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As the calendar flips to 2026, I find myself in the same conversation with leaders that I have inside my own head: What’s genuinely worth bringing into the next year… and what deserves to stay right where it is?
If 2025 taught us anything at Lodestone, it’s that discernment exists. Abundance exists. Not everything earns the right to cross the threshold. And honestly, this year required more discernment than most.
Because let’s name it: 2025 was a weird market year. Deal flow slowed. Sponsors were cautious. Operators felt pressure from every direction. And yet right in the middle of the slowdown we saw something important:
The smartest clients doubled down on human capital.
They recognized what we’ve been saying for years: Value creation doesn’t live in the C-suite; it lives one layer down, where the actual execution happens. Mid-level leaders. First-time managers. High-potential talent who carry the VCP from concept to reality.
And because of that shift, our LEAD program had its biggest year yet. Not because anyone had money to burn, but because the market finally admitted that capability deep in the org chart is the only sustainable accelerator. That’s absolutely worth carrying forward.
So, what else earned a place in 2026?
- Clients who want to do the real work.
Not the ones hunting for cosmetic fixes, but the ones willing to get honest, move through discomfort, and actually change things. They trusted the data. They stayed in the mess. And the results followed.
- Clear, courageous conversations.
The most catalytic moments of 2025 began when someone finally voiced the truth sitting in the room like a large, uninvited house pet.
The CEO who admitted hiring for comfort over capability.
The operator who realized their team wasn’t confused… they were unled.
The internal conversation where we asked whether we were operating at the level we expect from clients.
Courage made the difference. Silence is not making the trip into 2026.
- The mosaic mindset.
Our highest-performing teams weren’t built on similarity; they were built with intention. Different backgrounds, experiences, temperaments, and strengths arranged carefully enough to create lift, not friction. The mosaic model wasn’t just poetic this year. It showed up in hard financials. We’ll keep pushing leaders to embrace it.
- Investing early instead of repairing late.
Sponsors who pulled us in during diligence or right after close moved faster and avoided predictable pain. Sponsors who waited… well, the late-stage repair invoices speak for themselves.
Early alignment stays on the 2026 checklist.
- Our own internal growth story.
This was a foundational year for us. We expanded the team. We matured our systems. We documented more of the tEamBITDA book that has been living in our heads for too long.
And yes, we landed on the Inc. 5000 list for the first time.
I know, I know… you’ve heard me mention it before. But milestones like that matter because they affirm both pace and direction. They’re a signal that thoughtful, values-aligned growth is not only possible; it’s replicable.
We also doubled down on quarterly in-person team meetings. Most work can be done remotely and done well, but the best work and connection still comes from humans in a room together. Anyone claiming AI will replace human connection has never seen our team on a long car ride or in a late-night group text volley.
That commitment is absolutely coming with us.
- Enjoyment, without apology.
Our strongest ideas came from real human moments: laughing in rental cars, talking through sticky problems on long drives, sending each other 10:30 pm “wait, I just realized something” texts. Enjoyment fuels performance. We’re keeping it.
2026 already looks bright. Not because the market guarantees anything, but because we’re entering it with clarity about who we are, how we work, and what truly deserves to come along.
Everything else stays behind.
Here’s to abundance with discernment.
