Your climb is determined by your crew. This powerful truth stands at the heart of our conversation about creating a personal board of directors—those ten individuals who shape your trajectory more than any other factor in your life.

Many of us were raised to keep struggles private, handle problems internally, and avoid vulnerability at all costs. This mindset creates isolation that stifles growth and limits potential. We explore the paradigm shift required to build an intentional circle of trusted advisors who have permission to speak truth into your life.

Building meaningful relationships with people who will challenge you demands intentionality. It's far easier to drift into relationships of convenience than to cultivate connections with those who will call you higher. The most valuable people in your circle don't just offer accountability—they demonstrate love through honest feedback, even when it's uncomfortable.

We dive deep into the art of delivering hard truths with kindness, sharing personal struggles with directness versus empathy, and how different approaches affect implementation. The conversation reveals a crucial insight: consistent communication outside of crisis moments distinguishes authentic relationships from transactional ones. "Call those people when you don't need anything" emerges as perhaps the single most important practice for building your circle of ten.

When selecting who belongs in your inner circle, look beyond superficial factors like net worth or status. Instead, focus on character, values, and how they conduct their own relationships. Surround yourself with encouragers who model what they teach—people whose lives demonstrate the principles they espouse.

Take this challenge: Who among your closest relationships has permission to challenge your decisions when you're drifting? Your circle will either call you to greatness or quietly let it die. You weren't made to go it alone, and the quality of your journey depends on those walking alongside you.

Key Takeaways:

• The danger of isolated leadership vs. the strength found in a trusted circle.
• Why accountability thrives on consistency, not just during a crisis.
• Balancing hard truth with kindness builds lasting relationships.
• Reach out when you don’t need anything—that’s a real connection.
• Choose your inner circle for their character, not their status.
• How to evaluate whether your relationships push you forward or hold you back.
• When it’s time to release relationships that drain more than they give

Connect:

• Connect with ISI Brothers: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/
• Join the ISI Community: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-community
• Big A's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/
• Seth’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth

Have you ever felt like your prayers were hitting the ceiling with no response? That moment when God seems distant, when spiritual drought leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew about faith? You're not alone.

This raw conversation dives into those desert seasons we all experience when divine silence tests our spiritual foundations. Rather than offering trite platitudes, we explore a counterintuitive truth: what feels like God's absence is often His invitation to deeper growth. The drought isn't punishment—it's preparation.

We unpack the crucial distinction between God actually being silent versus our receptors becoming dulled. As one guest wisely pointed out, "God was silent for 400 years between testaments," yet He was working the entire time. Similarly, your current spiritual desert may be the soil where your faith develops deeper roots.

Perhaps most practical is our discussion around who you allow to speak into your life during these challenging seasons. The voices you listen to will either draw you closer to God or pull you further away. When divine guidance seems muted, the voices in your head and around you grow louder—choose them wisely.

From my daughter's life-threatening need for an organ transplant to Seth's business challenges, we share personal stories of navigating seemingly silent seasons. We conclude with ten specific moves anyone can make when God seems distant, including shifting perspective, immersing in Scripture, seeking wise counsel, limiting negativity, and clinging to divine promises.

Whether you're currently in a spiritual desert or walking alongside someone who is, this episode offers both practical wisdom and genuine hope. Remember: consistency breeds breakthroughs. Keep showing up, even when you don't feel like it. Your breakthrough may be just around the corner.

Key Takeaways:

• Distinguishing between actual divine silence and our perception of silence.
• Why the people we surround ourselves with during spiritual droughts matter critically.
• Reframing spiritual drought as an assignment rather than abandonment.
• The importance of "going back to the blood trail" - returning to where you last felt God's presence.
• How journaling helps reveal God's work even in seemingly silent seasons.
• Ten practical moves for navigating when God seems distant.

Connect:

• Connect with ISI Brothers: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/
• Join the ISI Community: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-community
• Big A's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/
• Seth’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth

What if the key to authentic leadership isn't following established frameworks but boldly forging your own path? In this thought-provoking exploration of maverick leadership, we challenge the epidemic of sameness plaguing Christian business leadership today.

Most leaders won't admit we're not drowning in a lack of information—we're suffocating in sameness. Every podcast, book, and leadership course tells you to follow a system someone else created. But what if that playbook wasn't written for your unique calling and vision? What if God designed you to color outside the lines?

A true maverick isn't reckless or rebellious—they're resolute and redemptive. They break rules not for the thrill of being different but when those rules block the mission God placed on their heart. These leaders prioritize conviction over conformity, creativity over comfort, and calling over credentials.

Fear often paralyzes potential mavericks. Many can't tolerate the idea of failing, yet the greatest entrepreneurs fear missing opportunities more than they fear failure. As one guest explains, "I couldn't lie there in bed and go, 'I wonder if it would have worked.' That would kill me." This doesn't mean risking everything—wisdom dictates experimenting, testing markets, and agreeing with your spouse on what percentage of resources you're willing to risk.

Successful maverick leadership requires surrounding yourself with diverse perspectives. One billionaire entrepreneur shared his secret: dedicating 10% of his reading to topics he had no interest in, which counterintuitively produced 90% of his success by exposing him to different viewpoints and solutions.

Ready to break free from conventional thinking? Start questioning the rules you've been unconsciously following. Your legacy won't be built by how well you followed someone else's playbook, but by the lives you changed when you dared to write a new one. Set a new standard built on purpose, people, and Kingdom impact—because mavericks aren't born, they're forged through courage and conviction.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn how to think like a maverick.
• What does it mean to suffocate in sameness?
• What does it cost to be a maverick?
• Learn rule-breaking strategies that work.
• How to balance risk and vision.
• Why leading with purpose, not conformity, is so important.

Connect:

• Connect with ISI Brothers: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/
• Join the ISI Community: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-community
• Big A's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/
• Seth’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth