someone serves with excellence, they are sometimes able to set a standard that the next generation chooses to keep. I do not know who is responsible for cleaning the auditorium at the church on the corner of Sixth and Washington streets, but I would imagine they do not know why they make sure the songbooks are all facing the same direction. I do, and it makes me happy.

  By watching my grandfather, I learned that he took pride in doing things the right way. He never used those words, but his actions revealed his beliefs. For several years, he would make wooden rocking horses and sell them in his front yard. They were rustic and sturdy and a source of pride for him. I know he was proud of his work because, on the underbelly of those rocking horses, he would take the time to carve, sometimes in cursive:

  Glen Mellor

  107 Wooster Street

  Marietta, Ohio

  You do not take the time to carve your name into wood if you are not proud of your work. It is because of people like my granddad that I would come to realize that your title does not define you, but the way you do your job does. If we are defined by how we do our jobs, what is the legacy you are leaving behind?

  In my office, you can see the inheritance my grandfather left me. Three small hammers are stacked on top of one another on the top shelf of my bookshelf. The bookshelf is an old barrister style, and the three hammers sit behind a thin pane of glass. They represent an attitude that he took to work and to life, and it is a foundational piece of the mental model I have chosen.

  Another connection to my granddad is that my computer bag is different from most. Due to its age and fragility, I do not always carry it, but the bag is something special to me. It is a leather U.S. Mail Bag that was used in the U.S. Navy during World War II. I carry it to remember my roots and as an expression of gratitude to those who have gone before me. One of the main reasons why I like to carry it is because I like to feel the full weight of the bag on my shoulder. When I carry it for a longtime, it gets uncomfortable. When it does, I am reminded of the miles and miles that my grandfather carried his mailbag to provide for our family. It makes me think of those who went before me. In those m
oments, I stand a little taller, because I am standing on the shoulders of giants.

  Who are the giants in your life?

  Why do you consider them to be giants?

  Chapter 13

  “30 Miles Changes Your Perspective”

  Making Hard Choices

  Each summer, our family tries to spend some time in one or more of the national parks. In addition to seeing amazing places, we also use this time to make memories with my parents. They enjoy traveling, and we are always glad when they are able to join the journey. Over the years, our little family, representing three generations, has hiked trails in beautiful places like the Grand Tetons, Yosemite, and Olympic National Park.

  Because my dad seemed to enjoy hiking on these trips, it did not surprise me too much when he began talking to me about backpacking gear. Nor did I think much of it when he began telling me about the books he had been reading about hiking. It was a surprise, however, when he announced that he had been researching the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) and that he and my uncle were planning on hiking part of it. In my experience, most people do not begin their hiking careers in his or her 70s, but my dad and uncle were intrigued by the idea and decided to make it happen.

  The A.T. is 2,190 miles long and traverses 14 states. The southern terminus of the trail is in Georgia’s Springer Mountain. The northern terminus is at Mount Katahdin in Maine. The A.T. is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world.1

  Some will hike the A.T. in one season as thru-hikers. For most, it takes 5 to 7 months to complete the journey, although the odds of completion are typically only one in four.2 Others will hike the A.T. in multi-day or section hikes. Section hikers may take years to complete the entire journey. This approach is popular among those who do not have flexibility in their schedule to take off months at a time.

  My dad and uncle decided to begin their trek on the A.T. with a multi-day hike. It is suggested that section hikers begin in Georgia instead of Maine. By starting in the south, it helps avoid some of the knee problems that can emerge on the rocky terrain of the New Hampshire and Maine sections.3

  Beginning at Springer Mountain, they planned to hike north for a week. During the trip, they hoped to become more familiar with hiking and backpacking. The first major stopping point on the A.T. is a historic stone building that was completed in 1937 by the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC). The building was named the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center (pronounced Wa La See Yee) in recognition of the Cherokee who had lived in the area prior to their forced removal in 1838. According to Cherokee mythology, the gap was the home of a giant frog, and the term Walasi-Yi is believed to mean the “place of the great frog.”4 The area was known as “Frogtown Gap” until 1946 when it was renamed Neel’s Gap in honor of the chief engineer of U.S. Highway 129, which connected the area to the outside world.5

  The center served as a dining hall, inn, and dancehall for the first few decades of its existence until it was closed in 1965. For the next few years, it was a studio for a local artist, and it then was abandoned for some years in the 1970s. Recognizing its historical significance, locals stepped in to preserve the building and were able to get it listed on the National Registry of Historical Places in 1977. In 1983, the building became the home of Mountain Crossings, a store dedicated to serving hikers and those interested in outdoor adventure gear and supplies. Since that time, it has become a nearly mythical friend to hikers.6

  One of the services Mountain Crossings is famous for is providing a “Shake Down” for hikers’ backpacks. Each year, they do hundreds of “Shake Downs,” and nearly ten thousand pounds of gear is sent home. Keep in mind that each member of the staff is extremely qualified, and all but one have thru-hiked the entire A.T. According to their website, “Our varied staff of former thru-hikers have made all the mistakes you can imagine over our collective 27,000 miles of hiking, but we have learned a lot from those miles!”7 The process is straightforward; one of the members of the staff will go through each item in your pack and provide suggestions about what you could leave behind and what you might need to pick up for the remainder of the trip.

