Meet Doug Millaway

We were lucky to catch up with Doug Millaway recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Doug, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My dad died when I was 11 months old. Our mom went on to raise four kids on her own over the next 20 years or so. Two of those kids were my dad’s kids from a previous marriage (even though their biological mother was still around). I didn’t even know my brother and sister were half siblings until I was in high school. I think my mom’s ability to turn a potentially devastating event into a viable family was an unintended inspiration on how to dig deep when it was needed. Our extended family was also a source of inspiration. When I was diagnosed with cancer at age 55, my brothers immediately came to visit despite the distance we were apart to lend support. It’s what families do. As a result, whenever life has taken an unexpected turn, I’ve been able to apply the lessons learned, and make the proverbial lemonade.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My life has always been about pursuing divergent paths. I was never happy just doing one thing. While my career choice was firmly planted in the education field, I had concurrent aspirations to be the next big rock star. I never reached rock star status, but I did write a lot songs and played a lot of wedding dances, breweries, and wineries along the way. My passion for teaching allowed me to learn the interpersonal skills and rapport building necessary to succeed in almost any world. While I’m a lberal thinker, I try my best to understand the thoughts of others and try tp practice unconditional positive regard in my daily life. As a fifty year educator, I am proud that I was able to achieve concurrent dreams successfully (in my mind).

So, who am I? I’m a teacher, a dad, a husband, a songwriter, a psychologist, an administrator, a leader, and a follower. Someone once referred to me as a Renaissance Man. In a way, I think that might be true, but I don’t think in terms of a re-birth, but in terms of an evolution. We all have the ability to become something better if we choose to do so.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Relationship building, adaptability, problem solving skills.

Take advantage of any opportunity to let someone know you are truly interested in who they are as a person. The authenticity you project will come back to you in many ways.

Learning when and how to adjust to any unusual and uncomfortable situation is huge. Anxiety can be an idea killer or a tool to be used to help persevere. Don’t be afraid of making a mistake, they are only doorwys to other opportunities.

Learn the steps to effective problem solving skills and practice them daily until they are like using muscle memory to walk. Always look for alternative solutions to problems, but at the same time, know when enough is enough. Using curiosity as a tool effectively requires focus and purposeful planning. I always told my employees that if they brought me a problem, they should bring me a solution. It showed that they are asking to participate in the process instead of wating to be told what’s next.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

I’ll start by quoting my lyrics to a song I wrote:

If God gave you a two minute warning
Said you’re not gonna be here tomorrow morning.
What would you do? What would you do?
If your days were numbered and close to zero.
Would you reach out to me? Could I be your hero?
What would you do? What would you do?

Would you say I love you? Would you take my hand?
Would you think it’s ok? Is it part of the plan?
Would you say I’m sorry? Would you start to cry?
Would you tell St. Peter I’m too young to die.

If I had ten years to live, I’d continue to write, write, write. How else would I be able to insure my legacy? I want my descendants to have the opportunity to know me and how my brain worked.

I think the reason for this has to do with the early death of my dad, and my my mom pasing away when I was barely in my twenties. I have so many questions that I’d love answered. Right now I can only ask the wind, and it raely talks back. I don’t want those that follow me having the same problem.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dougmillaway.com
• Instagram: @songwriterdoug
• Other: Original Music samples:

  https://s.disco.ac/ccsqbnyxkxnx

  https://s.disco.ac/qxjqiqluivil

  https://s.disco.ac/xvtmudwsybfa

Image Credits

Doug Jenkins, Dana Millaway