Article 31 - Be All In
Leadership in life is all about action! Being committed to moving the needle forward and understanding the work or sacrifice required to actually achieve results. That is also the burden of leadership; it takes an engaged, purpose-filled leader to create traction. I find myself falling back to a verse, Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." These words are true, but one critical piece is missing that I've learned: If it's to be, it's up to me. No one will do the work for you. You may be in the right place at the right time and have the right job or influence—but do you have the intestinal fortitude to put in the work and achieve results?
History has proven time and again that challenges shape those who are willing to rise to meet them head-on. My goal in this article is to inspire you with a framework and provide that intrinsic motivation to take charge and be ready when Murphy strikes!
To begin the conversation, let's start by naming some challenges I've faced throughout the years. I've lived through multiple different conflicts, deployed twice to active combat zones, navigated a global pandemic, witnessed economic downturns, lost loved ones, and been given challenges that at the time seemed impossible. I remember growing up in rural West Virginia and having my father be laid off from the coal mines countless times. That level of uncertainty weighed heavy on my mind, especially at a young age. And to put the cherry on the cake—my high school, Richwood High School in Nicholas County flooded in 2016. They have yet to build a new high school in its place!
Today, we stand in the middle of political and social turmoil and division—that is the nature of the pendulum that we live in as a republic. We are actively engaged in a great power competition with near-peer countries that pose a threat to us. Bottom line: adversity is inevitable regardless of who you are. But the way we respond to these challenges defines us as Purposeful, Accountable Leaders, aka PAL.
Being a military officer, I pull inspiration from other military leaders. One of the greatest—General George S. Patton—a man known for his unwavering resolve, has the best quote I’ve ever heard that fully embodies the essence of what I’m trying to achieve in this article: "A good plan, violently executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." We as a country must be daring in our action, never hesitate to move the needle when we have the opportunity! In essence, what I’m about to share with you is the McMillion Mindset. A mindset that I’ve learned through adversity that helps me regardless of the storms I encounter.
Have An Unreasonable Mission
Let’s just start off with a question: Do you believe your mission in life?
My mission is simple: eliminate toxic leadership. That may seem basic on the surface, but it is powerful because of the deeper "why" behind it. I’ve seen the cost of toxic leaders and how that can weigh on individuals and organizations. It can ruin careers. It 100% lowers morale and damages culture. It creates toxic climates and leads to poor decisions based on fear—decisions that have devastating consequences.
Yes, I believe with better leadership, more lives are saved—especially when it comes to our sons and daughters who serve in the military. Leadership is not a title or a privilege—it is an unreasonable call to action. It's an obligation to make the tough decisions for the greater good.
A mission is critical to move the needle. We don’t dictate the turns we are given; we pursue the end state—when it’s convenient and when it’s impossible. This mindset must be who you are, ingrained in the very fabric and essence that defines your identity. Too many people today lack the intestinal fortitude to seek purpose. They simply want it to find them. That’s not how this world works. If it is to be, it's up to me.
We are the ones in the arena trying to make a better world for those we love.
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." – John C. Maxwell
Have An Unreasonable Resolve
A quote I find myself consistently coming back to in life is from Aristotle—though I’ve heard arguments about its origin, I'm sticking to him. Prove me wrong!
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
Grit is not something we are born with. It’s stamped on us through life’s experiences. But it can be cultivated over time and developed with reinforcing habits. Unless we set the conditions and shape our surroundings, we will never develop mental fortitude.
Routines create habits. To give you a specific example: every morning I do the single most uncomfortable thing I can think of. I wake up at 0400, walk downstairs, and submerge my whole body in 45-degree water for up to 2.5 minutes. That mental suffering each day is a test. I listen to that little voice telling me to sleep in and stay in a warm bed—but do I choose to be unreasonable and start the day with a win?
To achieve mental resolve, use this simple affirmation: Deeds, not words.
Do your actions align with the habits and principles you choose—or are you just blowing smoke up your third point of contact? Are you showing up and being purposeful when it's uncomfortable or only when it’s convenient? The easy path is finding excuses to not act. When that thought pops up, it’s like a mental hurdle has been lifted. But the weight of inaction builds over days, weeks, and years. That eventually causes a mental rut—a habit trap that is self-sabotaging.
