Recently our grounds staff was performing routine maintenance at the ICBM Institute Mountain Campus Buildings (ICBMIMCB )in preparation for our yearly International Leading Conference. One of the tasks included repairing a downspout (drainpipe) that had become detached from a rain gutter. It was a simple enough repair for our experienced crews; get a ladder, find the appropriate screws, grab a few tools and get to it. While fixing the issue was straightforward the lessons learned were not.

For those of you who have not attended one of ICBM’s many conferences, Chautauqua, colloquia, or retreats held at the ICBMIMCB, it is located in a remote mountainous area with copious and varied wildlife wandering the grounds: elk, deer, coyote, badger, bear, and lynx are common and small mammals such as chipmunks, pack rats and squirrels are nearly ubiquitous. It is also important to the story that during an extensive renovation less than a year ago the roof, gutters and downspouts were replaced and are in otherwise essentially new condition so any failure was entirely unexpected. So what is going on?

First things first, when repairing gutters as in repairing a business, begin by identifying the problem. In this case, as previously mentioned, the downspout had become detached from the gutter. Second, develop an overall goal: reattach the downspout. Next, develop a plan with the required details. It was during this planning phase it was discovered that the bottom of the drainpipe had been flattened and was covered in small dents. This additional damage provided vital clues to help unravel the mystery of the detached downspout.

While the dents appeared to be tooth marks what animal would chew on an aluminum downspout? Perhaps the dents were caused by woodpeckers? Our guests have frequently observed them pecking at the gutters, but would they peck near the ground, and could they actually flatten a downspout? Summoned to observe the damage first hand I pondered the dents as our maintenance crew slowly bent the tubing back into a close approximation of the correct oblong shape. It wasn’t until they finally had the pipe open that the heretofore hidden cause of the flattening and dents was revealed: a dead and thoroughly desiccated chipmunk/squirrel/pack rat fell out (due to the condition of the corpse exact species identification was impossible, suffice it to say when alive it would have been cute).

How did this unfortunate discovery unlock the mystery of the dented and flattened downspout? As Sherlock Holmes would tell his sidekick “It’s elementary my dear Watson.” With a predator in hot pursuit the small rodent obviously sought refuge in the downspout. Only able to climb up the inside of the slick metal pipe to the point where it turns vertical the squirrel was forced to hide near the bottom. The determined pursuer, no doubt with thoughts of a delicious and tasty chipmunk dinner, began to chew on the downspout flattening the pipe while leaving numerous tooth shaped dents. Eventually the coyote/bobcat/wolf gave up and left, hunger unsatisfied and sore of teeth and gums. Hearing the predator leave, our little prey must have felt relief and with great eagerness to return home endeavored to climb out. Unfortunately for little chippy the downspout was now squished down to a size no longer large enough to squeeze through. Unable to climb up or down the safety of the drainpipe had now become a prison. There it joined the choir invisible. It’s pushing up daisies. It is an ex-chipmunk.

At this point you may be wondering how this gruesome tale relates to Businessry and Managering? It’s simple; some days you’re the coyowolf, some days you’re the squirrel. The next time you walk into your office ask yourself if today is the day you hide in the drain pipe till you get trapped, or will you waste your time chewing in vain on a metal pipe?