106. From Purpose to Legacy: Derrick Girard on Finding Faith Through Adversity

In this episode of What’s the Point?, host Bill Ellis sits down with Derrick Girard—entrepreneur, Air Force veteran, and author of Put to the Test. Derrick shares how a series of business challenges—including three major lawsuits—pushed him to reevaluate everything he thought he knew about success, leadership, and resilience.

From growing up in a military family to launching a tech company without a tech background, Derrick’s story is one of grit, adaptability, and a relentless “figure it out” mindset. He opens up about the emotional and professional toll of building something from scratch, the cost of unchecked ambition, and how failure became the greatest teacher. This episode unpacks what it means to lead with integrity, step away from ego, and stay grounded in purpose—even when the pressure mounts.

🗝️ Key Takeaways

• Adversity as the ultimate test: Derrick’s life shaped by lawsuits and business breakdowns—not personal loss.
• Mindset over platform: Success isn’t about status—it’s built through resilience, curiosity, and relentless problem-solving.
• Drive has a cost: Extraordinary ambition allowed achievement—but at the expense of relationships until awareness rebalanced perspective.
• Culture starts at the top: Corporate turnaround failed because the leader wouldn’t acknowledge systemic issues—culture isn’t declared, it’s lived.
• Quitting is okay when you truly tried: Persistence matters—but so does knowing when you've done all you can and it’s time to walk away.

💬 Final Thoughts

Derrick emphasizes that success is not about avoiding failure, but about responding to it—with honesty, grit, and generosity. His Figure It Out mindset equips listeners to take accountability, embrace setbacks as fuel, and stay true to values amid chaos.

Connect with Bill:

• [email protected]
• www.brandingpillars.com
• www.brandingforresults.com
• IG - @wcellis
• Facebook - @CoachBillEllis
• LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellis
• Book: Women Who Won

Links for This Episode:

• Name: Derrick Girard
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (612) 205-5280
• Website(s): www.derrickgirard.com

SOCIAL MEDIA INFO:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrickgirard/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derrickgirardauthor
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.derrickgirard/
• Twitter: https://x.com/DerrickGirard1
• BOOK: https://a.co/d/3Wg6LMN

Quick Episode Summary: 

• 0:00 – Welcome and guest introduction: Meet Derrick Girard.
• 1:42 – The unexpected call that changed everything.
• 3:11 – Walking through crisis and asking, “What is God doing here?”
• 5:20 – Letting go of ego and career identity.
• 8:55 – Rediscovering purpose through faith and family.
• 12:43 – Why we often confuse busyness with purpose.
• 15:16 – What it means to obey even when it costs.
• 18:38 – Derrick’s view on legacy, marriage, and spiritual leadership.
• 22:07 – Final reflections and encouragement to follow God’s lead