STARTING OVER: THE COURAGE TO BEGIN AGAIN
“Life is a series of starting over.” Those words from Bob McDonald carry extraordinary power—because he lived them, over and over again.
Bob McDonald worked hard enough as a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point to graduate in the top two percent of his class. Yet instead of using that achievement to cruise forward, he took off all his rankings and started back at the bottom as an Army Ranger. From there, he went to the 82nd Airborne Division as a 2nd Lieutenant and eventually became the assistant operations officer of a battalion, helping lead arctic warfare training near the Arctic Circle.
Most people in his position would be laser-focused on getting promoted to Major. But McDonald—who somehow earned an MBA while still leading troops—felt the pull toward something unusual: business. So, he made another bold pivot. He left the career he excelled in and joined Procter & Gamble as a relatively low-level officer. And once again, he worked his way up—33 years later becoming chairman, president, and CEO.
Under his leadership, P&G added nearly one billion people to its customer base, and the stock price rose by 60 percent during his four years as CEO. Yet what defined him wasn’t just business success—it was how he thought.
In the podcast, McDonald revealed himself to have what’s called an abundance mindset: the belief that life is full of opportunity if you’re willing to step forward with confidence. “Life is a series of chapters, and you as an individual have to have confidence in yourself that you aren’t afraid to start over. If you are afraid to start over, if you’re looking for a title or a big paycheck, you may lose a huge opportunity.” McDonald says choosing P&G was one of the greatest blessings in his life after marrying his wife.
And once again, he proved his willingness to begin a new chapter when he accepted President Obama’s invitation to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. He helped transform the agency, improving care for the veterans he once served beside.
He described the appointment as “the easiest decision in the world… because, again, if my purpose is working to improve the lives of others, it’s an easy decision, whether it’s Boy Scouts, church, P&G, which serves some five billion people through its products, or helping to make the world safe for democracy in the Army. It was an easy decision, because I had brothers and sisters I had served with who needed help.”
Throughout his journey, McDonald teaches leaders how to face change with courage, intention, and purpose. He emphasizes setting high standards, choosing the harder right over the easier wrong, and using “The 5 E’s”—envisioning, engaging, energizing, enabling, and executing—to elevate an organization.
And perhaps the most surprising detail: this decorated Army Ranger, CEO, and Cabinet-level leader still leads like a servant. He even gives out his personal phone number. “When I became the leader at the VA, I needed to create trust. In a crisis, a leader has to be even more accessible,” he said. “One weekend, a Veteran called me, and I referred him to our Suicide Prevention Hotline. As I recall, they intervened, and the Veteran’s alive today. I haven’t changed the phone number. And I still answer it today.”
Starting over isn’t about losing your place—it’s about trusting your purpose more than your position. Bob McDonald’s story shows that every new beginning can lead to greater impact if you’re brave enough to turn the page. His journey reminds us that titles fade, but courage, service, and purpose carry us forward into the chapters we’re meant to write next.
Source:
- https://youtu.be/jOnOJwI8Y2s?si=fzly3QlCwfzwsDps
- https://chiefexecutive.net/pgs-former-chair-bob-mcdonald-life-is-a-series-of-starting-over/
- https://app.pictory.ai/
- https://chatgpt.com/
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