Doug McMillon, the CEO of Walmart and a top executive on the Fortune 500 list, started his career at the bottom rung. Despite facing rejection from top business schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton, McMillon joined Walmart in 1984 with a job unloading trailers in a warehouse. In fact, he even rear-ended his boss’s car on his first day, as he shared in a recent commencement address at the University of Arkansas.
However, McMillon persevered and rose through the ranks during his 33-year tenure at Walmart to become the CEO of one of the largest companies in the world. He attributes three key learnings for his success and maintaining a work-life balance.
Firstly, McMillon advises living in the moment, even as a high-powered executive overseeing a multi-billion dollar corporation. Despite once dreaming of entrepreneurship and product invention, he learned that life doesn’t always follow our plans but moves quickly. Balancing planning for the future with enjoying the present is crucial, he emphasizes.
Secondly, McMillon stresses that finding a career that aligns with your passions is essential. He mentioned his father’s dissatisfaction with his career as a dentist and urged individuals to focus on shared motivations when choosing their careers. By following your passions, you can eventually find your “happy place.”
Lastly, McMillon emphasizes trusting and believing in people regardless of cultural differences. He urged individuals to focus on shared motivations such as wanting better opportunities for future generations being loved and accepted making a difference in the world by encouraging positive interactions showing grace forgiveness and assuming positive intent when connecting with others were highlighted as valuable practices by McMillon.
In conclusion, Doug McMillon’s story serves as an inspiration to those who feel like they are starting from scratch or facing rejection early in their careers. His journey shows that hard work and persistence can lead to success despite setbacks or initial failures. Additionally
