Brooks McDonald - How A Hard-Driving Entrepreneur Learned To Slow Down, Listen For God, And Lead With Intentionality.

What if the loudest voice in your life stopped being the grind and started being God? That’s the spark behind our conversation with Brooks McDonald, a high-energy insurance entrepreneur who married young, built and sold an agency, and then chose to slow down so his faith and family could breathe. We trace his path from a conservative church childhood to a fuller experience of grace and the Holy Spirit, not through hype but through patient friendships that made room for questions, practice, and fruit.

Brooks opens up about the years he chased deals across the mergers and acquisitions world while Cari-Beth carried the load at home—and what finally changed. COVID became a reset as the family spent fifteen weeks in an RV, rediscovering presence over performance. He shares the “1690 principle” he uses to align decisions: what advice would he give his 16-year-old self, and what will his 90-year-old self wish he’d done with his time? That frame leads to practical choices about marriage, parenting, and work that protect what really lasts.

We also dig into everyday obedience. When the leader of a small morning prayer group couldn’t be there, Brooks picked up the baton. Showing up consistently drew 20 to 30 people who now gather to pray, listen, and grow. The takeaway is simple and freeing: you don’t need a theology degree to lead; you need a willing heart and steady steps. We talk about three pillars that keep your soul anchored—read Scripture daily, commit to a Bible-believing church, and join a small group where you can be known and accountable.

As Brooks transitions out of a private equity-backed role, he describes “headlights distance” faith: you rarely see the whole road, just the next stretch, and that’s enough. We explore how to wait well, fight fear and anxiety with community and wise counsel, and prepare for big moves through fasting, prayer, and the Word. If you’re sensing a nudge but stalling out in uncertainty, this story will meet you with hope, clarity, and a push to take the next step.

If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more candid conversations, and leave a review to help others find the show. What’s your next step of obedience this week?

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