If you looked up the word ‘connector’ in the dictionary, you’d see Scott MacGregor’s picture right there. I know that’s an old cliché, but it’s never been more true.
Scott is one of those rare guys who’s genuine, gracious, and authentic. He lives to serve and connect others. His goal is to go far beyond networking to truly build deeply rooted, meaningful, and lasting relationships. That’s a gift. Most of us don’t have it. Scott has it in spades.
He’s the Founder and CEO of SomethingNew, the Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of Outlier Magazine, the Founder of The Outlier Project, and the author of the Standing O! book series. He’s also an eight-time American Business Award winner for innovation, proof that his success is as substantial as it is soulful.
But what I admire most about Scott isn’t his resume, it’s his purpose. What he and his wife Meg have built through The Outlier Project is more than a community; it’s a movement. A collective of people around the world who choose to live life on their own terms. It’s for those who believe being ordinary is a choice and that every human has an extraordinary spark waiting to be ignited.
Through over 200 live, interactive events each year, unforgettable retreats, and experiences that connect visionaries, trailblazers, and dreamers from around the globe, Scott and Meg have created something truly exceptional. It’s a blueprint for what community should look like.
Outlier Magazine itself is a reflection of that ethos, filled with valuable insights, inspiring individuals, stunning imagery, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. It’s a must-read for me, and it pushes me to raise the bar with Midlife Male every week.
Scott MacGregor is one of those guys who makes you better simply by knowing him. He’s become a friend, mentor, and trusted advisor. And his perspective on growth, creativity, evolution, and support is one we can all learn from.
Take a deep read and watch the full conversation in this week’s How I See It with Scott MacGregor.
The Outlier Magazine Publisher on Relationships as Sport, Networking vs. Friendship and Maniacal Consistency
On Relationship Building:
“Relationship building, to me, is like my sport. I love to build relationships. I am fascinated by people, especially those who have achieved great things. I just want to know why and how they do what they do.”
On Curiosity:
“I was a psycho, curious kid, unbelievably curious. I would ask a million questions, probably annoying everyone, but I was just trying to figure out the world. Even now, at 57, I’m as curious as I was at seven.”
On Impact:
“The most important thing to me is impact, by a country mile. At the end of the day, no one is going to care about the companies I built or the awards I won. The impact I make is my legacy.”
On Strategy in Relationships:
“I’m actually more of an introvert than an extrovert, so it’s not my magnetic personality that builds these relationships. It’s that I have a process, a strategy. Strategic doesn’t mean manipulative. It means being intentional.”
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On Mindset:
“Most people don’t have the right mindset to build relationships. If you don’t have the right mindset, the tactical, practical stuff is meaningless. I spend a lot of time teaching mindset before I teach the tactics.”
On Networking vs. Friendship:
“Networking, to me, is just transactional, a means to an end. I never view relationships like that. I invest in people because I want to build a friendship, not because I expect something in return.”
On Doing Your Homework:
“99.9% of the time when I’m on a call, I know way more about the other person than they know about me. You’ve got to do your homework. Most people aren’t willing to really try to figure out what someone is all about.”
On Defining Friendship:
“If I know you and you know me, and we like each other, we’re friends. There’s a continuum from acquaintance to close friend, and some relationships progress, some don’t, and that’s perfectly fine.”
On Life by Design:
“Living an extraordinary life is a choice. Anyone can be ordinary, but we all have the power to choose to be extraordinary. It’s about the choices you make, not the circumstances you’re born into.”
On Work Ethic:
“If you work hard and you’re nice, you’re set up for success. Those are two things you can absolutely control. I’ve lived by that since high school.”
On Consistency:
“I do the bare minimum with maniacal consistency. I’m super disciplined. The results are off the charts because I do all the right things with consistency.”
On Adversity:
“Adversity is a gift. Everything great that’s happened in my life has happened because of adversity. I don’t wish things to be different; I accept them and move forward.”
On Urgency:
“I live with insane urgency. Every day is a special occasion. I’m not going to waste a day, because you never know how much time you have.”
On Passion and Business:
“The outlier project and the magazine are definitely businesses, but they’re also just a passion. They’ve allowed me to make an even bigger impact, and that’s why they’ve consumed my life.”
On Defining Success:
“It’s definitely impact. I don’t know that I always knew that, but as I’ve grown, I’ve realized that nobody’s going to care about titles or books. It all boils down to the impact you make.”
On Community:
“The outlier project is the most eclectic community I can think of. It’s not constrained to an industry or job title—just being an outlier. Everyone in the group has been called a rebel or a maverick at some point.”
On Energy:
“I get up at five o’clock every day. It’s non-negotiable. I really want the things that I want, so I don’t half-ass things.”
On Family:
“I’m not close to my family, but I’m extremely close with my wife’s family. I believe in my core that adversity is a gift, and I’m grateful for the life I live. It doesn’t matter to me whether someone is a blood relative or not.”
On Money:
“Money is freedom. It’s a tool. A lot of my financial goals are tied around the fun things I can do with that money, like creating unforgettable experiences for others.”
On Creativity:
“I love connecting the dots—these dots that seem like they have nothing to do with each other. I get inspiration from the craziest places, and I try to figure out how to translate that into something new.”
In Health,
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Greg Scheinman
Founder, Midlife Male
52. Husband. Father. Entrepreneur. Coach.
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