• Home
  • Episodes
  • Books for Leaders
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • Our Sponsors
  • Blog
  • Our Newsletter
The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

The Trade: Moving From the Life You Have to the Life You Want

December 19, 2023

The Trade: Moving From the Life You Have to the Life You Want

No matter where you are in your career, The Trade offers a proven framework to elevate your life and unlock your true potential. The Trade is a compelling playbook, offering insights and practical guidance to help professionals embrace transformative change. Endorsed by General Stanly McChrystal, this is a powerful resource for anyone at the top of their career, feeling frustrated, isolated, and questioning their true purpose.

In 2022, Lon defied conventional wisdom, leaving his prestigious C-suite job on a hunch that life demanded more from him. Without a resume, business plan, or vast wealth, he shed the big office, title, and image, embarking on a journey to unlock his life's potential. Unexpectedly, when he resigned, his inbox overflowed with messages from high-achievers from across the world, people he had never met, seeking the same path but lacking guidance.

Lon's pursuit led him to conduct thousands of one-on-one interviews with individuals navigating their most critical life transitions. These conversations and the tough decisions we all encounter fueled his drive to write this book. It's a testament to challenging the status quo and embracing transformative change. It’s a book about living your second-half story, and what you'll have to trade to live it.

There is a growing tension between who you have become and who you are capable of being next. One voice may urge you to stay safe, while the other implores you to take a leap of faith and explore uncharted territories. The Trade dares you to live your second-half story without regrets. This book challenges you to break free from your status quo, remove self-imposed limitations, and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Lon has named this feeling 'Normal 40.’ And he has since built a movement dedicated to giving a home to those who are quietly wrestling with a career or military transition. What he thought was a feeling only he was having, he has discovered thousands more who are living their own Normal 40 Moment.

The Trade is a playbook for how to help professionals work their own Normal 40 Moment. The Trade will help you to understand that you are not alone, and that this feeling in your gut, when understood, is a gift.

Every life culminates in a final day, surrounded by loved ones. In those last moments, you'll reflect on the legacy you'll leave and the life you've lived. The Trade prompts you to weigh the risks you've taken and embrace the two prevailing thoughts: "I am glad I did it" or "I wish I would have tried." This book inspires you to seize every moment and make choices that align with your truest self. The Trade will ensure you are glad you did it.

Lon’s mission is to inspire change in a thousand lives. And he will know he has been successful when he has a thousand notes of thanks from people whom the change has impacted.

“THE TRADE IS ENTERTAINING, UPLIFTING WISDOM. THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR OTHER PEOPLE; IT’S FOR YOU... THE TRADE IS A MUST-READ FOR ANYONE FACING TRANSITION.”
--Stan McChrystal, General, US Army (Retired) CEO & Founder, McChrystal Group Author of Team of Teams, Leaders: Myth and Reality, and Risk

“WOW! THE TRADE IS FOR ANYONE WITH THAT GNAWING FEELING INSIDE THAT MANY OF US FEEL. THAT, ‘WHAT AM I DOING? IS THIS ALL THERE IS? AM I SETTLING; BECAUSE IT’S EASY?’ FEELING.”
Dr. Larry Volz, General/Trauma Surgeon

“IF YOU ARE IN A PLACE IN YOUR LIFE AND CAREER WHERE YOU ARE WONDERING, ‘SHOULDN’T I FEEL BETTER ABOUT WHAT I’M DOING WITH MY LIFE’ AND THEN FEELING GUILTY FOR CONSIDERING CHANGES THAT YOU THINK WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT YOU’VE PROMISED YOUR FAMILY YOU WOULD PROVIDE, YOU NEED THIS BOOK. BUT BE WARNED; THERE ARE GUT PUNCHES AHEAD – GUT PUNCHES YOU’LL REALIZE YOU NEEDED
AND WILL BE GLAD TO HAVE TAKEN... DO YOURSELF A FAVOR; READ THIS BOOK. IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE.”

