From Marine combat training to corporate leadership at Microsoft, Chad Cooper shares resilience tools, transition advice, and the mindset behind living a legendary life. In this inspiring episode of The Strategic Veteran Podcast, former Marine 🎖️🇺🇸 Chad Cooper joins us to share his compelling story of mental toughness, navigating military-to-civilian life, early corporate retirement, and building global impact through service.
Whether you're a transitioning veteran looking for purpose, or an entrepreneur seeking meaningful leadership insight, Chad’s journey is packed with valuable strategies.
🟠 CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro: Meet Chad Cooper, Former Marine and Global Leader
2:59 - Why Chad Joined the Marines—and The Crayon Joke 🍊🤣
5:35 - Facing Racism & Choosing the Hardest Path: The Marine Corps
10:55 - From Counterintel to Infantry: Marine Life-Learning Moments
16:30 - Life Lessons from Carrying 165 lbs & Pushing Through Pain
23:01 - 3 Key Principles That Transformed Chad’s Life After Service
41:18 - Overcoming Trauma & The Truth About MDMA Therapy
55:40 - Building Global Foundations and Serving the World 🌍💪
1:05:28 - Mentorship, Networking, and Learning from Bill Gates 🧠
1:15:17 - Final Words & How to Connect with Chad Cooper
🔹 Episode Overview:
Host Adam welcomes Chad Cooper, a man whose life defies expectations. Raised in a small, rural town, Chad joined the Marine Corps to face the toughest challenges possible. From watching a captain pick up a live grenade to enduring missions with hypothermia and flat feet, Chad reveals the tests that shaped his mental fortitude.
🎖️🇺🇸 Chad’s Marine service taught him critical lessons about resilience, diversity, and brotherhood—lessons that would later drive him to retire from Microsoft as an executive at just 35. He went on to become an Ironman triathlete, philanthropist, foundation founder, and author of the book “Time Isn’t the Problem, You Are.”
In this episode, Chad offers real, actionable advice about: • Understanding how to transform pain into power • Why veterans must unlearn and relearn post-military • Finding mentors and building a non-transactional network • Using discomfort as a launchpad for greatness • Healing trauma through clinical MDMA therapy
This episode dives deep into leadership, transition, legacy building, and the importance of embracing discomfort to create real impact.
🔹 Key Discussion Points:
• The importance of redefining personal worth after service • How Chad used mental toughness developed in the Marines to excel in corporate life • Three transformational lessons for transitioning service members • How he built lasting global impact through his foundations • Why veterans must seek community, mentorship, and healing • The truth about trauma, recovery, and MDMA therapy
🔸 Military Experience Highlights:
• Branch: United States Marine Corps 🇺🇸
• Roles: Initially Intel/Counterintel, shifted to Infantry Mortars due to security clearance issues
• Notable Experience: Cold weather training, near-combat transfers, enduring physical hardship (flat feet, hypothermia, injury)
• Leadership: Displayed principled leadership by contacting a congressman over unsafe conditions, demonstrating accountability and strategic thinking
🔸 Civilian Success & Expertise:
• Former executive at Microsoft, retired at age 35 💼
• Ironman Triathlete and high-performance endurance athlete 🏃♂️
• Author: “Time Isn’t the Problem, You Are” 📘
• Global Foundation Leader: Founder of three humanitarian organizations—working in Central America, New Zealand (Waitaha tribe), and expanding to Africa 🌍
• Mentor, Speaker, and Personal Development Coach
#VeteranSuccess #MarineCorps #MicrosoftExecutive #ChadCooper #MilitaryTransition #VeteranLeadership #MentalFortitude #PersonalDevelopment #TimeIsntTheProblem
