I Am Expansion: The Courage to Grow Beyond Comfort

Part 1 of the “I AM” Leadership Series

Where We’re Going

Dear Readers

This month, I’m taking you inside a series that’s deeply personal — one built around my daily affirmations: I am Expansion. I am Leadership. I am Integrity. I am Legacy.

These aren’t just words I repeat each morning. They’re the foundation of how I live, lead, and build.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll unpack each one — not as abstract ideas, but as tangible ways to elevate your leadership, align your purpose, and move with intention.

We start with the one that fuels them all: Expansion.

The Story

As I close out 2025 and look ahead to 2026, the word expansion has never felt more alive. This has been a year of stretching — personally, professionally, and spiritually.

I’ve expanded my voice through The Storyteller, building a community of leaders and learners who see growth as both art and discipline. I’ve expanded my reach through The Brothers in Aerospace and Defense Podcast, transforming a concept into a platform that now amplifies stories across our industry and our culture.

I’ve also expanded through service and visibility — a full season of speaking engagements across conferences, summits, podcasts, and college campuses. From the Black Men XCEL Summit to NSBE events and other leadership platforms, I’ve been blessed with opportunities to share lessons on leadership, social capital, and purpose. Each stage stretched me — not just to teach, but to embody the principles I believe in.

Professionally, our team exceeded every major goal — meeting our bookings, building momentum, and strengthening customer partnerships. Yet even with those wins, I felt a deeper pull: a need to evolve the man behind the metrics.

That journey actually began early in the year when I graduated from the African-American Leadership Academy of Charlotte (AALAC). The work we did there — professionally and personally — set the tone for everything that followed. AALAC became a mirror and a multiplier — a family of executives and community builders who sharpen each other’s belief systems and hold one another accountable to purpose. That experience ignited my desire to keep expanding — not just in achievement, but in alignment.

By mid-year, that spark grew stronger. I made the decision to invest in coaching, deepen my spiritual discipline, and redirect my own R&D energy toward uncovering the next level of my purpose. It was during that season of focus and faith that something powerful happened — a message appeared on my feed from Coach Valjay.

The timing felt divine — like God was aligning the stars to get my attention. The way she spoke about growth, faith, and expansion wasn’t just motivational; it was confirmation. Her words reminded me that expansion isn’t about chasing opportunity; it’s about allowing yourself to grow into what’s already been assigned to you. That post resonated deeply — and in that moment, I paused, prayed, and declared:

And that’s when it all became clear:

To see more of this year’s journey — reflections, photos, and milestones — visit my LinkedIn page:
🔗 linkedin.com/in/dewayneallen

The Lesson

Expansion is not an outcome; it’s a posture.

It’s how you stand when the next opportunity feels bigger than your comfort zone — how you respond when faith calls you past familiarity.

When you embody expansion, you stop chasing success and start attracting alignment. Growth stops being about addition and becomes about allowance — allowing yourself to be stretched, seen, and shaped by purpose.

Actions to Work With

1. Define Your Stretch: Identify one area where comfort has become your ceiling. What’s the stretch that scares you — and what might it unlock?

2. Release to Receive: Let go of something that no longer aligns with your next level — a habit, commitment, or belief that limits you.

3. Expand Someone Else: Create space for another person to grow this week. When you expand others, your own capacity multiplies.

Books & Resources to Build On

• 📘 The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks — Discover your “zone of genius.”

• 📗 The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest — Turn resistance into transformation.

• 📙 Purpose Awakening by Toure Roberts — Live in divine alignment.

• 🎧 Coach Valjay (Facebook) — Daily wisdom on faith, growth, and expansion.

Storyteller’s Reflection

Next Week: I Am Leadership

Leadership isn’t a position — it’s a posture.
Next Sunday, we’ll explore what it means to lead with conviction, humility, and heart.

Warm regards,
DeWayne Allen
Founder of The Storyteller Newsletter
I guide leaders and STEM professionals to succeed and innovate.