Ryan Leak

Because let's just be honest about honesty, okay?

Now, most of us, I wouldn't say we're liars because I think that's a stretch.

But I would say we're not all exactly authentic, okay?

Like we tell the truth.

Selectively, right?

Like we edit, we round up, we round down, we leave details out.

We say I'm fine when we're anything but fine.

And look, I've met a few people who pride themselves on quote unquote, keeping it real, right?

OK, and, you know, these kinds of people, OK, they they say, I'm just being honest right after they say something wildly unnecessary.

OK, I don't think that that's honesty.

I think that's just a lack of filters and a long history of.

of uncomfortable family dinners.

Now, keeping it 100 does not mean you are keeping it 100% negative all the time.

Because sometimes honesty without wisdom is just noise.

But the real question that I want to ask us as we are at the very beginning of a year,

is what if a better you in 2026 is a truly more genuine, a more honest you?

Not louder, not harsher, not more opinionated, just more real, just more genuine.

I was working with a hospital system in the Midwest at the end of last year.

Very large organization, complex challenges, real pressure.

And the CEO had just been in her role for about, I don't know, six months to a year.