Restored by the Storm: Bill Derrick on Faith, Leadership, and Surviving Cancer
Bill is an entrepreneur, executive coach, and business strategist who has led companies through financial crises, built leadership frameworks, and now helps others navigate adversity with resilience, discipline, and faith. He is also the author of Restored by the Storm, where he shares his journey of overcoming life-threatening illness and business challenges.
In this episode, Bill shares how he grew up working in his family’s construction business, eventually taking on major responsibilities in land development and large-scale projects. He explains how navigating the Great Recession forced him to make high-stakes decisions under pressure, shaping his mindset around leadership, risk, and long-term thinking.
Bill opens up about one of the most defining moments of his life his diagnosis with multiple myeloma. This experience tested every area of his life, from his health to his role as a leader. Rather than stepping back, he leaned into a mindset he calls “quitting is not an option,” using faith, discipline, and perspective to keep moving forward.
Throughout the conversation, Bill and Dr. Brad discuss how adversity reshapes leadership. Bill explains that real leadership is not just about strategy, but about people understanding them, supporting them, and leading with empathy. He highlights how difficult seasons forced him to shift from task-driven leadership to people-centered leadership.
Bill also shares how gratitude and attitude became critical tools during his recovery and ongoing journey. He explains that while you cannot always control circumstances, you can control how you respond. That shift in perspective helped him stay grounded and focused, even during uncertainty.
As an author of Restored by the Storm, Bill talks about why he chose to document his story. His goal is to help others who are facing adversity whether in business, health, or life by giving them a clear example of resilience in action. Today, he uses speaking, coaching, and mentorship to guide leaders through their own challenges.
Bill Derrick’s story is practical, direct, and grounded in real experience. It shows how adversity can refine your mindset, strengthen your leadership, and deepen your purpose when you choose to face it head-on.
Episode 124 of The Beyond Adversity Podcast is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone working through challenges who wants clear, actionable insight on how to move forward.
Website: https://billderrick.com
Book: https://share.google/lIjDPKTdIDK8K60qv
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billderrick/
Welcome to the Cancer and Comedy Podcast. Today, I’m talking with Bill Derrick about his book Restored by the Storm, his business journey, and navigating a cancer diagnosis. Bill, great to have you here.
Bill Derrick:Pleasure to be here, Brad. Glad to be with you today.
Dr. Brad Miller:Well, that’s awesome. You’ve got your book Restored by the Storm. Can you take us back a bit and give us the context of your business background and the impact of the Great Recession?
Bill Derrick:Sure. I have an engineering degree and a master’s in business. After college, I worked for a few construction companies. About 12 years later, my father asked if I wanted to join the family business. I figured it was better to be part of my own business than work for someone else.
Dr. Brad Miller:This was a construction company?
Bill Derrick:Yes. I had previously worked on projects like lock-and-dams in Alabama, high-rise hotels in Minneapolis, and large office and warehouse buildings. So it was big business, not small-scale work.
Dr. Brad Miller:And then the Great Recession hit, correct?
Bill Derrick:Yes. Our family business, Derrick Companies, was smaller than my previous companies but growing. My two brothers and I ran it with my father. Then the recession hit, affecting our residential construction and undeveloped land investments. Banks started asking how we’d repay them.
Dr. Brad Miller:The real estate market was chaotic at that time.
Bill Derrick:Exactly. What helped was our business integrity. Banks knew we paid our debts and cared for our obligations. We convinced them to give us time.
Dr. Brad Miller:So that was the first “storm” you weathered in business.
Bill Derrick:Yes. It was five years of tough lessons. I learned I wasn’t fully in control and had to rely on others. By 2012, things improved and we started shifting from survival to thriving. But around that time, I began experiencing some health issues.
Dr. Brad Miller:You started feeling symptoms, leading to tests.
Bill Derrick:Yes. After many tests, in fall 2013, I went to a hematologist. Thanksgiving 2013, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a non-curable blood cancer.
Dr. Brad Miller:What was your reaction to that diagnosis?
Bill Derrick:My wife and I didn’t panic. I felt the prior five years of business challenges had prepared me for this real storm. Our mindset was, “Let’s tackle this.”
Dr. Brad Miller:You went through chemotherapy, radiation, and stem cell treatments.
Bill Derrick:Yes. My upper back was badly affected. The T4 disc had compressed, and treatment began. I relied on faith and support from my wife and medical team.
Dr. Brad Miller:You mentioned “quitting is not an option” as a guiding principle. How did that come about?
Bill Derrick:It started during the business storm. One storm prepared me for the next. Every day, I focused on small steps. When cancer came, I applied the same principle.
Dr. Brad Miller:You also credit attitude and gratitude as crucial elements, right?
Bill Derrick:Exactly. I realized I could control my attitude and effort. Gratitude helped me focus on what truly mattered my faith, family, and health rather than material concerns.
Dr. Brad Miller:And those storms reshaped your leadership style?
Bill Derrick:Yes. I became more people-focused. I cared about employees’ well-being, not just tasks and bottom lines. The experience helped me lead with empathy.
Dr. Brad Miller:So you combined business skills with emotional and spiritual awareness.
Bill Derrick:Right. I focused on doing what I could and trusting God for the rest. There was a pivotal moment on the radiation table where I let God take the driver’s seat.
Dr. Brad Miller:That’s a powerful metaphor for surrender and peace.
Bill Derrick:Yes. And even in treatment, I found humor. Spinal taps, colonoscopies, all of it had moments that could lighten the tension and maintain hope.
Dr. Brad Miller:Your book Restored by the Storm is aimed at people going through hard times?
Bill Derrick:Yes. I wrote it for those who need hope and guidance to navigate life’s storms. I share strategies and inspiration for overcoming adversity and maintaining a positive attitude.
Dr. Brad Miller:And you see the impact when people respond to your book?
Bill Derrick:Absolutely. I’ve had people come up to me and share how it helped them face their own challenges. Those moments are deeply rewarding.
Dr. Brad Miller:Looking back, what would the present Bill say to Bill of 2006?
Bill Derrick:I’d tell him that life storms are inevitable, and control is an illusion. Focus on what matters faith, family, and resilience.
Dr. Brad Miller:For listeners who want to connect, how can they reach you or get your book?
Bill Derrick:Visit billderrick.com
to learn more, buy the book, or book me for speaking engagements. Restored by the Storm is also available wherever books are sold.
Dr. Brad Miller:Bill Derrick, thank you for sharing your story of resilience, faith, and leadership. Your journey through business, health, and life storms is inspiring.
Bill Derrick:Thank you, Brad.
