In this episode of Picking Up the Call podcast, I discuss how Alex Hormozi, a 35-year-old former gym owner, shattered a Guinness World Record by generating $87.5 million in eight hours through a book launch. Despite not believing in eternity or biblical principles, Alex's achievements highlight the untapped potential within us as Christians. I explore the importance of applying biblical principles to create lasting kingdom impact and answer God's call in our lives. Additionally, I share my personal journey, including closing my CPA career to focus on building a free community for Christian entrepreneurs, offering resources and support for those called to start businesses and do kingdom work. Join me as I provide insights on bridging faith and finances to achieve success. Ready to turn confusion into clarity and fear into faith? Let's discover God's calling for our lives together.

00:00 Record-Breaking Book Launch

01:33 Biblical Principles in Business

02:51 Lessons for Christians

03:25 Welcome to Picking Up the Call Podcast

04:08 Excellence in Scripture

07:03 Challenges and Opportunities for Small Businesses

08:34 The Power of Community and Generosity

11:58 Call to Action for Christians

14:11 Free Resources and Community Building

18:08 Conclusion and Future Plans

In this deeply personal episode, I delve into my journey of overcoming financial trauma and finding purpose in the midst of despair. I recount growing up in a financially unstable household in Chicago, facing moments of extreme hardship, and how those experiences shaped my understanding of money—turning it from a mere necessity into a source of stress and fear. I share a crucial childhood memory of a traumatic home invasion that further solidified my troubled relationship with money. As I navigated through hardships, from boiling water for baths to facing the fear of a recurring threat, I also discuss my journey towards financial independence and stability. Transitioning into a CPA career, battling depression, losing my father, and ultimately finding solace in God's provision. I reflect on recognizing patterns of God's faithfulness, unlearning scarcity mindset, and making practical changes like budgeting and creating financial margin. This episode aims to inspire you to break the cycles of financial anxiety and find peace and trust in God's promises for your life.

Website | https://www.deannabrookscpa.com

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/deannabthecpa

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@deannatiffanyb

Substack | https://deannabrookscpa.substack.com/

Why Your Obedience Matters — Taking Our Callings Seriously

Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit nudge you toward something—launching that YouTube channel, writing the book, mentoring a neighbor—only to brush it off as “not that deep” or “too saturated”? In this week’s Christ-Centered CPA episode I share how God lovingly got me all the way together to remind me that His assignments deserve the same commitment we give our 9-to-5s .

Inside the audio you’ll hear:

* A candid confession of the excuses that kept me inconsistent—plus the moment God asked, “Would you skip your day job that casually?”

* Why your unique voice is still needed even if there are “50 million Christian podcasters” already

* The urgency of Matthew 24:14 and what it means for entrepreneurs called to the marketplace

* A gentle but direct challenge to steward our gifts now, so the souls attached to our obedience aren’t left waiting

“Somebody’s breakthrough is tied to you stepping into God’s calling for your life.” — from the episode

Listen & Take Action

* Press play on the audio above.

* Download the free Financial Infrastructure Checklist (coming soon) if you need clarity on setting up or scaling your business finances.

* Pray & move. Ask God what step of obedience He’s highlighting for you today—and then take it.

If this message stirs you, hit the ❤️ to let me know, share it with a friend who’s been hesitating, and drop a comment on the one assignment God’s urging you to treat as non-negotiable this week.

Let’s take our callings as seriously as eternity does.

In this episode of the Christ-Centered CPA podcast, Deanna Brooks encourages Christian women entrepreneurs facing self-doubt and fear in their business journey. Whether you're just starting out or already established, Deanna tackles the common struggles that keep you from confidently stepping into your calling. She shares personal insights and practical, biblical strategies for overcoming feelings of inadequacy, fear of failure, and concerns about taking glory from God. Deanna explains how to recognize resistance, confront negative thoughts with scripture, and fully embrace your identity as a daughter of God. This heartfelt conversation provides both spiritual encouragement and actionable steps to move past uncertainty into boldness, helping you thrive in your marketplace ministry. If you’re struggling to find confidence or battling internal doubts about your entrepreneurial calling, this episode is exactly the boost you need!

To watch this episode on YouTube, check out the video podcast here.

In this episode of the Christ-Centered CPA podcast, I discuss the importance of Christian entrepreneurs taking possession of the land that God has promised by means of taking the market share God has already carved out for us for His Glory. I draw parallels between biblical lessons from the Book of Joshua and the radical generosity demonstrated by Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell. I also emphasize the significance of divine wealth transfer and the role of obedience in the marketplace. Additionally, I explore the use of AI, specifically Chat GPT, as a tool Christian entrepreneurs should consider leveraging to assist in our work for the Kingdom.

Also, if you’re a new business owner and you’re ready to get your business structure set up PROPERLY, I have a resource to help guide you through how you can start today!

Summary

In this episode, Deanna Brooks discusses the complexities surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, particularly in the context of recent political changes and personal experiences. She reflects on her journey from the South Side of Chicago to a successful career, highlighting the benefits and challenges of DEI programs. Deanna emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of disenfranchisement and the importance of unity and love in addressing societal issues.

In this podcast, I talk about my current struggles with financial anxiety and how God has been convicting me in this area. I also share a resource that has been helping me reduce my worry and anxiety around money as well as point me back to scripture for healing.

The link to the sermon referenced in the video.

Do Not Worry | Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell

In this episode, I talk about why I decided to start a Christian based YouTube channel and I explain towards the end how I plan to grow it. As someone who works long hours at my job, I've found it difficult to balance growing a YouTube channel while working a 9 to 5 that's more like a 9 to 9. In this video, I explain how I plan to work around this schedule and pursue my dreams of becoming a successful YouTuber.

To subscribe to my YouTube channel, check out my YouTube channel here. 

In this episode, we dive into how important sleep is to our success as professionals and how fundamental it is to our faith as Christians.

I address how long hours and lack of sleep ends up making us less productive and dive into what the Bible has to say about rest. 

Today, we're just hear to be, vent and get centered in Christ and His Word...

I'm trying out a new style of content where I simply record while I work... 

Working as a CPA has is struggles and today I just wanted to share them in attempt to just release.

Hopefully, if you can relate to any part of this episode, it will help you feel less alone as well.