It’s uncomfortable. You have to accept that and give each day your 100%, because that’s all we can do. Purposeful Accountable Leaders talk the talk—and then they walk the walk.
"Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." – John Wayne
"Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." – John Wayne
Have Unbreakable Bonds
I’ve been blessed in my life to have some of the most amazing leaders this world has to offer. Especially as a young platoon leader eager to lead troops in combat. I was given the finest group of noncommissioned officers—the finest warriors this world has to offer.
I would bet today’s warrior culture in the combat arms is the best, most resourceful, and—given the chance—most daring we’ve ever witnessed. At the core of who I am are the lessons I’ve learned from those men. Those bonds, many of which only lasted for a year or two, are timeless. I could pick up a conversation with an old soldier like it was yesterday. Why? Because during the time I spent with those men, I was all in. We were all in.
Not everyone has those bonds in life, and I get it. So, who can be your accountability partner?
I’d say the single most important person in my life is my wife. She has been—and continues to be—the foundation of the McMillion family. She gives me strength when I am weak, confidence when I am doubtful, and purpose when I am lacking. But most importantly—love when I am full of hate. She centers me and is my largest champion. When I want to quit, she picks me up.
And if I could openly admit—her ability to be a truly wonderful mother is the most inspiring thing about her. I’m extremely blessed to have her in my life. As a testament to that, I’m on another business trip as I write this article! To provide perspective—in my current two-year assignment, I’ve been on the road over eight months of that time.
Everyone needs people like this in their life. It doesn’t matter how successful or driven you are—eventually, you will falter.
Here’s the question: Who will be there to pick you up? Who will stand side-by-side when challenges come your way?
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." – Phil Jackson
"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." – Phil Jackson
Understand You Have Unlimited Potential
I believe we are all created by God with unique strengths and a purpose. That purpose isn’t always clear—it gets more focused over time.
As I’ve said, my mission is to eliminate toxic leadership, and my goal is to reach 1 million lives. By itself, that’s daunting. But every day is a chance to move the needle and fulfill that promise. Every day you have the potential to become the person you were created to be. It starts with understanding this simple truth: you have what it takes.
It comes down to giving a damn, having the drive, and the mental fortitude to break walls.
Since I was a young infantry officer, I’ve adopted what I call the Sledgehammer Mindset. What’s the purpose of a sledgehammer? To be blunt force—to destroy obstacles in our path. The beauty is, a sledgehammer gets scratched, dented, chipped—but it continues. It persists.
I think about the father I want to be to my children. The servant leader I aspire to be for this nation. And it all comes back to that mentality.
The way we live our lives matters. The conversations we have, the decisions we make—they leave a lasting impact. We all have unique strengths and gifts—but are we using them?
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." – Friedrich Nietzsche
"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." – Friedrich Nietzsche
Final Thoughts
Leadership and life both demand action—committed, uncomfortable, unrelenting action. To lead with purpose, you must have an unreasonable mission that drives you through the chaos. You need steadfast resolve, forged by discipline and tested in discomfort. You must build unbreakable bonds with people who challenge and carry you, and you must cultivate unreasonable resilience, because storms aren’t a matter of if—they’re a matter of when. And above all, you must believe in your unlimited potential. The world doesn’t need perfect leaders; it needs present ones. Leaders who show up, stand firm, and swing the sledgehammer with purpose. Be all in—not halfway, not when it's easy—but every single day, especially when it’s hard. That is the McMillion Mindset. That is Purposeful Accountable Leadership.
After Action Review
Am I all in on my mission, or am I holding back when things get uncomfortable?
What daily habits am I building to strengthen my resolve, resilience, and relationships?
Who in my life holds me accountable, and do I let them speak into my blind spots?
My Mission: I will end toxic leadership practices by equipping leaders with transformational leadership skills.
Together, we will impact 1 MILLION lives!!!
Every day is a gift, don't waste yours!
Joshua K. McMillion | Founder MLC | Founder MLC
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