Lon Stroschein's Linkedin Analytics

By February 2022, I was at the top of my game and I had caught what I chased: The C-Suite office. Pay. Travel. Image...everything. Then, I quit. Most think I left unhappy; I'm smarter than that. What I did was harder. I left something extraordinary, a place that I helped to build—a place that helped build me. The story: Most elite performers I know have a bigger dream resting inside them, but the very success they've built is now holding them back. They feel trapped by golden handcuffs, tethered to a career, schedule, or life that no longer inspires them. At the same time, they're wrestling with the newness of risk aversion and the fear of regret, wondering if they'll ever take control of their life's best days. I know what that feels like because I've been there. After decades of leading companies, building teams, and achieving milestones, I realized my biggest challenge wasn't building another quarter of growth—it was redefining my life. That's why I created Normal 40: a movement, a mindset, and a process designed to help elite performers step out of their own shadows and into their next chapter. At Normal 40, our relationship-based process starts by helping you articulate your dream—identifying the bigger life you've been waiting to build. We then organize those dreams into bold, actionable steps, remove the perceived risk, and design a life aligned with your aspirations. This is about betting on yourself, avoiding future regret, and creating an impactful family legacy. Our framework guides executives, physicians, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and career professionals through the discomfort of change. The truth is, you don't need more credentials, money, or even more time. You need clarity, courage, a community, and a guide who's been where you are. I have been that guide to thousands. I've had the honor of leading people through this journey, from Vintage One Cohorts to the Normal 40 Insider Community--I've been there. My book, The Trade, is a best-seller endorsed by leaders like General Stan McChrystal and Ryan Daniel Moran, and my Normal 40 Podcast has become a trusted space for real talk about midlife transitions and reinvention. Here's what I've learned: The golden handcuffs are real but not unbreakable. Success doesn't have to mean stagnation. And the life you want? It's already within you—you need the proper process and support to bring it to life. If you're an elite performer with a dream that won't let go, I'd love to ramble. Your future self is waiting--don't let them down. Let's be up to something--pure.