Lon Stroschein knows what it feels like to wake up and wonder how you got here. The career, the calendar, the life you thought you wanted—on paper, everything looked right. But deep down, something was off. Trapped. Treading water in a life that no longer inspired him.
At 45, Lon was a public company executive at the top of his game. He had climbed the ladder, checked every box, and reached the summit. But when his Normal 40 Moment hit, he realized his work there was done. Staying would cost him more than leaving. So he made the trade.
Today, Lon is a husband, father, author, pilot, and the creator of Normal 40—not just a community, but a movement for high achievers ready to take inventory, get curious, and chase what’s next.
I’ve known Lon for a few years now as we’ve walked similar paths—building platforms, evolving our missions, and making big trades in life and business. The cool thing about growth in midlife? There’s room for everyone. We’re done with the nonsense of competition and comparison—this is about collaboration and connection.
So we made time for what Lon calls a Ramble—hopped on a call, hit record, and now we’re sharing parts of that conversation with you. As always, the full unedited version is available to our Inner Circle members.
– Greg
How Lon Sees It
Lon Stroschein: I’m pumped, Greg. Two guys crossing paths on LinkedIn, aligned missions, first time talking one-on-one—six minutes in, and it’s already great.
MLM: Totally. Say what you want about social media, but used right, it connects like-minded people. We talk, align on purpose, then go do the work. I know you’re out there doing it, and you know I am. So catch me up—what have you been up to?
Lon Stroschein: Love it.
MLM: First, where are you? Looks beautiful behind you.
Lon Stroschein: Sioux Falls, South Dakota—the more tropical of the Dakotas. August is great, January, not so much. Born and raised a South Dakota farm kid, been in Sioux Falls for 20 years.
MLM: What’s the backstory—upbringing, career path?
Lon Stroschein: South Dakota farm kid, set to take over the family farm—fourth generation. Got an ag business degree. January ‘99, before I even graduated, a U.S. senator called—wanted me to help write a farm bill. Thought, “This might never happen again,” so I jumped. Hardest part? Telling my dad I wasn’t coming home.
Worked for the senator five years, got married, started a family, but politics wasn’t right for family life. A friend at a billion-dollar bank took a risk on me—I built their Private Client Group. Then a CEO of a public ag-tech company recruited me for global distribution. No passport at the time, but I thought, “Banks will wait—this won’t.” Did it—14 years. Traveled the world, ran an aerospace division, then led mergers and acquisitions for six years.
MLM: Love it. It’s important to understand where people are—career, responsibilities, lifestyle. Those all shape decisions. Speaking of which, you work with guys on decision-making—what’s your process?
Lon Stroschein: Two questions have guided me. First: “Will I regret it if I don’t?” You can’t have it all, so if something feels like a true opportunity, take it. That’s how I got to Raven, the public company I worked for that got acquired.
Second: “Is my work here done?” If you’re stuck but can’t pinpoint why, ask yourself that. We stay in jobs for colleagues, familiarity, comfort—but if you’ve done what you were brought in to do and feel lost, it’s time to move.
At Raven, my CEO asked me to run the aerospace division—a big promotion. I said, “Hell yeah.” Did that for six years. Then, when I felt like I’d hit my ceiling, the CEO moved me to mergers and acquisitions. That’s when I knew—once you’ve done what you were meant to do, it’s time for something new.
MLM: That’s clarity. But what about guys in careers with no clear finish line—lawyers, accountants? How do they evolve?
Lon Stroschein: I get labeled as “the guy who convinces men to quit.” Not true. I don’t care if they leave—I care if they know what they actually want. First 20 years of a career, the path is clear—get a job, get promoted. Then, at some point, that stops being enough. Guys hit 40, feel guilty for wanting something else, but don’t know what that is.
I ask, “What do you want?” And they go, “I don’t know. I just knew what was next.” That’s why I started Normal 40—to help men wrestle with that question.
MLM: When did you start asking that question? What was the tipping point?
Lon Stroschein: No big moment—more like a slow burn. I was 44. I wasn’t working as hard, still above average, but I felt different. Next promotion was coming, but I wasn’t chasing it. I stopped volunteering for big projects. Then I started asking: Is this it? For the next 10 years?
That bought me six months. Then it crept back: This was a good year, but is this it? I got my coaching certification—not to coach, but to figure myself out. Dudes don’t talk like this: “Hey Greg, I look put-together, but I’m lost.” So I had to figure it out myself. That process changed my life.
MLM: That’s powerful. We spend so much time not asking the right questions. You took action—you got a coaching certification. I paid for coaching. Guys hesitate to invest in clarity, but they’ll spend thousands on other things.
Lon Stroschein: Exactly. Guys will drop money on a golf trip, but not on their future. I get it—I avoided it, too. But once I faced it, everything changed.
MLM: Let’s talk about the exit. You left a stable job with a strong offer. Did you wish you had left sooner? And did you have a checklist—savings, family talks—before saying no?
Lon Stroschein: No long checklist, but three things mattered. First: math. As a primary earner, I had my “enough document”—assets, spending, college, weddings. I wasn’t doing retirement math, just freedom math.
Second: my wife. I ask guys, “What does she want for you?” If you think it’s just money, you’re missing the point. Ask her. If she says happiness, you’re onto something.
Third: my kids. I wanted them to see me choose my path at 45, not 65. That was the trade—less at retirement, more now.
MLM: That’s real. A lot of guys assume what their wife wants instead of actually asking.
Lon Stroschein: 100%. They say, “I need to check with my wife,” but they don’t mean a real conversation. They mean, “I hope she’s on board after I make the decision.”
MLM: Let’s talk Normal-40. Younger guys—30s—are reaching out to you. Why?
Lon Stroschein: Different generational mindset. My parents’ goal was stability—get a good job, stay, be happy. My generation bought into that, too. But younger guys saw their parents move jobs, adapt more. They’re thinking ahead—“How do I avoid the midlife crisis?” I love that. Normal 40 isn’t an age, it’s a feeling. And it’s never too late—50s, 60s, whatever.
MLM: So true. I know some old 30-year-olds and young 60-year-olds. It’s all about mindset.
Lon Stroschein: That’s why I show up—to make sure guys see it’s possible. I won’t make you do it, but I’ll put it in your face so you have to choose to look away.
MLM: What does your day look like now?
Lon Stroschein: I wanted control over my calendar. Corporate life is reacting all day—I wanted to be intentional. Now, I work Tuesday-Thursday—calls, meetings, building Normal 40. My mission? Get 1,000 guys to write their second-half story.
Mondays and Fridays? Wild cards. Flying, family, whatever. The best thing for my clarity, happiness, and energy.
MLM: Love it. How do people find you?
Lon Stroschein: normal40.com and LinkedIn. That’s it. I write everything myself, post in the moment.
MLM: Love what you’re doing, Lon. This is just the beginning. Let’s do this again soon.
