2025 Lessons

Belief. Rest. Relationships.
Alignment. Execution. Identity.

Thank YOU!

Before we step into what’s next, I want to pause and say thank you.

Thank you for reading.
Thank you for replying.
Thank you for sharing these notes with someone who needed them.
Thank you for letting The Storyteller be a place where leadership stays human — where growth has weight, and purpose has direction.

When I look back at 2025, I don’t just see “posts.”
I see a progression.

We didn’t spend the year chasing motivation.
We spent the year building foundations — and then pressure-testing them in real time.

Here’s what I mean.

What 2025 Taught Us

1) Belief is the beginning — but belief has to be proven

We started the year grounding ourselves in belief: what you know, what you prove, and what you share.

Because belief isn’t just a thought — it’s a practice.
It shows up in what you attempt, what you tolerate, what you repeat, and what you become known for.

If 2026 is going to be different, it won’t start with louder goals.
It will start with truer belief — backed by evidence, discipline, and action.

2) Sustainable growth requires sustainable habits

As the year progressed, the message got sharper: leadership isn’t built in a breakthrough. It’s built in habits.

Not just “good intentions,” but:

• rhythm

• systems

• consistency

• renewal

• and the courage to do the boring thing long enough to become great

This is where “sustainable growth” became a real standard — not a slogan.

3) Rest isn’t weakness — rest is leadership

In the middle of the year, we made room for what most high performers avoid:

Stillness.
Pausing.
Recovering.

The ReSTORED arc reminded us: rest isn’t escape. It’s preparation.

Because if you only run, you lose clarity — and when leaders lose clarity, they make expensive decisions.
Rest gave us range.
Stillness gave us direction.

4) Social capital is currency —
and you need the right five

In the second half of the year, we got practical: relationships aren’t just nice to have; they shape trajectory.

We talked about the five people every leader needs:

• Sponsor

• Mentor

• Connector

• Truth-Teller

• Peer

And we named social capital for what it is: trust + access + reputation, built over time through value creation and follow-through.

The takeaway: skills may open doors — but relationships help you thrive once you’re inside.

5) Alignment is protection:
Voice. Lane. Fit.

Then we went inward. Because growth without alignment turns into noise.

We introduced the Mirror Test:

• Voice — am I speaking from conviction?

• Lane — am I operating where I create the most value?

• Fit — does this environment align with my purpose and potential?

This was a turning point for many readers (and honestly, for me too), because it gave language to what leaders feel but struggle to name:

Not everything good is yours.

6) Execution is the differentiator — and it becomes your leadership anchor

Then we landed where reputation is actually built: execution.

We talked about prioritizing, mobilizing, and measuring.
And we framed the differentiator in three questions:

1. Leaders call on me when they need ___ because I consistently deliver ___.

2. Which problems usually seek me out?

3. When the stakes are high, what did I do that others couldn’t or didn’t?

This is how your leadership anchor forms — not from aspiration, but from what people can depend on you to deliver.

7) Identity is the root system

And to close the year, we returned to identity — the “I AM” work.

Expansion.
Leadership.
Integrity.
Legacy.

Because when the year gets loud, identity keeps you steady.

Your calendar should reflect your calling.
And your habits should match the leader you say you are becoming.

What I’m Carrying Into 2026

Here’s what I’m personally holding onto as we turn the page:

• I’m protecting my energy like strategic capital.

• I’m investing in relationships that sharpen me, not just comfort me.

• I’m saying “no” faster when voice/lane/fit is off.

• I’m treating execution as reputation — not optional.

• I’m anchoring in identity so I don’t drift with the noise.

A 2026 Reading Plan (Built from Our 2025 Themes)

Belief & Courage

• The Light We Carry — Michelle Obama

• The Mountain Is You — Brianna Wiest

Habits & Focus

• The ONE Thing — Gary Keller & Jay Papasan

• Deep Work — Cal Newport

Relationships & Influence

• The Memo — Minda Harts

• Never Eat Alone — Keith Ferrazzi

Execution & Excellence

• The Discipline of Getting Things Done — Larry Bossidy & Ram Charan

• The 4 Disciplines of Execution — McChesney, Covey, Huling

Identity & Leadership Presence

• Sister Citizen — Melissa V. Harris-Perry (identity, voice, and how we’re perceived in systems)

How to use this plan: pick one track to start January, finish the book, and apply one idea for 30 days.

Coaching Trigger

Two questions to end the year with honesty:

1. What did 2025 teach you that you refuse to forget?

2. What will people be able to count on you to deliver in 2026?

Write it down.
That’s your anchor.

Call to Action

Reply to this email with two short answers:

1. Your biggest leadership lesson from 2025

2. One habit or standard you’re committing to in 2026

I read the replies — and I build what’s next based on what you share.

Closing

Thank you for walking this leadership journey with me.

Your growth, your courage, and your presence continue to inspire mine.

Until next time —
Lead with purpose. Move with clarity. Build with intention.

— DeWayne

Founder of The Storyteller Newsletter
www.demalo-ent.com