  Recently, Mountain Crossings has begun offering a “Virtual Shake Down” service. The online service is available at the cost of $100, but this amount can be applied toward anything offered in the shop. Anticipating questions about the fee, the store’s website offers its rationale for why hikers should make the investment. In a section titled “Why do I need a Shake Down” the site offers the following:

  There is so much information out there about lightweight backpacking, but nothing teaches you as well as experience. After three days of walking on the AT, you have a much better sense of what you need to carry and what you can leave behind than when you were standing on Springer. If you’re still unsure, our staff make of former thru-hikers can help you trim down on the unneeded items. Take it from those who have already learned the hard way, carrying everything you think you want 1,500 miles and then finally dumping it only to realize you wish you had done it, in the beginning, is a tough pill to swallow. Don’t make your thru-hike tougher than it has to be. Get a Shake Down!8

  I have often been told there are two primary reasons people are willing to change: opportunity or pain. As much as we may wish that the promise of a better situation would cause us to change, this is typically not the case. Most people are open to change when the pain of their current situation is too great, and they are seeking relief.

  The location of the Mountain Crossings store is one of the primary reasons I think it is so successful. Located 31.7 miles down the trail, it takes most hikers at least three days to get there. After hiking for just three days, a hiker will know all too well how much their pack weighs. I have never been to the store, but I am assuming there is little marketing needed to convince weary hikers of the value of the service.

  THE SHAKE DOWN

  One of the experiences offered by Strata Leadership is an intensive learning experience known as the Institute for Emerging Leaders (IEL). Each program is limited to 30 high potentials that forge deep friendships with one another through the event. On the final day of the program, when trust has been established, we offer our version of the pack shake down.

  In a group-coaching format, we ask each member of the program to consider their future and identify what they need to leave behind in order to succeed. In addition, we ask them to describe what they will need to pick up for the remainder of the trip. Although I have participated in this exercise on multiple occasions, I always look forward to it. It is an awakening experience for many.

  It can be tough to recognize that you need to leave something behind to be able to get where you want to go. Sometimes the reason we have carried something in our pack for so long is because someone we trusted told us we would need it. Even when it has become obvious the advice given us does not match our experience, it can be difficult to reconcile the advice with the reality of our situation. Consequently, many will continue carrying unnecessary burdens. While this added weight might be manageable walking on flat ground, when the terrain becomes more demanding and the pace more important, it will become increasingly difficult to keep up. This is why an approach to life that worked at one point does not always work at another point. If you are seeking to maximize your life, you cannot do so without making tough choices.

  One of the key reasons so many people are unwilling to make the difficult choice is that they are locked into a survival mentality and have a hard time seeing the bigger picture. Tunnel vision is a common challenge for people who get so focused on the immediate threat or goal. They cannot see the bigger picture. When someone is trapped in this loop, I like to remind him or her there is more than “one bear in the woods.”

  GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

  It has been said that America’s greatest idea was the constitution, and its second was the creation of the national parks. From my perspective, there is something to this argument. If you g
rew up like me and did not live near any of the parks in the national system, it may be time for a road trip.

  People experience the national parks in different ways. Some prefer to see them on a tour bus, others in a vehicle, on a bike, and still others on foot. There is really not a bad option, but my favorite way to explore is on foot. Life is good when I have a pack on my back and hiking boots on my feet. Since our family’s first trip to the Grand Tetons when I was in my mid-30s, I have hiked about three thousand miles. While some of those miles have been with friends and family, often they are alone.

  When hiking in most of the parks, there are several signs posted about the danger of solo hiking. There are numerous risks involved when dealing with nature. To mitigate those risks, I take as many precautions as possible. When hiking alone, I stay on the trail and carry a pack that has the gear needed to be able to manage inclement weather, self-administer first aid, navigate, and survive.

  While on the trail, I have experienced some amazing things. Among the most memorable moments are the times when I have encountered bears in the wild. Thus far, I have seen about 15 bears while in the national parks. While some have seen that number in a single day in one of the Alaskan parks, for me, each sighting has been a special moment. Of that group, 13 were black bears, and two were grizzlies.

  When I told friends that I was headed to Glacier National Park, they shared with me that the bears there were bigger than those in the Tetons, Yellowstone, or Sequoia national parks. I took that under advisement but did not really know what to expect. Glacier is located in northern Montana and shares the border with Canada. It is the home of some of the most scenic views on the planet. Not surprisingly, the famed “Going to the Sun” road is considered one of the top 10 most beautiful drives on the planet. The road is narrow and not intended for those who have issues with heights.