Wendy Woodard, Colonel, USAF (Retired), META/Facebook Aviation

Order Now!
About the Book

No matter where you are in your career, The Trade offers a proven framework to elevate your life and unlock your true potential. The Trade is a compelling playbook, offering insights and practical guidance to help professionals embrace transformative change. Endorsed by General Stanly McChrystal, this is a powerful resource for anyone at the top of their career, feeling frustrated, isolated, and questioning their true purpose.

In 2022, Lon defied conventional wisdom, leaving his prestigious C-suite job on a hunch that life demanded more from him. Without a resume, business plan, or vast wealth, he shed the big office, title, and image, embarking on a journey to unlock his life’s potential. Unexpectedly, when he resigned, his inbox overflowed with messages from high-achievers from across the world, people he had never met, seeking the same path but lacking guidance.

Lon’s pursuit led him to conduct thousands of one-on-one interviews with individuals navigating their most critical life transitions. These conversations and the tough decisions we all encounter fueled his drive to write this book. It’s a testament to challenging the status quo and embracing transformative change. It’s a book about living your second-half story, and what you’ll have to trade to live it.

There is a growing tension between who you have become and who you are capable of being next. One voice may urge you to stay safe, while the other implores you to take a leap of faith and explore uncharted territories. The Trade dares you to live your second-half story without regrets. This book challenges you to break free from your status quo, remove self-imposed limitations, and embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Lon has named this feeling ‘Normal 40.’ And he has since built a movement dedicated to giving a home to those who are quietly wrestling with a career or military transition. What he thought was a feeling only he was having, he has discovered thousands more who are living their own Normal 40 Moment.

The Trade is a playbook for how to help professionals work their own Normal 40 Moment. The Trade will help you to understand that you are not alone, and that this feeling in your gut, when understood, is a gift.

Every life culminates in a final day, surrounded by loved ones. In those last moments, you’ll reflect on the legacy you’ll leave and the life you’ve lived. The Trade prompts you to weigh the risks you’ve taken and embrace the two prevailing thoughts: “I am glad I did it” or “I wish I would have tried.” This book inspires you to seize every moment and make choices that align with your truest self. The Trade will ensure you are glad you did it.

Lon’s mission is to inspire change in a thousand lives. And he will know he has been successful when he has a thousand notes of thanks from people whom the change has impacted.

“THE TRADE IS ENTERTAINING, UPLIFTING WISDOM. THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR OTHER PEOPLE; IT’S FOR YOU… THE TRADE IS A MUST-READ FOR ANYONE FACING TRANSITION.”
–Stan McChrystal, General, US Army (Retired) CEO & Founder, McChrystal Group Author of Team of Teams, Leaders: Myth and Reality, and Risk

“WOW! THE TRADE IS FOR ANYONE WITH THAT GNAWING FEELING INSIDE THAT MANY OF US FEEL. THAT, ‘WHAT AM I DOING? IS THIS ALL THERE IS? AM I SETTLING; BECAUSE IT’S EASY?’ FEELING.”
Dr. Larry Volz, General/Trauma Surgeon

“IF YOU ARE IN A PLACE IN YOUR LIFE AND CAREER WHERE YOU ARE WONDERING, ‘SHOULDN’T I FEEL BETTER ABOUT WHAT I’M DOING WITH MY LIFE’ AND THEN FEELING GUILTY FOR CONSIDERING CHANGES THAT YOU THINK WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT YOU’VE PROMISED YOUR FAMILY YOU WOULD PROVIDE, YOU NEED THIS BOOK. BUT BE WARNED; THERE ARE GUT PUNCHES AHEAD – GUT PUNCHES YOU’LL REALIZE YOU NEEDED
AND WILL BE GLAD TO HAVE TAKEN… DO YOURSELF A FAVOR; READ THIS BOOK. IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE.”

Wendy Woodard, Colonel, USAF (Retired), META/Facebook Aviation

Details
Author: BBB Guests - Main
Series: Lon Stroschein
Tags: character, Coaching, Communication, Conflict, courage, Discipline, Growth, Humor, Influence, Non-Fiction, Personal Development, Positivity, Power, Time
ASIN: B0C9SBTKZS
Order Now
Buy from Amazon
Share
Facebook Twitter Google+
Preview
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Clarity in Crisis: Leadership Lessons from th...
The Unseen Leader: How History Can Help Us Re...

