By Jathan Janove
Pat Daniels is the Executive Director of Constructing Hope, a Portland Oregon institution that has been instrumental in creating career paths in the construction industry for the formerly incarcerated, homeless and drug addicted. If Pat has an obsession, it’s helping others.
Given the choice of anyone, whom would you want as a dinner guest and what would you talk about?
My grandmother Cora. She was a Native American. She married my grandfather, who was born a slave in Mississippi and lived until approximately age 100 (accurate records of slave births were non-existent.) I’d love to know more about their life on the land in rural Mississippi and their spirituality.
What’s something in your life for which you feel grateful?
The opportunity to help others. Growing up, I never understood how privileged and blessed I was. I had a successful corporate career. When I told my mom who grew up in Mississippi how much money I made, she couldn’t fathom it.
My father died when I was three and my mom broke her back in an automobile accident. In those days in rural Mississippi, black people weren’t admitted to hospitals. Instead, she was taped to a board and left to heal on her own. She developed scoliosis that became a lifetime disability.
Nevertheless, my mom made things work. She babysat from our home, did other small jobs for people and provided foster care. As a result, we were able to keep our house and I could attend private Catholic school. She made innumerable sacrifices.
Now, I’m blessed to be in a position to help others who are less privileged and create opportunities for them, like my mother created for me.
If the current you could provide real-time advice to a younger you, what would it be?
I would tell myself to make sure to take care of yourself. I tend to get so focused on helping others, I neglect self-care.
When my house burned down, instead of spending the necessary time and energy needed to deal with insurance, finances and all the numerous other things that go into rebuilding after such a catastrophe, I let things slide and continued to focus on my work. This was a mistake.
If you want to maximize your ability to help others, you can’t overlook helping yourself.
What would you change about the way you were raised?
Nothing. I feel very fortunate.
What’s a treasured memory?
After my mom started losing her hearing, my sister and I tried to persuade her to get hearing aids. She was skeptical and resisted.
Finally, we persuaded her. On the ride to the clinic, we had to shout for her to hear us. I remember her saying, “I want to be able to hear.”
After the hearing aids were put in, we drove her home. During the drive I said to her, in a normal voice, “Mom, how are you doing with the hearing aids?”
She shook her head and said, “They don’t work.”
My sister and I looked at each other, smiling ear to ear. It was all we could do not to burst out laughing!
Whenever I’m sad. I think of that experience.
What’s an embarrassing moment in your life you’re willing to share?
I used to smoke cigarettes. To celebrate my sister’s birthday, several of us family members went to a casino outside of Seattle. At one point, I snuck out with my niece to have a smoke.
We searched for an ashtray and saw one in a room behind a glass door. I said to my niece, “The glass on that door is so clear, you almost can’t tell it’s a door.”
We went inside the room. After we put out our cigarettes in the ashtray, we returned. Only, on the way out, I walked face first into that same door! You could see my lip prints on the glass!
My niece and I couldn’t stop laughing.
Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make one final dash. What would you save?
It’s not what I would save, it’s what I did save. When my house was burning, I didn’t go for wallet or keys. I grabbed two objects. (See pictures.) They had been my grandfather’s prized possessions. After he died, he passed them on to his eldest son, my uncle. After his death, the son passed them on to his eldest daughter, my niece. When she was dying, the daughter told me I could have them. She said, “I know you will honor them.”
Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time that you haven’t yet done?
I never visited Africa. I’d like to start in Jerusalem, then go to Bethlehem. Thereafter, I’d like to visit as much of the continent as possible.
What do you find spiritual in life?
My relationship with God. I very much believe there is something in the universe bigger than all of us. It’s not limited to one religion. I’ve been a Baptist, a Catholic and now consider myself generally as a Christian.
Whether you’re of another religion or an atheist, I believe there is a force or presence out there that matters.
Jathan Janove is Principal of Janove Organization Solutions, http://jathanjanove.com. Through consulting, executive coaching and training, he works with employers to create fully engaged workplace cultures. He also practiced law in Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.
