The Excellence Recap
Raising your Standard of Excellence

Dear Readers,

As we close out our Excellence Series, I want to take a moment to thank you for engaging, reflecting, and committing to your growth. This series was built for leaders like you—driven professionals who want to raise the bar and become indispensable contributors in any room they walk into.

Excellence isn’t a destination—it’s a standard. And over the past three weeks, we’ve broken that standard into three powerful pillars that can reshape how you lead, deliver, and show up every day.

Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve learned—and how you can apply it moving forward.

🧠 Week 1: The Mindset of Excellence

Before you can lead at a high level, you have to believe you belong there.
✅ Excellence starts with how you think about yourself, your goals, and your impact.
✅ Your mindset determines your discipline, consistency, and focus—even when no one is watching.
✅ We explored the difference between meeting expectations and setting your own internal bar for performance.

💭 Reflection Prompt: What belief do you hold that fuels how you lead?

🔗 Read it again: Elevating Your Standard of Excellence – The Mindset Shift

⚙️ Week 2: The Framework for Excellence

Talent gets you noticed—but systems keep you excellent.
✅ Develop deep expertise—be the one people rely on.
✅ Set personal benchmarks that go beyond what’s required.
✅ Surround yourself with high performers and mentors.
✅ And most importantly, anchor it all in a personal belief system that powers your discipline and resilience.

💭 Reflection Prompt: What systems support your daily pursuit of excellence?

🔗 Revisit the full issue: The Framework for Excellence

🔦 Week 3: The Visibility of Excellence

Excellence that no one sees is a missed opportunity.
✅ Your leadership needs to be seen to be scaled.
✅ Build a strong presence—how you show up in meetings, teams, and spaces matters.
✅ Share your knowledge, mentor others, and develop a personal brand that matches your values.
✅ Visibility isn’t bragging—it’s about owning your impact and creating space for others to rise too.

💭 Reflection Prompt: Are you known for the value you bring?

🔗 Catch up here: The Visibility of Excellence

Your Action Plan: Building a Culture of Personal Excellence

Here are three ways you can build momentum beyond this series:

1. Pick one area (mindset, system, or visibility) to focus on for the next 30 days.

2. Write one goal or habit that reflects your elevated standard.

3. Identify one person to support or mentor who’s earlier in their journey.

📥 Want a printable version of this recap and action plan? Let me know and I’ll send it directly to your inbox!

Survey Questions

Recommended Resources

📖 Relentless by Tim S. Grover
📖 Atomic Habits by James Clear
📖 Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon

🎧 Subscribe to Brothers in Aerospace & Defense for more leadership and industry insights.

Join the Conversation

How are you raising your standard this year? What practices are helping you stay sharp, focused, and visible? Reply to this email or join the comments section at thestoryteller.beehiiv.com

Let’s Work Together

If you’re ready to put your excellence into action—through executive coaching, team development, or speaking engagements—let’s talk.
📅 Book a 15-min intro call at www.demalo-ent.com

Thank you for joining me on this journey through the Excellence Series. I created this newsletter to help committed leaders grow into the version of themselves that not only delivers but leads boldly.

And this is just the beginning.

Next up, we’re kicking off a new series in March focused on leading in high-visibility roles and navigating career-defining moments. Stay tuned!

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