I’m done being the spark. This year, I’m the path.

I used to pride myself on being a catalyst.

I was the one you called to ignite a project. I was the "change agent" who poured every ounce of my energy into a deal to make it react. I provided the heat, the deal got done, and the room erupted in applause.

But here is the silent, expensive truth about being a catalyst: In chemistry, a catalyst is often spent, altered, or degraded by the reaction it triggers.

In my career, I realized that "Catalyst Leadership" was just a polite term for setting myself on fire to keep everyone else warm. I provided the energy, the equity went to the cap table, and my value reset to zero the moment the next quarter began. I was a megaphone for someone else’s story getting the claps while they kept the asset.

That ended for me in 2025.

I making a conscious choice to stop being the fuel and start being the conduit.

I’m done amplifying stories I don’t own. I’m done being "passed around" as the talent that saves the day, only to be left exhausted while the stakeholders celebrate.

2026 is about building the hearth, not being the wood.

I’ve realized that transactional conversations are consumed, but transcending conversations compound. By building a conduit whether through a proprietary process, a unique network, or a specialized platform I’m ensuring that everyone benefits, but I own the future I’m building.

I’m moving from being the person doing the work to the person owning the way the work gets done.

My challenge to you as you look at your 2026: Are you setting yourself on fire to keep the board warm? Or are you building the structure that will last a decade?

Choose for yourself. Choose to be the structure. Stop being the fuel.

Happy 2026. It’s time to stop burning and start building.

#GrowthStrategy #2026Vision #BusinessInfrastructure #LeadershipDevelopment #SustainableGrowth #BrandEquity #ConduitNotCatalyst #FutureOfWork