Join Meeting: The True Stories of the Normal 40

I never know who I’m going to meet every time I hit “Join Meeting.” But the stories are always familiar. Leaders, doers, and elite performers—outwardly successful, but quietly asking, Is this it for me? They’ve spent decades solving problems, driving results, and building lives others admire. But now they feel the pull toward something more—a version of their life that feels authentic, fulfilling, and alive.

These are their stories.

Mark’s Journey: Turning Hesitation into Action

Mark Nixon’s journey is one of courage—of stepping out of the shadows of indecision and transforming hesitation into action. On February 21, 2023, Mark, a professional with years of experience advising top executives, realized something wasn’t right. Despite his success, he felt stuck. “I knew there was more I could do,” Mark shared. “But I was waiting—waiting for clarity, for the right moment, for permission.”

Raised in a strong family, Mark learned the value of grit and focus early in life. Those lessons helped him thrive in his career, but they also made him cautious. He knew how to endure, how to push through, but when it came to taking a leap into something unknown, the hesitation lingered.

Everything shifted when Mark revisited one of his lifelong passions: writing. A heartfelt tribute he penned for family members reminded him of his natural talent for storytelling—a skill he’d largely set aside during his career. It was the spark he needed. “Writing that piece lit something inside me,” Mark reflected. “It wasn’t just about the words; it was about the realization that I could use my voice to make an impact.”

Mark made a decision: he would stop waiting and start building. Over the next year, he crafted a vision for what he wanted to do next. By 2025, that vision became GhostMic Branding & Wordsmithery, LLC—a ghostwriting and branding service designed to amplify the voices of inventive leaders.

His niche? Healthcare. Mark’s extensive experience in the field gives him a unique ability to craft short-form, high-impact content for time-strapped leaders. His mission is clear: “I’ll write for those who know their message matters but don’t have the time to bring it to life. My goal is to ensure their ideas resonate and create the impact they’re meant to have.”

This isn’t just a side hustle for Mark—it’s a deliberate, courageous move toward something deeply aligned with his talents and passions. He’s creating systems, building a game plan, and showing up every day with purpose. “I realized I didn’t need to burn my life down to make this happen,” Mark said. “I just needed to take the first step—and then the next one.”

Mark’s journey reminds us that the hardest part of any transformation is the decision to begin. Once he conquered indecision, he found clarity, purpose, and a way forward that reflects who he truly is.

This is Mark's Normal 40 Story.

What’s Your Story?

If you feel the pull to write a new chapter in your life, now is the time. Maybe it starts with identifying what’s next, finding your courage, or creating a plan to get there.

If you need a guide, my book The Trade is your next step. You can also schedule a ramble, join The Insider community, or get on the waitlist for Vintage 5.

Start here: https://linktr.ee/lon.stroschein