About Thomas

 

Hi, I’m Thomas McMillan.  I’m a husband and father to 3 beautiful girls.  I’m also a marketing leader with over 10+ years of experience.

I’ve spent the majority of my life chasing success….I’m guessing it’s likely many of you have done the same.

My drive to succeed started at an early age – likely due to two things.

1.  Encouragement I received from my parents – they wanted to see me succeed.

2. Motivation that came from hating the tough times my family went through growing up.

This drive to succeed started a list of accomplishments both when I was young and also growing older.

A few of these accomplishments include:

• Won the Top Award for fundraising as a child for the Skate for Heart program two years in a row (Prizes were the original Nintendo Entertainment System and a Boom Box – both things I never would have been able to afford)
• Placed in the Top 3 in a state-wide competition for Extemporaneous Speaking
• Voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school
• Awarded the most prestigious scholarship available at Newberry College
• Produced and hosted my own television show, Chillin’ with McMillan.
• Hand-picked to travel across the world for a paid internship in China.
• Married my college sweetheart.
• Promoted 2 times in 3 years in my first job where ultimately I ran a department of 55 individuals by the time I was 25 years old.
• Accepted (with scholarship) to the MBA program at Texas A&M’s Mays Business School -ranked by Business Week, US News & World Report and Financial Times among others.
• Launched one of the nation’s most successful college athletics reward programs at Texas A&M called the 12th Man Team Rewards Program.
• Had 3 beautiful little girls.
• Continued career growth in marketing that led to a Director role at a Fortune 50.

As I look back (I’m not even 35 yet), I’d say I’ve had a pretty successful life.  However, I find myself continually yearning to do God’s will in my life and to live out my purpose.

This brings me to an experience I had back in October 2011 that prompted me to re-look at my attitude towards success.

One of my favorite conferences to attend is a Christian-based leadership conference called Catalyst Conference – a movement of young leaders.  This past year, one of the main speakers was Jim Collins – the author of Good to Great, Built to Last, and his latest, Great by Choice.   During his speech, he brought up a story about a moment he shared with his mentor, Peter Drucker, when he was younger.  Mr. Drucker was providing Collins with this advice:

“You spend a lot of time worrying about whether you will survive.

You will probably survive.

You worry about being successful.

That will probably happen too.

Why don’t you go out and make yourself useful?”

He indicated a great mentor changes your life in seconds.

Little did Jim Collins know….a change was taking place in me and this statement also starting re-playing in my head…”Why don’t you go out and make yourself useful?”

I invite you to join me on this journey. Come and see how I’m balancing an incredibly busy yet fulfilling life.  I’ll share various things about God, Family, Work, Friends, Balance, and making use of your gifts/talents for doing good.

Contact Me!

Thomas can be reached by email at:  thomasmcmillanjr (at) gmail (dot) com

Check out some more photos: