Sleeping Giants

by Nathan Mellor

  “Dr. Nathan Mellor in his book, Sleeping Giants: Authentic Stories and Insights for Building a Life that Matters inspires us with the stories of people who have made a tremendous difference in the lives of others through their remarkable accomplishments and great sacrifices. He challenges us to set our own successful journeys of life through faith, servant leadership, compassion, vision, determination and commitment.”

  —Mark A. Stansberry,

  Chairman of The GTD Group,

  & Former Chairman and Acting CEO of

  People to People International

  “Dr. Nathan Mellor is an astute student of human nature. His ability to refine the essence of everyday occurrences and interpret the behaviors and actions of individuals and situations into meaningful life lessons is extraordinary. This book is a powerful example of his ability to tell a compelling story and find the deeper universal meaning from the experience.

  Dr. Mellor embodies the principles of his company, Strata Leadership, in providing leadership based on character. In my years of association with Dr. Mellor, he is consistently encouraging while honestly and realistically providing guidance to peers and those he mentors. His leadership and innovative ideas have provided guidance to companies and individuals in a wide range of fields and situations. His dedication to family as well as his spiritual commitments have provided him with valuable insights that provide illustrations and connections that go beyond the world of work to glean deeper lessons from real life experiences, which he readily shares in helping to guide corporations and individuals.”

  —Dr. Steve Eckman,

  President, York College

  “The stories and insights shared in Dr. Nathan Mellor’s Sleeping Giants are as authentic as the man who has authored them. I have long been an admirer of Nathan’s and an advocate of the work accomplished by the many Strata Leadership endeavors under his leadership. He is man of fine character. The core of his character is clearly rooted in faith and family, as evidenced in the heartwarming, eloquent lessons learned from his parents, his community, and fellow leaders, which he has penned in this book.”

  —Mo Anderson,

  Vice Chairman of the Board, Keller Williams

  “WOW! When I was a graduate student majoring in Administration and Leadership I wish my required reading had included this book! It is one thing to study Leadership models, and quite another to read about real people, in real situations who lived the kind of lives and made the kind of decisions that inspired the leadership models we study today. This book is a personal and historic account of our country’s heritage. A heritage that includes everyday people who inspired, encouraged, taught and ultimately shaped the lives of the populace and future of our nation. As you read this book it will remind you that our heritage is one to be admired and respected. We, today, are truly standing on the shoulders of the “Sleeping Giants” of our ancestry.”

  —Dee Carson, ED.D.,

  Retired Dean and Assistant Vice President,

  Harding University

  “If people respond to real stories, and I believe they do, this book should be a bestseller because it captures the true-life struggles and life lessons learned for the author, his family, friends and national leaders.

  I have known the author since he was a student leader at Harding. I consider him a very close friend even though we live miles apart and seldom see each other. This doesn’t really matter, because when we meet, it’s as though we’ve never been apart.

  He is a visionary and a dreamer with a plan. The consistent theme in the collection of stories that he shares in this book is the fact that service to others matters and makes a difference in relationships for individuals, for families, for communities, and for our nation.

  I’m reminded of his leading a group of student volunteers while he was at Harding, to Georgia to clean up after a major flood. He did so as a student body President, but he really did it because it mattered to him, and this kind of leadership is simply part of his DNA.”

  —David B. Burks, Ph.D.,

  Chancellor, Harding University

  “Dr. Nathan Mellor is a master story teller who has the gift of painting with words the deeper truths that awakens the soul with a fire to change the world! All through telling the stories of giants, of those we all want desperately to be around and to do life with! Every generation must rediscover the truth about life, leadership, and service to others out of love.

  I have known Nathan for the better part of a decade and his life has been in service to others through the teaching and speaking about leadership and character. He shares with us the tools and skills to building a life that matters. He has awakened and inspired many sleeping giants and his call to action is as clear as Ted Roosevelt’s when faced with adversity and seemingly impossible odds, “we’ll start the war from here.”

  Consider the lives and choices made by those within these pages and the impact they have had on those around them and then contemplate the principles being lived out and see how they can serve us in our present generation with the challenges we face today.

  I count it as a great honor to have called Dr. Mellor professor, mentor, coach, Whistle Pig, and best of all friend.”

  —Shad Glass, MBA,

  Executive Vice President, Kimray Inc.

  “We constantly shuffle, reshuffle, and fight to develop working mental models to make sense of life. However timeless stories make the most impact in the process. Nathan uses both personal and well-known stories to set a stage and then like a microscope reveals the underlying values that make them great. We need to be reminded of ideals that bring true strength of character and service to others.”

  —Paul Crawford,

  President/CEO, Ordermatic Corporation

  “In his book and in his life, Nathan’s storytelling ability is only surpassed by his desire to encourage others to realize how their day to day actions can change the people and the world around them. This book reminds you of how your gifts and opportunities impact others.”

