[Start Here] Welcome to Unobstructed with Derek MacDonald
Weekly essays and podcasts on simplifying work to make room for living your life.
Hi, I’m Derek, founder of DMDC Systems and the guy behind the Unobstructed newsletter & podcast.
Creating weeks that don’t suck get you to good months and great years.
Searching for clarity in the chaos of work and life?
Feeling pulled in too many directions?
Stuck in endless overwhelm?
You’re in the right place.
That was me.
Untangle The Clutter With Unobstructed.
Writing Unobstructed is one of my favorite ways to connect with people who, like me, are navigating the challenges of modern work and life.
It’s where I share weekly essays and podcasts for getting ahead instead of just getting by. But, ya know, without the hustle culture rah rah.
I won’t shove shiny-object-syndrome in your face, or promise a magic pill to having it all—I’m figuring this life thing out, too.
On this page:
How this newsletter works.
What to expect as a subscriber.
When you’ll get new posts.
Why I love doing this.
What reading Unobstructed is like:
Getting started.
Once you subscribe, here’s what to expect:
Welcome email: You’ll get a quick note from me confirming your subscription.
Weekly essays: Stories and reflections that land in your inbox every week.
Your access: Update your preferences to only get the emails you want.
What’s this newsletter like?
This is the place for essays and podcasts that simplify work to make room for living your life.
Each week, I’ll share personal stories, reflections, and ideas from my own growth journey that will offer new perspectives for you to use on yours.
How this newsletter works.
Unobstructed has 3 sections.
You can think of “sections” kinda like the Sports, Classifieds, or Arts & Culture parts of a newspaper…
As an Unobstructed subscriber, you’ll get posts from the following three sections—right in your inbox:
The Unobstructed Newsletter: Untangling work to finally live your life.
The Unobstructed Podcast: Getting ahead instead of just getting by.
Rethinking RevOps: Decluttering marketing and sales tech.
When you’ll get new posts.
Twice weekly—one podcast & one email.
Resources for simplifying work so you can live your life.
See for yourself:
How to get further ahead instead of getting by.
Paid subscribers also get bi-weekly long-form essays.
Deep dives to start living your life instead of surviving your work.
Here are some examples:
So, What's My Story?
At work, I help leaders and execs untangle their revenue systems to make room for living their lives.
But, like you, l'm more than my job.
Why do I love doing this?
If you’re reading this, there’s likely some part of your work that’s keeping you from fully living the rest of your life.
Well, that was me.
Burnt out from trying to get ahead by going faster than the clogged systems.
Until I tried something different and figured out a way that gave me my life back. I see so many people still caught in the washing-machine spin cycle.
And I love helping them get out of the riptide and back to enjoying the beach.
My sweet spot is the overlap of high performing athletics, business strategy, and cognitive psychology.
Wilderness emergency medicine taught me more about pressurized decision-making than any other aspect of my career.
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 like Simon Sinek, Adam Grant, Tim Ferriss, Brené Brown, Gabor Maté, Angela Duckworth, Rich Roll, Michael Gervais, Mel Robbins, the Gottmans, and so many more.
Since then, my curiosity has only intensified.
It led to a career including roles as a:
Director of Strategy & Operations
Revenue Growth Consultant
Leadership Staffing Director
Made possible by expertise with:
Sales
Copywriting
RevOps Strategy
Growth Marketing
Technology & Automation
What I've Learned Along The Way.
My ability to rapidly scale a startup showed me that what I was learning really worked.
In my 20’s I also 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 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.
Read more about my recovery from a traumatic brain injury.
Life outside of the office has shaped my skill set as much as my professional experiences have.
Admittedly, I spend a lot of my time nerding out on sustainable systems and approaches to development. When not training for a marathon or enjoying a sunrise with my snowboard, you can likely find me frequenting local coffee shops and live music venues.
Outside of work, I have volunteered with the HOBY leadership organization since 2010, developing staffing teams and implementing curricula that inspire young people to become catalysts for positive change in their home, school, workplace, and community.
I've also spent time volunteering for local advocacy programs and coaching freeride snowboard athletes. As a member of the board of directors for Carving The Future, I advised on marketing strategies that empowered underserved youth in Wyoming by providing gear, programs, lessons, and athletic scholarships.
My contributions to Jackson Hole Snowboarder Magazine and NOLS' The Leader seek to elevate communities and voices who've got this life thing figured out.
I’m glad you’re here.
Thanks for being part of the journey.
onward.
-dmac
P.S. Click here for ways to grow your business AND reduce the upkeep.
What a life and story Derek! I have so many questions...I think I need to interview you.
You're my hero role model Derek,and I love being on podcasts connecting, especially as the Unmuffled MindShift Mechanic and Plumber 🤗