Related Posts

  • TLP170: A Humble Mind is An Open Mind – First Woman Dean at West Point
  • TLP425: How to Build a Work Culture that Maximizes Your Impact with Jaime Taets
  • TLP028: Manipulating Time to Improve Flow
  • TLP387: Networking is the beginning. Connecting is the journey. Giving is the goal.
  • TLP130: No Surprise Rule
iTunes
Spotify
Audible
SoundCloud
iHeartRADIO

Instagram Feed

westudyleaders

#leadership #leadershiptraining #leader #westudyleaders

She was the number one manager in a 4000 branch ne She was the number one manager in a 4000 branch network. Three years running. And she had better offers on the table. She stayed for one reason her leader almost said no to. This story from Mark Crowley is a gut check for every leader who thinks compensation is the whole game.Full episode on The Leadership Podcast now. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-504?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #employeeretention #markcrowley #leadfromtheheart #westudyleaders #theleadershippodcast #leadershiplessons #workplacebelonging #peopleleadership #teamculture
Anne Marie spent 36 years in sports TV constantly Anne Marie spent 36 years in sports TV constantly reinventing herself. Her secret? She doesn't just accept failure, she seeks it out. If you're succeeding at everything, you're probably playing it too safe.Listen to Anne Marie's full story at https://bit.ly/TLP-474?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch the full episode here https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-474?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Audacity #Failure #Leadership #Resilience #SportsMedia #PodcastLife #Leadership
TLP502: Never Fire Anyone with Mark Morgenfruh Ou TLP502: Never Fire Anyone with Mark Morgenfruh Our latest episode with Mark Morgenfruh https://bit.ly/TLP-502?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders&utm_content=TLP502%3A%20Never%20Fire%20Anyone%20with%20Mark%20Morgenfruh #leadership #leadership, #trustbasedleadership, #hrleadership, #neverfireanyone, #leadershipdevelopment, #theleadershippodcast, #leadershippodcast, #workplaceculture, #leadershipcoach, #performancemanagement, #accountability, #accountabilityleadership, #peoplemanagement, #valuesbasedleadership, #employeeperformance, #compassionateleadership, #leadershipandempathy, #difficultconversations,
Twenty-five years ago, Joe Pine predicted the Expe Twenty-five years ago, Joe Pine predicted the Experience Economy. Now he's back to tell us we're already behind again.Joe breaks down why fostering human flourishing is actually the whole point of business, why almost every company can find itself in one of four transformation spheres, and why the companies that figure this out will leave everyone else scrambling.Worth a listen if you're wondering why your pricing model feels stuck. https://bit.ly/TLP-499?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersYou can also watch the episode on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-499?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #BusinessTransformation #TransformationEconomy #JoePine #Pricing #BusinessModel #TheLeadershipPodcast
You can't play it safe and expect your career to t You can't play it safe and expect your career to take off. Steve Taplin coaches people on one simple truth: if you don't take risks, you plateau. But here's the thing most people miss. It's not about being reckless. It's about being calculated while staying honest and ethical. The entrepreneurs who win aren't the biggest gamblers, they're the smartest risk takers.More career wisdom on episode 501. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-501?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#CareerGrowth #TakeRisks #EntrepreneurMindset #SmartRisks #LeadershipAdvice
When you're raising other people's money, integrit When you're raising other people's money, integrity isn't a nice-to-have. Steve Taplin's business partner called him stupid for walking away from $2 million. The numbers looked inflated, the deal felt wrong, so Steve said no. His partner did it anyway and spent five years rubbing the money in his face. Until the indictment came. Integrity is foundational, especially when it's not your money on the line.Full story on episode 501 of The Leadership Podcast. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-501?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#BusinessIntegrity #EntrepreneurEthics #RaisingMoney #TrustYourGut #LeadershipValues
