Welcome to Connecting the Contours with Derek MacDonald.
this newsletter helps you get clear on your goals, prioritize all that's on your plate, and create work weeks that don't suck.
hey hi hello.
Here’s a quick overview of all you need to know about Connecting the Contours.
mission.
My goal is to help overwhelmed tech leaders build effective teams, systems, and customer lifecycles. We can prioritize all that's on your plate and create work weeks that don’t suck.
What does that mean? Sharing ways to create days and weeks where you actually cross things off of your to-do list. Imagine seeing real progress toward your goals. I’ll show you that it’s possible — without hustle culture or trending fads. Really.
If you spend enough time reading CtC, you’ll start to:
define clear goals that bring you closer to where you want to go.
build systems of accountability that scale with you as you grow.
prioritize where and how you spend your time.
strengthen your ability to make decisions under stress.
Sign up to start learning strategies for creating less miserable work weeks.
about me.
at a glance.
I build content marketing engines and consultative selling systems.
My background is in business strategy, marketing, and sales effectiveness.
the details.
My experience comes from taking an unconventional route. But it’s what makes me exceptional at what I do.
I’ve spent a lot of time nerding out on growth systems and approaches to leadership development. It’s my obsession. That’s good news for you; it means I’ve found what works and what’s a waste of your time.
Helping people align purpose and process is what I’m most passionate about.
I’ve been able to do that as the:
National Enablement Strategy & Operations Leader for a 1+ billion dollar benefits and financial services firm.
Growth Marketing Manager for Hubspot's Top Solution Partner agency.
Operations Manager for an award-winning food & bev leader.
Those, and other roles, made possible by time spent building sales funnels for the world's premier leadership development organization, working on demand generation for a top 50 ranked NGA in the world, and as a contributing writer to multiple outdoor industry publications.
my obsession with helping people align purpose and process?
My ability to be effective in most of those roles came from experiences you won’t see on my resume.
Wilderness emergency medicine taught me more about pressurized decision-making than any other aspect of my career. My journey with sobriety taught me more about ownership and prioritization than any job I’ve had.
My story includes winding roads through mental health. Stretches of despair, of victory, of loss, and of gratitude. Other patches with no roads at all.
At 19 I studied risk management and effective decision-making in a 3 month, immersive leadership development program.
I also started consuming as much information as I could from thought leaders like Michael Gervais, Tim Ferriss, Brené Brown, Simon Sinek, Rich Roll, Adam Grant.
It became an obsession.
I studied high performing athletes, business founders, and psychologists. My ability to rapidly scale a startup showed me that what I was learning really worked.
In my 20’s I guided backcountry expeditions in the Rocky Mountain West, coached big mountain snowboarders qualifying for the Freeride World Tour, and ran the Boston Marathon after recovering from a traumatic brain injury.
I rode the waves of depression.
I navigated financial insecurity.
I climbed out of many pits — some I’d dug for myself, others I did not. I climbed out anyway.
I also worked on the crew of a sailboat in the Caribbean, toured New England as a keynote speaker, and weaved through the service industry in a way that I like to think would make Anthony Bourdain proud. Or, at least, make him scoff a bit.
so, what’s in it for you?
I want to help. Truly.
When you sign up for this newsletter, you’ll get posts straight to your inbox.
Topics will range from digital marketing and business strategy to personal anecdotes, mishaps in the mountains, and lessons in leadership I’ve learned along the way.
This newsletter includes:
new posts from me.
videos I find interesting from others.
podcast recommendations that dive into topics covered here.
helpful resources to read from industry experts.
I’m glad you’re here.
Thanks for being part of the journey.
What a life and story Derek! I have so many questions...I think I need to interview you.