  —Frank Smith,

  President of Mosaic Personnel & Sr. Executive Coach

  “Ever the consummate storyteller, Nathan Mellor takes us on a journey through his experiences with ease and simplicity. The vignettes are the type that you would imagine hearing as you sit around a campfire, sipping hot cocoa. Although they are a quick-read, the questions posed throughout the chapter cause moments of self-reflection that leads to the kind of deep thinking that might just awaken the giant in us all.”

  —Dr. Karen Dennis,

  Assistant Professor of Education, University of Mobile

  “This book is a treasure of inspiration wrapped in wisdom, humor, and humility. Virtue and optimism are conveyed on every page. As with his presentations, Dr. Mellor connects us with is sense of honor, family, and heroes from all walks of life—whether privileged or poor. He sparks a desire to ask more of ourselves and energizes us to take the next steps. His messages are a welcome respite in a world that tends to squelch the human spirit. My only question is this: how soon will he write another book? I’m eager to hear more!”

  —Shannon Warren,

  Founder/CEO, Oklahoma Business Ethics Consortium

  “Throughout Sleeping Giants, Dr. Mellor invites leaders from all backgrounds and walks-of-life on a journey of transformation. Reading this book is an experience that encourages reflection, builds inspiration, and sparks action. In an ever-so-skillful manner, Dr. Mellor draws leaders to the point of exploring their own leadership journey through beautifully articulated stories of challenge, determination, and change. Whether you are a business professional, public or non-profit leader, or an educ
ator, Dr. Mellor’s words remind us of the exponential impact great leaders have on the world and the critical importance for today’s leaders to step into their full potential.”

  —Bucky Dodd, Ph.D.

  “Nathan is a master storyteller, whether it be in print or from a lectern. This book is best read over many cups of Guatemalan coffee as if you are listening to a friend reveal his heart one chapter at a time. The lessons and wisdom he shares are from a life filled with purpose...and purposely lived for God. Well done, Nathan.”

  —Rick Harper,

  Executive Director, Health Talents International

  “Dr. Nathan Mellor is an amazingly gifted teacher and mentor to people all over the spectrum of life—from the board room to the boiler room to the classroom. He has an ability to take the simple experiences of life and see in them the seeds of greatness and goodness. His strong faith, coupled with insight and genuine caring cause others to seek him out for advice and friendship. Not only has God gifted him with the proverbial ‘five talents,’ but he humbly acknowledges the source of those gifts as he continues to learn, to grow, and to multiply those talents each day. As he weaves these stories, may we, the readers, not to miss the profoundness of the daily human experience as a teacher and encourager.”

  —Mike E. O’Neal

  President Emeritus of Oklahoma Christian University and Former Chancellor of the University of Rwanda

  “Count me among those most grateful that master storyteller, Dr. Nathan Mellor finally wrote this book. Sleeping Giants is rich with stories that will move and inspire you to awaken the sleeping giant within and then invest your life in awakening the potential in others. Full of poignant stories about people who make a difference, from local classroom teachers to world leaders, Mellor captures your imagination as to how you too can reframe your perspective, leverage your gifting, fulfill your purpose, and live a life that matters.”

  —David Whitlock, Ph. D.

  President, Oklahoma Baptist University

  “Aside from his excellent work in mentorship and executive coaching, Dr. Nathan Mellor is a captivating storyteller. In his book, Sleeping Giants: Authentic Stories and Insights for Building a Life that Matters, Mellor features numerous powerful narratives about the giants we have read about in history books and those he has encountered in his own life. In light of the incredible stories, Mellor challenges the reader to consider awakening the giants nearby and those within, on the courageous path of living life to its fullest.”

  —Susan DeWoody, Ed.D.,

  Vice President for Academic Affairs,

  Oklahoma Baptist University

  “Sleeping Giants: Authentic Stories and Insights for Building a Life That Matters is a beautiful reminder everyone has a story to share and we can learn important life lessons when we listen with an open mind and heart. Dr. Mellor’s debut book checks all the boxes - it’s informative, educational, entertaining, and inspiring. I loved watching his personal journey unfold through stories of family, friends, mentors, colleagues and others. I wish we could put them all in a room and personally thank them for blessing so many with so much.”

  —Dot Rhyne,

  Founder & President - Brand Talkers, LLC

  “Dr. Mellor has the gift of seeing greatness in others and helping us see it in ourselves. Sleeping Giants is a journey through the the stories of people who embody an ability to reframe the world around them and exceed both their own expectations and the constraints placed on them by others. Dr. Mellor gets us close enough to these people to see the moments that mattered, and in doing so gives us the chance to see those same moments in our own lives. Give this book to anyone you wish true success fo Read this book to your children. Take these stories in and let them give you insight into your true potential. Dr. Mellor asks us, “Who do you want to be?” This book will help you decide.”

  —Thomas Hill III, CEO, Kimray, Inc.

