In this episode of The Values Exchange, host Mike Crews sits down with Scott MacGregor, founder of Something New LLC and The Outlier Project, to explore the art of building meaningful and impactful connections. Scott shares his journey of relationship-building, emphasizing the importance of genuine curiosity, strategic networking, and the mindset of giving without expecting anything in return. Drawing from his extensive experience, Scott reveals practical tips for cultivating strong, authentic friendships and how being intentional about relationships can open doors to incredible opportunities. Tune in to learn why impactful relationships are always worth the work and how you can apply these principles to your personal and professional life.
PODCAST BREAKDOWN:
0:00 - 1:20 - Introduction
• Mike Crews introduces Scott MacGregor, highlighting his achievements and the focus of the conversation on building genuine, impactful relationships.
1:21 - 3:45 - Scott’s Background and Early Inspiration
• Scott shares his story of growing up curious and how that led to building connections with influential people from a young age.
3:46 - 6:30 - The Importance of Building Meaningful Connections
• Discussion on why meaningful relationships matter, particularly how influence and access can open doors to new opportunities.
6:31 - 9:10 - Networking vs. Genuine Relationship-Building
• Scott explains why he avoids the term “networking” and prefers to focus on forming authentic friendships rather than transactional relationships.
9:11 - 11:50 - The Role of Curiosity in Connecting with Others
• Insights on how genuine curiosity about people’s lives and stories helps build stronger, lasting relationships.
11:51 - 14:05 - Being Intentional: Doing Your Homework
• Scott emphasizes the importance of preparation before meeting new people, including researching and understanding their backgrounds.
14:06 - 16:45 - Mindset of Giving Without Expectation
• Scott shares his philosophy of giving to others without expecting anything in return, and how this approach fosters deeper connections.
16:46 - 19:30 - Practical Tips: The 20-People Exercise
• Scott discusses the exercise of listing 20 influential people you know and focusing on strengthening those relationships.
19:31 - 22:00 - Who’s Your Oprah Program
• Overview of Scott’s “Who’s Your Oprah” program, which teaches people how to build high-impact relationships through mindset and strategy.
22:01 - 24:20 - The Art of Thoughtful Gift Giving
• Discussion on the impact of personalized, thoughtful gifts versus expensive, impersonal ones, inspired by the principles of “Giftology.”
24:21 - 26:40 - Scott’s Books and Charitable Initiatives
• Mike and Scott talk about Scott’s book series, which shares life lessons from various contributors, with proceeds going to charity.
26:41 - 28:10 - Practical Steps to Start Building Better Connections
• Final advice on how to be intentional about forming relationships and the importance of investing time and effort in them.
28:11 - 29:00 - Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
• Mike wraps up the episode, thanking Scott for his insights and encouraging listeners to apply the lessons in their own lives.