We had the good fortune of connecting with Troy and Shantel Brooks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Troy and Shantel, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
We consider risks a sure-fire way to never deal with regret or resentment. We take risks and find success in them all, no matter the outcome, as we grow from any feedback received. There is no such thing as failure for us. One must take a risk to get closer to whom they are destined to become. Without risk, one can be robbed of their full-service potential for themselves and the world.

Over the past year, Troy and Shantel have embarked on the three most significant risks of their lives. The first risk they embarked on was leaving everything they knew and loved in New York. This included their jobs, family, friends, and culture. They took a leap and relocated to metro Atlanta, a place they had never visited or ever once imagined they’d be. This risk led to their subsequent great risk of having a home birth of their second child. Despite naysayers and statistics, they felt convicted and determined to lean into their faith once more and birth their baby at home. Finally, the greatest risk of all was them coming together as business partners, “Spartners” and joining forces as one entity under the TB Effect LLC, the “TeamBrooks Effect LLC”.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As Spartners, spouses and business partners, Troy & Shantel seek to develop and sustain a community where people’s lives are enriched through conversation, connection and wellness. They create rich and engaging content that educates, empowers, transforms, and leaves a lasting effect on how people navigate their lives.  They are also keynote speakers and authors.  They are currently writing their first book, “Spartners”, where they help married people find the value in their spouse as business partners to have autonomy, work with purpose, and build a legacy of their own together. 

They didn’t always work together in this capacity. Troy was a fitness and wellness professional named the best group fitness instructor in 2019. He founded the TB Effect in 2020 and has offered various wellness, parenting, lifestyle, and social media services. Shantel was an educator for the past 15 years, serving as a teacher for six years and assistant principal for nine years. Her work was centered around equity and social-emotional wellness.

After a move from New York to Atlanta, a home-birth and giving up one primary income, Troy and Shantel joined forces to make the TB Effect LLC their primary focus. Their partnership is unique because Shantel never thought they’d be business partners. Troy always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and Shantel followed the traditional go to school, work 9-5, collect benefits mentality. Troy leaned into Shantel for her consistent desire to level up in her education, and Shantel leaned into Troy for his ability to make money from doing the things he enjoyed most.

It wasn’t until the home they almost closed on in Connecticut fell through 3 days before closing that they looked to each other and realized they left too much power into the hands of others. Troy had grown comfortable serving on one platform, and Shantel had grown exhausted in serving a place that wasn’t serving her. Together, they needed to reclaim their power and take control of the direction of their lives. As a result, when Shantel was 8+ months pregnant, Troy hopped on a flight to Atlanta, put offers on homes in the area, and three weeks later closed on a home that would change their lives. After leaving New York, they only had God and each other to rely on. And through this, they rose… together.

For so long, they ran on different paths, collecting bits of knowledge and experience that would catapult them to where they are today. Troy is a culture mastermind and lifestyle curator who, at his core, prioritizes cultivating solid partnerships and relationships with people and brands worldwide. Shantel is a scholar, thought leader, and servant who does everything with poise and purpose. Together, not only are they awesome parents and spouses, but they are amazing business partners. Spartners.

Their unique pathways have taught them so many lessons individually, but most importantly, it showed them that the best partner they can ever have is the one they married. From the challenges life has thrown their way, they have learned to lean into their faith and each other for support and guidance.

Together, they now have the autonomy they desire, work with a shared purpose, and are building a legacy for their children. 

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As newbies to the area, the things we find to be welcoming, fun, and suitable for the whole family include lunch at the ponce city market, followed by light shopping we love “Village at PCM,” and a good walk on the beltline. After that, we’d grab dinner at ” The Garden Room,” If we didn’t have the kids, we’d have a nightcap at the bar at the St. Regis Hotel. The next day we’d meet at the Atlanta Aquarium and then head over to “Chattahoochee food works” they have diverse food offerings, cocktails, and a lovely outdoor space, perfect for creating content and chilling with friends and fam. Finally, we’d end the trip “OTP” by sharing some of the hidden gems in Atlanta’s suburbs; We’d start with a nature walk along the “big creek” and grab lunch in downtown Alpharetta at “Chiringa” which has great elevated beach food and unbeatable frozen margaritas. Lastly, we’d grab dessert at the “Halcyon” while the kids play on the turf field.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We’d love to shout out both Julien & Kiersten Saunders from Rich and Regular and Robin Sharma, author of the 5 Am Club. Julien & Kiersten encouraged us to expand our offerings beyond social media. This was pivotal for us as it helped open us to other pathways. The 5 AM Club Challenge offered by Robin Sharma has been transformational in our lives as we’ve completely revamped how we spend our time each day. We’ve become the most productive and grounded we’ve been in years.

Website: www.thetbeffect.com

Instagram: @troy_brooks @sbsinspirations @thetbeffect

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-brooks-1b36935b/#experience https://www.linkedin.com/in/shantel-brooks-a55175243/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetbeffect

Image Credits
Cayla Ann Photography – @caylannphotography

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