  SLEEPING

  GIANTS

  AUTHENTIC STORIES AND

  INSIGHTS FOR BUILDING

  A LIFE THAT MATTERS

  DR. NATHAN MELLOR

  FOREWORD BY MO ANDERSON

  Vice Chairman of the Board, Keller Williams

  This book is dedicated to my mother, Susan Mellor.

  Table of Contents

  FOREWORDxv

  ACKNOWLEDEGMENTSxvii

  INTRODUCTIONxix

  PART ONE: The Stories We Believe

  Chapter 1

  “You’re Not as Dumb as Daniel”

  Discovering Your Value

  Chapter 2

  “Second Last Names”

  Identity Ownership

  Chapter 3

  “How Tall Are You Anyway?”

  Dealing with Doubts

  Chapter 4

  “I Think You Are Gifted”

  Leaders Challenge Beliefs

  PART TWO: A New Vision

  Chapter 5

  “Six Weeks Until I Felt Full”

  Learning Patience

  Chapter 6

  “Catching Caterpillars”

  Setting Goals

  Chapter 7

  “The Awakening of a Giant”

  The Voice of Movement

  PART THREE: A New Mindset

  Chapter 8

  “2M2N”

  Freedom in Mile 2

  Chapter 9

  “Fly Fishing and D-Day”

  Keeping the Big Picture in Mind

  Chapter 10

  “We Will Start the War From Here”

  Intentionally Courageous

  Chapter 11

  “Rawhide Down”

  Remapping Your Brain

  PART FOUR: A New Life

  Chapter 12

  “The Songbooks at the Church”

  Small Moments Matter

  Chapter 13

  “30 Miles Changes Your Perspective”

  Making Hard Choices

  Chapter 14

  “A Graduation of One”

  Claiming What Is Yours

  PHOTOS233

  ENDNOTES241

  Foreword

  I cannot begin to express the honor and privilege I feel to have been asked to write the foreword to Dr. Nathan Mellor’s Sleeping Giants: Authentic Stories and Insights for Building a Life that Matters. I first met Nathan in the summer of 2016. However, I was already familiar with Strata Leadership’s mission to create character and competence-based solutions for businesses, communities, and individuals. In fact, Strata had been my role model for at least 10 years prior to that memorable introduction. Strata’s Character Core education inspired me to develop my own character-based training geared toward real estate professionals within my company. Needless to say, I was a fan before I ever met Nathan personally. And, the first time I heard him teach, it became clear that Nathan is a captivating storyteller and someone who is genuinely interested in the lives of others. It is this energy and investment in people that he brings to the writing of this book.

  I can speak from experience when I say: book writing is journey of discovery for the author. In my own book, A Joy Filled Life, I wrote a chapter titled “Follow Your Dreams.” I share an observation I have made during my personal author’s journey—when people lose their dream or become convinced a dream is no longer worth pursuing, the result is discouragement, depression, and a sense of resignation. They learn to settle instead of following their dreams. As a person who is an advocate for dreams, dreamers, and the action needed to make dreams come true, I admire the way that Nathan inspires people to dream again. As a result, when you spend time with him—in person or on the pages of his book—he makes you feel that YOU have what it takes to keep moving forward.

  Nathan’s communication style is memorable, dynamic, and encouraging. He speaks to the heart a
nd challenges the mind through a blend of stories and current research that is convicting. With the skill of an educator, he has the ability to simplify complicated concepts without watering them down.

  Over the last few years of knowing him, I have seen Nathan speak a number of times. Among the key themes of his presentations is that mental models are constantly being changed and transformed. To make his points, he offers stories from his childhood and from the lives of others. When I listen to him, I am reminded of my own upbringing. As the daughter of a tenant farmer, it has been a long journey from a dirt farm in Oklahoma to becoming vice-chairman and co-owner of Keller Williams Realty, the world’s largest real estate company. Nathan has helped me take stock of my life thus far, and as a result, I am all the more grateful for the many people who have invested in my life. In addition, I am challenged to consider how I am investing in the lives of others.

  If you are willing to serve, you can make a difference in the lives of others. Sleeping Giants reflects the heart of its author. I hope it will be a reminder to you that what you think, say, and do matters.

  —Mo Anderson

  Vice Chairman of Keller Williams Realty

  Acknowledgments

  This book could not have been written without the support of my wife, Christie, and our daughters, Annalise and Arden.

  Many people have helped shape my understanding of the world. I am grateful for my father, David, and my brother, Matthew, for their commitment to making the world a better place. I am also thankful for my honorary siblings: Karen Dennis, Brian Lewis, and Kristi Ravellette for the impact they have made on my life. I am also grateful for my aunt and uncle, Richard and Jana Berryhill. They have been a constant source of encouragement to me, and I am thankful for them.

  I would also like to express my since appreciation to my business partner and friend, Frank Smith, and my colleagues at C3 Brands. Special thanks to Jamie O’Brien, Jeremiah Shaw, Lyn Watson, and Dr. Erin Greilick for helping me find my voice early in this project. Christina Hicks of Monocle Press has been a remarkable guide, and I am grateful for her counsel.