Outlasting the Season You’re In with Mayor Derrick Wood - Episode 6

Life is full of seasons—the tough ones, the uncertain ones, the ones that make you question everything. But no season lasts forever. If you’re feeling stuck, just hold on. Change is inevitable, but how do you move through it? That’s what shapes your story. And today’s guest knows all about embracing change and turning it into purpose. I’m Charisa Munroe Wilborn, and I’m so glad you’re here. In this episode, I sit down with Mayor Derrick Wood, a leader, entrepreneur, and visionary whose path to politics was anything but planned. He started in the military, built a thriving barbecue business, and had no intention of running for office—until life had other plans. When a cease and desist order shut down his barbecue business, Derrick showed up at a town council meeting simply to fight for his livelihood. But in that moment, something bigger happened—his voice carried weight. People saw leadership in him before he even saw it in himself. Encouraged to run for council, he took the leap. And lost. But here’s what changed everything: mentorship. With the right guidance, Derrick learned how to navigate the system, refine his message, and truly lead. The second time? He won. And just weeks later, my father, Dr. Myles Munroe, looked at him and boldly declared, “My son is going to be the next mayor.” At the time, Derrick wasn’t even sure if politics was his calling. But sometimes, the people around us see our potential long before we do. And that’s why mentorship and vision matter. Timestamps: 00:00 Empowering Clarity Through Service 06:17 Life of Service and Empowerment 11:19 Rediscovering Dumfries: Understanding Origins 18:53 From Barbecue to City Council 23:32 Politics as Leadership Journey 31:16 Breaking Cycles of Defeat 33:28 Focus Beyond the Storm 40:07 Barbecue Man's Dual Identity 47:42 Local Politics Spotlight Podcast 52:18 Teachable Journey to Success 57:40 Passion for Authentic Barbecue 01:00:49 Mentorship Journey with Derek #CharisaMunroe #PurposeFinderPodcast #FindYourPurpose #LeadershipLessons #FromSetbackToSuccess #MentorshipMatters #LessonsInLeadership #PurposeOverPolitics #BBQToMayor #EmbraceTheJourney #OutlastTheSeason #VisionAndGrowth #PowerOfResilience #TurnSetbacksIntoWins #ThePurposeDrivenLife #BreakThroughLimits About the Guest Derrick is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he served for eight years as a budget technician; Founder and pit master of Dyvine Barbecue In Motion a mobile barbecue catering company and competition team; and an elected two term councilman and now Mayor in the historic Town of Dumfries. Derrick knows how to overcome setbacks. He believes that you have to live your life on purpose and with purpose. He has experiences of having all he wanted, to having nothing at all and has endured. Now he is committed to sharing his advice as a speaker, coach, seminar leader and author to help other people overcome and to find purpose in life through life's storms. He has worked with schools, non-profits, and different clubs organizations sharing his passion to help them expose the greatness that has gotten trapped by the setbacks they are experiencing right now. Personal Website & Barbecue Products: DerrickRWood.com Elected & Engaged Platform: ElectedAndEngaged.com IG Handles: @mybbqman | @mayordrwood _______________________________________________________________________________ Follow Charisa on Social Media @charisamunroe1  Check our website www.charisamunroe.com Join our Purpose Finder Facebook Community Subscribe to Youtube: @CharisaMunroe1 Set sail on a journey of purpose and leadership—join the Pave The Path 2025 waitlist today. SIGN UP HERE Discover your calling! Download the Purpose Finder Formula and take the first step today: YOUR PURPOSE IS WAITING!   Help Us Grow the Purpose Finder Community If today’s episode inspired you, share it with someone who needs to hear these powerful purpose stories! Spread the word by sending this episode to a friend, colleague, or family member who could use some motivation and direction. Let’s build a community of purpose-driven individuals together, supporting each other with life-changing insights and inspiring conversations!   Love what you’re hearing? We’d appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a review! Your thoughts help others discover the Purpose Finder Podcast, and your support helps us continue bringing impactful stories to our community.