Joe Pine just gave away the single most powerful f Joe Pine just gave away the single most powerful framework for turning experiences into transformations. It's called encapsulation, and it has four parts: Preparation → Experience → Reflection → Integration.Most companies stop at the experience. The magic happens in what comes before and after. Help people imagine beforehand. Help them reflect afterward. Help them integrate the change into their lives.Do this right and your experiences become life-changing. Skip it and you're just entertainment.Full breakdown in episode 499 of The Leadership Podcast. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-499?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Encapsulation #TransformationFramework #CustomerExperience #JoePine #BusinessStrategy #ExperienceDesign #TransformationEconomy
TLP477: Myths About Intuition with Sara Sabin Our TLP477: Myths About Intuition with Sara Sabin Our latest episode with Sara Sabin https://bit.ly/TLP-477?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders&utm_content=TLP477%3A%20Myths%20About%20Intuition%20with%20Sara%20Sabin #leadership #ai #artificialintelligence #executivecoaching #neuroscience #criticalthinking #emotionalintelligence #intuition #leadershipdevelopment #coaching #selfregulation #braintraining #leadershipskills #thoughtleadership #professionaldevelopment #mindset #emotionalmastery #innovation #creativity #strategicthinking #leadershipmindset #businesscoaching #personaldevelopment #workplaceperformance #futureofwork
This isn't about collecting business cards at netw This isn't about collecting business cards at networking events. It's about building genuine relationships that become the foundation for everything meaningful you'll accomplish.Hear more from Jed Brewer at https://bit.ly/TLP-476?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch the full episode here - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-476?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#networking #relationships #success #leadership #theleadershippodcast
If you only change the behavior then you don't hus If you only change the behavior then you don't hustle through it, and six months later you're right back at the same wall wondering what went wrong. The behavior was never the problem. The belief driving it was.Muriel M. Wilkins explains it better than most. Ep. 503 on The Leadership Podcast. https://bit.ly/TLP-503?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#LeadershipPodcast #HiddenBlockers #LeadershipUnblocked #ExecutiveCoach #MindsetWork #LeadershipMindset #SelfAwareness #CoachingConversations #ThinkBetter #LeadFromWithin
You think you know how you'll react under fire unt You think you know how you'll react under fire until the stuff actually hits the fan. Admiral McRaven says pressure doesn't build character, it reveals it. The good news? The more you face it, the better you get at not falling apart. Every chance to lead is a chance to find out who you really are, not who you think you are.Listen: https://bit.ly/TLP-500?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #Pressure #AdmiralMcRaven #Character #TheLeadershipPodcast #NavySEAL #LeadershipDevelopment #Episode500
People kept asking Admiral McRaven how to lead mil People kept asking Admiral McRaven how to lead millennials and Gen Z differently. His answer? You don't. Yeah, they listen to different music and have different ideas, but leadership fundamentals haven't changed since his parents' generation. Integrity, hard work, leading from the front, that stuff still works. Stop overthinking it.Full episode at https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-500?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #Millennials #GenZ #AdmiralMcRaven #LeadershipMyths #TheLeadershipPodcast #NavySEAL #TimelessLeadership
Every time a leader complains about Gen Z being di Every time a leader complains about Gen Z being disloyal, Steve Cadigan has the same question. Are you talking about the children you raised? This generation grew up watching entirely new industries appear from nothing. Of course they want to explore. Calling that disloyal is like moving someone from their grandma's basement to a Vegas buffet and being surprised they want to try more than one thing. Steve does not hold back in the full episode. Catch TLP506 on The Leadership Podcast. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-506?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #GenZ #TalentStrategy #TheLeadershipPodcast #SteveCadigan #FutureOfWork #WorkCulture
How can music save lives? Jed Brewer proved it wit How can music save lives? Jed Brewer proved it with kids in Chicago who had asthma - they listened to his carefully crafted musical messages and their health measurably improved. Now he's using the same approach to combat the opioid crisis, prevent mass violence, and extend mental health care to underserved communities worldwide through the power of intentional music.Listen to episode 476 with Jed Brewer at https://bit.ly/TLP-476?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch the full episode here - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-476?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #musicforsocialimpact #innovation #podcast #socialgood
