Michael W. Allison

A lot of you have supported Break The Bottle from the beginning. You bought the book. You shared it. You sent me messages about what connected with you. Some of you even bought copies for other people.

I appreciate every bit of it.

Now I have a small favor to ask.

If you've read Break The Bottle, I would love for you to leave an honest review on Amazon.

It doesn't have to be long. Tell me what stood out to you. Maybe it was the 3-D Framework™ of Decision, Direction, and Destination. Maybe it was one of the stories. Maybe something challenged the way you think about adversity, identity, limitations, or where you're going next.

Whatever it was, share it in your own words.

Reviews matter because there is someone out there who has never heard of me or this book. They're trying to decide whether Break The Bottle is worth their time, and hearing from someone who has actually read it can make that difference.

I'm proud that Break The Bottle became a bestseller. But I didn't write it just to sell books.

I wrote it because I know what it feels like to get stuck inside circumstances, beliefs, experiences, and versions of ourselves that can become their own kind of bottle.

And I also know we can break through them.

If you've read the book, I'd appreciate you adding your voice.

Kindle:
https://a.co/d/g8lqHtF

Paperback:
https://a.co/d/6HfaJpn

Hardcover:
https://a.co/d/2NvABEJ

And if you know someone who needs this message right now, share the book with them.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support my work and this journey.

Read it. Review it. Help the idea travel.

Some quality time comes with dinner reservations. Some of ours comes with a simple walk together or a gym workout.

Courtney and I have both made our health a priority, and getting a workout in together makes the work a lot more enjoyable. We spend time together, hold each other accountable, and try to keep smiling between sets.

Building a life together also means taking care of the two people living it.

Not a bad way to spend time with my favorite training partner.

Back in January, the four of us sat down for breakfast as we prepared to launch the 2026 Journey Church Couples Freedom program for groups. Pastor Amye Still made the introduction, but that first meal quickly became more than a planning conversation.

Our shared Jamaican and Atlanta roots gave us plenty to talk about. Our love for God and commitment to serving couples gave us even more in common. Since then, Lisa and Richard have become true friends, connected to us by a mission we all care deeply about: helping couples find greater freedom within themselves, their relationships, and their families.

Freedom in a relationship does not mean avoiding difficult conversations. It means building the trust, honesty, and grace to have them, grow through them, and continue building together.

We are grateful for this friendship and for the couples and families we will have the opportunity to pour into together.

Sometimes God uses one introduction to open a much bigger door. This has been one of those introductions.

Had a great conversation today with Chris Sund on the Amplify Speaker Podcast.

We got into leadership, adversity, breaking the bottle, performing under pressure, navigating uncertainty, my frameworks, and some of the experiences that shaped how I think about leadership today.

Really enjoyed this conversation and the opportunity to go beyond the keynote stage and dig into the thinking behind the work.

Excited for this one to drop. Looking forward to sharing it with you when it’s released.

Yes, I really am this excited about a book.

Some limitations are real. Others stay in place because we keep treating old beliefs, fears, and habits like permanent facts.

When you feel stuck, do not try to rebuild your entire life in one afternoon. Start with three honest questions:

Decision: What decision have I been avoiding?

Direction: What is the next step that decision requires?

Destination: Where am I actually trying to go, and are my current choices taking me there?

That is the foundation of the 3-D Framework™ inside Break The Bottle®.

Clarity will not solve everything overnight, but it will give you somewhere honest to begin. Sometimes the first thing you need to break is the belief that where you are today is where you have to remain.

If you are ready to challenge what has been holding you back and begin thinking in solutions, get your copy here:

https://a.co/d/0erNPhxM

My 2027 keynote calendar is officially open.

If you are planning a 2027 conference, leadership summit, sales kickoff, executive retreat, or other major gathering, I would welcome a conversation about the people in the room, what they are facing, and what you want the experience to accomplish.

I respect the power of a keynote. A strong message can challenge a room, create shared language, and help people see an old problem differently. But the value should not disappear when the lights come up and everyone returns to work.

That belief comes from experience.

During eight years in the Marine Corps, through combat and recovery, while leading million-dollar federal initiatives, building businesses, and coaching executives, I have seen what pressure exposes. It reveals how people make decisions, how teams communicate, what a culture truly values, and whether leaders are prepared to carry responsibility when the plan changes.

Those experiences shape my four signature keynotes:

• Adversity Leadership®
Creating clarity, courage, and culture when pressure is high and certainty is low.

• Break The Bottle®
Confronting the assumptions, identity barriers, and patterns that keep people and organizations from moving forward.

• Protect The House
Building trust, accountability, and a culture people are willing to protect.

• Pause With A Purpose
Improving judgment, communication, and decision-making when the pressure to react is high.

Every keynote is tailored to the organization, the audience, and the outcome the event is designed to create. When the objective extends beyond the keynote, the engagement can connect to leadership assessments, Leadership Intensives™, executive coaching, or broader organizational consulting.

If your people are facing change, uncertainty, cultural pressure, difficult decisions, or the need to perform at a higher level, let’s talk about your 2027 event.

Send me a direct message or visit https://michaelwallison.com.

Jamaica and Atlanta were not exactly neighbors, but God still found a way to make the introduction.

What began as a friendship became a relationship, a partnership, and a bond we have continued to build over the years.

Courtney Allison and I come from different places, different cultures, and different life experiences. Maybe that is part of what makes our life together so meaningful.

I’m grateful our paths crossed.

Jamaica and Atlanta did alright.

Jamaica and Atlanta were not exactly neighbors, but God still found a way to make the introduction.

What began as a friendship became a relationship, a partnership, and a bond we have continued to build over the years.

Courtney and I come from different places, different cultures, and different life experiences. Maybe that is part of what makes our life together so meaningful.

I’m grateful our paths crossed.

Jamaica and Atlanta did alright.

I’m excited to share that I’ll be the headliner for the 2026 AFP-NJ Conference on Philanthropy on November 12 in Edison, New Jersey.

I’ll be opening the conference with Break the Bottle™: Removing Invisible Barriers That Limit Fundraising Performance and Retention.

Fundraising professionals know how much pressure comes with this work. You’re responsible for relationships, revenue, expectations, campaigns, teams, and ultimately helping organizations fulfill their missions.

But sometimes the biggest barriers to performance aren’t the ones we can see.

They’re the hesitation before a difficult decision. The misalignment within a team. The pressure we carry from one challenge into the next. The assumptions and patterns that quietly influence how we lead and perform.

That’s the conversation I’m bringing to the stage.

And I’m looking forward to sharing it with fundraising professionals and nonprofit leaders from across New Jersey and beyond.

Thank you to the Association of Fundraising Professionals, New Jersey Chapter (AFP-NJ) for the opportunity to open this year’s conference.

📅 November 12, 2026
📍 Pines Manor | Edison, New Jersey

If you work in fundraising, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, or development, I hope to see you there.

Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-conference-on-philanthropy-registration-1980477011053?aff=oddtdtcreator