Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit Podcast: Scott MacGregor on People, Purpose, and Being an Outlier

Welcome back to Your E.P.I.C. Pursuit, where we dig into the stories—and secrets!—of standout leaders, all through the lens of Excellence, Presence, Intentionality, and Curiosity. This week, I had the unstoppable Scott MacGregor join me for a conversation that’s a masterclass in leadership, reinvention, and humor.

Scott is the founder of The Outlier Project and Outlier Magazine, the CEO of Something New, and a four-time author (and, hilariously, a self-professed “directionally challenged” overachiever).

Key Takeaways & Actionable Ideas

• Embrace Your Inner Outlier:
  Scott grew up feeling “different” but learned over time that being a contrarian thinker was his greatest asset. Outliers aren’t weird—they’re wired for innovation! The Outlier Project was born from that mindset, now connecting 750+ global members who are not just like-minded, but like-hearted.

• Curiosity Is a Superpower:
  Scott never stopped asking “why?” as a child—a habit that’s fueled his career. In today’s uncertain world, he says, focus less on predicting the future and more on controlling what you can: the people you spend time with, your openness to learning, and your commitment to serving others.

• Swap ‘Control’ for ‘Influence’:
  We can’t control the economy, politics, or most external events. But, as Scott and I agree, you can influence outcomes—by managing your attitude, decisions, behavior, and energy. This shift from rigid control to positive influence creates space for collaboration and creativity.

• Radical Experiment: Kill the Quota!
  In Scott’s boldest leadership move, he eliminated sales quotas at a company that was already thriving. Instead, he made leaders focus on each salesperson’s personal goals—whether sending a kid to college or buying a beach house. The result? Loyalty soared, sales records shattered, and the team’s energy multiplied. (Scott’s technique remains “too radical” for most execs, but has a track record anyone would envy.)

• Put People Over Everything:
  Scott’s secret? Genuine care. The easy path is to slap everyone with the same target; the winning path is to truly know what motivates each person. It’s more work, but as Scott puts it, “help people achieve their goals—and when those align with company needs, everyone wins.”

• Year-By-Year Commitment:
  Feeling stuck or anxious? Scott recommends adopting the “one-year contract” mindset, inspired by a famous baseball manager. He mentally committed to his job for one year at a time, reviewing annually whether to “re-sign.” This simple trick kept him all in—with the freedom to pivot when passion faded.

• Don’t Marry Your Title:
  Echoing what I (Mike) have learned the hard way: Your role is not your value. Scott shares that he’s seen top athletes and leaders struggle with identity after moving on from a defining role. The key: root your value in who you are—not just what you do or the title on your business card.

Empower Your Epic Pursuit: Apply Scott’s Lessons

• Evaluate your own leadership: Are you managing people, or actually helping them grow?

• Challenge traditions that aren’t serving your team—maybe even radical ones!

• In uncertain times, double down on curiosity and service.

• Review your commitments yearly. Where can you go “all in”—and where is it time to move on?

Stay Connected & Level Up

Want more from Scott?

• Outlier Magazine: Get your free digital subscription via Scott’s [LinkedIn profile].

• The Outlier Project: Learn about joining this thriving community at theoutlierproject.live.

• Standing O Book Series: For stories of resilience and impact, check out Scott’s acclaimed books.

Mike’s Final Word

As ever, your best is yet to come! Let Scott’s pursuit of excellence, presence, intentionality, and curiosity inspire you to shake things up, infuse more humanity into your leadership, and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Share your own outlier stories in the comments—let’s build this movement together!

Ready for your next E.P.I.C. breakthrough? Subscribe HERE, share, and keep pursuing greatness—one radical idea at a time!

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