Jack Welch said if the outside world is changing f Jack Welch said if the outside world is changing faster than the inside, the end is near.Steve Cadigan applies that same logic directly to how you manage people. Most talent playbooks were built for a slower world and nobody has updated them. That gap between how fast things are moving outside and how slow things move inside is exactly where the problem lives. If that lands, the full episode will hit harder. Steve Cadigan on Episode 506 of The Leadership Podcast. https://bit.ly/TLP-506?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #HR #TalentStrategy #TheLeadershipPodcast #SteveCadigan #FutureOfWork
Admiral McRaven tried to use "micromanagement" as Admiral McRaven tried to use "micromanagement" as an excuse in 1985 after reading Harvard Business Review. His commanding officer shut that down fast. Turns out, setting clear expectations isn't micromanaging, it's actually doing your job as a leader. The full story is worth hearing. Listen: https://bit.ly/TLP-500?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#Leadership #Micromanagement #AdmiralMcRaven #NavySEAL #LeadershipMyths #TheLeadershipPodcast #MilitaryLeadership #Episode500
Thank you to our listeners! The Leadership Podcast Thank you to our listeners! The Leadership Podcast is now #2 in Sales Weekly and ranked in the top 10 in multiple Goodpods charts. We appreciate your support! #Leadership #Podcast #Goodpods
Steve Taplin has started 30 companies. 20 of them Steve Taplin has started 30 companies. 20 of them failed. And he's not ashamed to tell you about it.His baseball buddy put it perfectly: "Taplin, you're batting .333. That's the Hall of Fame." Most leaders are terrified one failure will define them. Steve proves that's completely backward. The real problem? Refusing to learn from the wreckage.In this episode, he breaks down the $2 million deal he walked away from, why he keeps journals from 25 years of failures, and the 24-hour rule that keeps him from spiraling. Listen to episode 501 now. https://bit.ly/TLP-501?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-501?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#LeadershipPodcast #Entrepreneurship #FailureIsData #StartupLife #BusinessLessons
The thing you've been calling "just how I am" migh The thing you've been calling "just how I am" might be a belief you picked up at 9 years old trying to figure out how to belong. That's not identity. That's an adaptation.Muriel M. Wilkins breaks this down in a way that's hard to dismiss. Ep. 503 on The Leadership Podcast. https://bit.ly/TLP-503?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#LeadershipPodcast #LeadershipUnblocked #ExecutiveCoaching #PersonalGrowth #MindsetShift #LeadYourself #HiddenBlockers #KnowYourself #CoachingTools #MurielMWilkins
Nicola Ilic explains why creating fear is the olde Nicola Ilic explains why creating fear is the oldest leadership trick in the book, and why it works so well. Once you see this pattern, you can't unsee it everywhere from politics to your own workplace.Full episode on https://bit.ly/TLP-475?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch the full episode here https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-475?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #psychology #democraticleadership #workplace #fear
Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • TLP509: Capitalism Without Ethics Is Just Chaos
  • TLP508: Your Scars Are Your Resume
  • TLP507: Disrupt or Be Buried: The Mindset That Changes Everything
  • TLP506: Retention Is Dead: The Workquake Reshaping Talent
  • TLP505: Why Leadership Coaching So Often Fails

Recent Comments

  • Anonymous on TLP508: Your Scars Are Your Resume
  • Anonymous on TLP505: Why Leadership Coaching So Often Fails
  • Anonymous on TLP504: Why Your Team Is Still Disengaged
  • Anonymous on TLP503: 7 Hidden Beliefs That Sabotage Leaders (And How to Break Them) – with Muriel M. Wilkins
  • Anonymous on TLP501: Failure as Fuel: When to push through and when to quit

Tags

adaptability assumptions athletics business change coaching communication corporate crucible culture Curiosity decision making education emotional intelligence entrepreneur financial history humor innovation interview Jan Rutherford Jim & Jan Jim Vaselopulos leader leadership leadership development Leadership Podcast military neuroscience Patagonia Personal Growth philosophy practitioner productivity relationships resilience speaker sports stories team development teamwork thought leader trust veterans workplace culture

Copyright © 2026 Rafti Advisors, LLC & Self-Reliant Leadership, LLC - All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy