I Didn't Expect to Live This Long... Now What? When Life Gives You an Encore, What Will You Do With It?

MOM — Moment of Mortality
A Reflection for Radio and Transformation The death of Senator Lindsey Graham is a vivid reminder of what the Bible expresses so simply:

"You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." — James 4:14 By all public accounts, Senator Graham had returned from Ukraine, was planning to appear on television the next morning, had spoken with President Trump only hours before, and reportedly mentioned only that he was 'tired.' Within hours, he had died from what preliminary reports identify as an aortic dissection. That is what I have called a MOM — Moment of Mortality. The idea reaches far beyond a single event. MOM is a memorable acronym that could become a recurring feature. Almost every week there is some public event that reminds us how fragile life is—not to frighten people, but to awaken them. Farrah Fawcett is another powerful illustration. Millions remember the famous poster that hung on bedroom walls in the 1970s. She represented youth, beauty, fame, and success. Yet she died in 2009 at only sixty-two after a long battle with cancer. Her story reminds us that wealth, beauty, popularity, and influence cannot exempt anyone from mortality. A Powerful Contrast One died suddenly, with almost no warning. One died after a long struggle. Both arrived at the same destination. Neither could postpone the appointment. The Question We All Must Face Knowing that death is certain, how then shall we live? That is where transformation becomes so valuable. A Moment of Mortality is not primarily about death. It is about life. Questions Worth Asking Am I becoming the person I ought to become? Have I said what needs to be said? Have I forgiven those I need to forgive? Am I investing in people who will outlive me? If tonight were my last night, would I be at peace with the life I have lived? These are not morbid questions. They are deeply life-giving questions. Closing Thoughts A Moment of Mortality is God's invitation to a Moment of Clarity. Every Moment of Mortality is really an invitation to a Moment of Priority. MOM — Moment of Mortality has the potential to become a signature recurring radio feature. It is simple, memorable, emotionally engaging, and naturally opens the door to conversations about purpose, transformation, hope, faith, and living well before dying well.

High, Hard, and Inside
Sometimes the Pitch That Shakes You Up Is the One That Changes Your Life

There are certain phrases from sports that stay with us long after the game is over. One of those phrases is "high, hard, and inside." Baseball fans know exactly what it means. It is the pitch that comes fast. It comes close. It gets your attention. It makes you step back. And sometimes it changes everything. In this episode of The Transformation Zone, I share a baseball story that begins with a treasured baseball, moves through memories of growing up as a Chicago Cubs fan, includes an unexpected connection to Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal, and eventually arrives at a powerful lesson about life itself. Because sometimes the things that transform us most are not the things we planned. Sometimes transformation arrives disguised as difficulty. Sometimes it arrives disguised as disappointment. Sometimes it arrives as a pitch that comes high, hard, and inside. A Baseball Story That Became a Life Lesson The program begins with family stories and baseball memories. There is the family legend that I attended my first Chicago Cubs game when I was only two months old. There are memories of growing up as a loyal Cubs fan through years when winning seemed almost impossible. There is also a remarkable connection to baseball great Juan Marichal, whom I once saw pitch as a teenager in the minor leagues before he became one of the game's legendary stars. What begins as a nostalgic baseball story gradually becomes something much more important. It becomes a story about life. Because baseball has often been described as a game that resembles life itself. It requires patience. It requires resilience. It requires strategy. And perhaps most importantly, it requires learning how to respond when unexpected pitches come your way. The Pitch Nobody Wants In baseball, a high, hard, inside pitch was often used to back a batter away from the plate. The purpose was not necessarily to hit the batter. The purpose was to shake them up. To make them uncomfortable. To remind them that they were not entirely in control. Life has a way of doing the same thing. Unexpected setbacks. Disappointments. Failures. Criticism. Health problems. Financial challenges. Broken relationships. Suddenly we find ourselves ducking for cover as something comes high, hard, and inside. None of us volunteers for those moments. Yet many of us discover that they become the very experiences that shape us. When Transformation Comes Through Difficulty One of the most thoughtful observations in this episode is the suggestion that transformation and traumatization are sometimes connected. Not because pain is good. Not because hardship should be celebrated. But because some of life's most important lessons emerge from experiences we never would have chosen. Many people can point to a difficult season and say: "I didn't want that experience." "I would never have chosen it." "But it changed me." Sometimes the setback becomes the setup. Sometimes the wound becomes the wisdom. Sometimes the pitch that nearly knocked us down becomes the moment that ultimately made us stronger. That is one of the central ideas explored in this conversation. Transformation is not always comfortable. In fact, it often begins with disruption. Humility, Growth, and a Better Perspective The program also explores another reality. Occasionally people need a wake-up call. Not a cruel one. Not a destructive one. But a reminder that there is still more to learn. A reminder that talent alone is not enough. A reminder that humility remains one of the most valuable qualities anyone can possess. Many successful people can look back and identify a moment when life gave them a gentle—or not-so-gentle—course correction. A high, hard, inside pitch. Something that caused them to step back, rethink their assumptions, and grow. The result was not defeat. The result was maturity. A Brief Look Into the Transformation Zone The episode concludes with a short introduction to a new podcast initiative connected to the ideas explored in Joe Pine's work on the Transformation Economy. The upcoming series, You Are the Transformation, is built around a simple but powerful concept: If we are living in a world of constant change, perhaps the most important transformation is the one that happens within us. The focus is not merely on changing circumstances. It is about becoming the kind of person who can thrive amid change and help others do the same. That larger theme serves as a fitting backdrop to the baseball lesson at the center of this program. Because transformation is not something that happens only to organizations, economies, or industries. It happens to people. It happens to us. Things to Remember • Life occasionally throws pitches that are high, hard, and inside. • Unexpected challenges often become catalysts for growth. • Transformation frequently emerges from experiences we would not have chosen. • Humility is often learned through adversity. • The moments that shake us can also strengthen us. Things to Share • Share a story about a difficult experience that ultimately helped you grow. • Discuss the idea that transformation and hardship are sometimes connected. • Encourage others who may currently be facing a "high, hard, and inside" season. • Share the reminder that setbacks are not always the end of the story. Things to Take Action On • Identify a difficult experience that taught you an important lesson. • Ask yourself what current challenge may be trying to teach you. • Look for growth opportunities hidden inside present difficulties. • Encourage someone who is dealing with a setback. • Decide to face life's next challenge with courage rather than fear. A Transformation Zone Challenge The next time life throws you a pitch that comes high, hard, and inside, don't assume the game is over. Take a breath. Step back into the batter's box. Look carefully at what the experience might be teaching you. The pitch may have surprised you. It may even have knocked you down. But it does not have to defeat you. In fact, it may become one of the defining moments of your life. Because some of the greatest transformations begin exactly where we least expect them—when life throws us a pitch that is high, hard, and inside. And when that happens, the challenge is not simply to survive it. The challenge is to learn from it, grow through it, and eventually use it to help someone else who finds themselves facing the same pitch. That's the Transformation Zone. And that may be where your next breakthrough begins. And if you'd like to see this presentation on a video you can go right here. https://youtu.be/WPktHSsWrLw [https://youtu.be/WPktHSsWrLw]

It's going to be a bad weekend for our doggies so Freedom from Fear: Why Everybody Needs a Thunder Jacket

As millions of Americans celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, family gatherings, and patriotic festivities, broadcaster and transformation coach Stan Hustad invites listeners to see the holiday through an entirely different lens. In this warm and engaging episode of The Transformation Zone, a simple story about a frightened rescue dog becomes an unforgettable metaphor for the emotional and spiritual storms that every person eventually faces. The result is an episode that begins with laughter, moves toward reflection, and concludes with genuine hope. A Story Every Pet Owner Understands Stan begins with an observation familiar to almost every dog owner. While people eagerly anticipate fireworks, many dogs experience them as terrifying explosions. His own beloved rescue dog, Jackson, dreaded every Fourth of July until the family discovered a simple solution—a ThunderShirt (or 'thunder jacket'), a comforting wrap that gently calms anxious animals during storms and fireworks. The image is both humorous and touching. Listeners can almost picture Jackson waiting by the hallway where his thunder jacket hung, knowing comfort was only moments away. It is an entertaining story, but it is also preparing listeners for something much more significant. The Thunder Jacket We All Need The conversation then turns inward. Stan asks a wonderfully simple question: What is your thunder jacket? When life becomes frightening... When relationships become uncertain... When careers are shaken... When health changes unexpectedly... Where do you go for comfort? Who wraps around your life with reassurance? What beliefs, relationships, habits, or faith keep you steady when everything around you feels like fireworks? Rather than offering easy answers, Stan encourages listeners to identify those sources of genuine security before life's storms arrive. A Different Kind of Freedom Because the program airs during Independence Day weekend, the discussion naturally expands beyond fireworks. Freedom, Stan suggests, is much more than political liberty. Real freedom includes freedom from fear. Freedom to love. Freedom to serve. Freedom to live fully alive rather than constantly reacting to anxiety and uncertainty. It is a refreshing reminder that external celebrations are at their best when they awaken something deeper inside us. Lighting Up Our Senses One of the program's most memorable moments comes when Stan recalls a lyric from John Denver: "You light up my senses like a storm in the desert." Instead of simply admiring the lyric, he transforms it into a personal prayer. As we grow older, we often lose some of our physical senses. Perhaps, however, we can gain something even greater. Greater sensitivity. Greater awareness. Greater compassion. Greater attentiveness to people rather than projects. Greater appreciation for relationships instead of simply pursuing performance. It becomes a beautiful prayer that God would 'light up our senses' so we notice the people around us more deeply than ever before. Transformation Begins with Awareness Like many episodes of The Transformation Zone, this one reminds us that transformation rarely begins with dramatic events. It begins by noticing. Noticing our fears. Noticing our need for comfort. Noticing the people who may be quietly struggling beside us. Noticing opportunities to become someone else's 'thunder jacket.' That may be the greatest transformation of all. Things to Remember • Every person eventually experiences emotional and spiritual storms. • Comfort is not weakness—it is one of life's deepest necessities. • Freedom includes freedom from fear as well as freedom to serve. • Sensitivity is a strength that often grows with wisdom and experience. • Sometimes the smallest stories carry the biggest lessons. Things to Share • Share this episode with every pet owner preparing for fireworks weekend. • Talk with family members about what has become their own 'thunder jacket' during difficult seasons. • Encourage someone who may be quietly carrying anxiety or uncertainty. • Remember that simple illustrations often open the door to profound conversations. Things to Take Action On • Identify the people, practices, and beliefs that steady your life when storms come. • Become a source of calm for someone facing uncertainty this week. • Spend a few quiet moments asking God to 'light up your senses' so you become more aware of the needs around you. • As you celebrate freedom, consider how you can help someone else experience greater peace. A Closing Thought Fireworks are designed to light up the sky. This episode reminds us that perhaps our greatest calling is to light up someone's life. Whether through encouragement, compassion, wisdom, or simply being present, we all have the opportunity to become a kind of thunder jacket for another person—a reassuring presence in the middle of life's unexpected storms. As Stan Hustad often reminds us, transformation is not merely about changing circumstances. It is about becoming the kind of person who helps others navigate theirs. If the fireworks in your life—whether joyful celebrations or unexpected explosions—have left you searching for direction, encouragement, or a fresh perspective, Stan would be delighted to help. Through decades of experience in broadcasting, coaching, leadership, and personal transformation, he has walked alongside individuals and organizations facing both opportunity and adversity. Reach out, start the conversation, and discover how today's challenges can become tomorrow's transformation. After all, the very best fireworks are the ones that illuminate lives, not just the night sky. And if any of you would like to see the radio program on the video connection just click right here https://youtu.be/YnuZyEJC_uQ [https://youtu.be/YnuZyEJC_uQ]

The Birds and Snakes Society What Jesus Taught Every Entrepreneur About Wisdom, Courage, and Character

What if one of Jesus' most practical business lessons had nothing to do with profits, marketing, or management—but everything to do with birds and snakes? That unusual question launches one of the newest episodes of the Jesus Entrepreneur Collective, where broadcaster and entrepreneur Stan Hustad returns from a brief broadcasting sabbatical with a fresh challenge for anyone seeking to build a meaningful life and business in today's rapidly changing world. At first glance, "The Birds and Snakes Society" sounds mysterious—even a little unsettling. That is exactly the point. Drawing from one of Jesus' most memorable sayings, Stan explores the surprising command to be "wise as serpents and gentle as doves." Rather than treating those words as simply a religious phrase, he invites listeners to wrestle with what they might mean for entrepreneurs, leaders, creators, business owners, and anyone trying to navigate an increasingly complex world. Along the way, listeners travel with Stan from the deserts of Arizona to the walking trails of North Carolina, where encounters with birds and the ever-present warnings about rattlesnakes and copperheads become vivid illustrations of the tension every entrepreneur must learn to manage. Gentleness without wisdom can become naïve. Wisdom without gentleness can become manipulative. Jesus calls His followers to something far more difficult—and infinitely more powerful. Throughout the conversation, Stan reminds listeners that the Jesus Entrepreneur Collective is not simply another organization asking for support. Instead, it is an invitation to build businesses that create genuine value, solve real problems, provide for families, and become living demonstrations of faith expressed through excellence in the marketplace. The program also places this challenge within today's extraordinary historical moment. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary while artificial intelligence, technological innovation, and global economic transformation reshape nearly every profession, Stan argues that entrepreneurs need more than better business techniques. They need transformed character. The discussion also highlights the remarkable example of Lydia—the prosperous merchant described in the New Testament as the first European Christian. Her story reminds listeners that entrepreneurship, leadership, and faithful discipleship have always belonged together, and that women as well as men have shaped the history of Christian enterprise from the very beginning. Perhaps the most memorable image in the program is Stan's invitation to imagine Jesus Himself as an entrepreneur in today's marketplace—not changing His character, but expressing it through wisdom, excellence, integrity, creativity, confidence, and servant leadership. It is a refreshing reminder that following Jesus was never intended to separate faith from work. Instead, faith should transform the way we work. The Birds and Snakes Society may sound like an unusual title. But behind it lies a timeless challenge: Can we become people who are both compassionate and courageous...both peaceful and perceptive...both kind and remarkably wise? In a world that often rewards extremes, Jesus offers something better. He calls us to live in the creative tension between grace and wisdom. Things to Remember: • Combine gentleness with wisdom. • Character matters as much as competence. • Spiritual discernment belongs in the marketplace. • Lydia reminds us entrepreneurship has always had a place in God's story. • Trust is a lasting competitive advantage. Things to Share: • Discuss what Jesus meant by being wise as serpents and gentle as doves. • Share the idea that faith and business strengthen one another. • Encourage entrepreneurs to see their work as a calling. • Help others grow both character and competence. Things to Think About and Act Upon: • Which side comes more naturally—grace or wisdom? • What practical step can you take this week? • Read The Jesus Entrepreneur and apply its principles. • Consider becoming a Founding Friend of the Jesus Entrepreneur Collective. A Final Word: The future belongs to those who can reflect God's heart while navigating today's marketplace with wisdom. The world needs more Jesus entrepreneurs—wise as serpents, gentle as doves, and determined to make a lasting difference wherever God has placed them. If you would like to see the entire program on video you can try this link https://youtu.be/dJwb_aJcNt4 [https://youtu.be/dJwb_aJcNt4]

I Didn't Expect to Live This Long... Now What? When Life Gives You an Encore, What Will You Do With It?

There are moments in life when a single question changes everything. As I prepared for another Fourth of July weekend—and reflected on a wonderful week celebrating another birthday—I found myself asking a question I never imagined I would ask: What do you do when you didn't expect to live this long? For me, that isn't just a philosophical question. It's deeply personal. Several years ago, following a cancer diagnosis and knowing my family's history of relatively short lives, I honestly believed my time might be drawing to a close. I prepared myself emotionally and spiritually for that possibility. I hoped to finish well. More than anything, I hoped to leave behind something that would continue after I was gone. But here I am. Still here. Still healthy. Still working. Still dreaming. Still believing there is more to do. During the past week, Karen and I slipped away to the North Carolina coast for a genuine vacation—no computer, very little work, long walks along the ocean, quiet conversations, bookstores, prayer, reflection, and the simple gift of slowing down. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give ourselves isn't another achievement. It's simply enough quiet to hear our own hearts again. As I walked those beaches, I realized something. When you've been given years you never expected to have, your priorities begin to change. You stop worrying quite so much about many of the things that once consumed your attention. You begin thinking more about legacy than success. More about people than projects. More about significance than recognition. You begin asking different questions. How do I want to be remembered? Who can I still help? What unfinished work is worth completing? What kind of difference can I still make? Years ago someone told me something I've never forgotten: "If your calling can be completed in one lifetime, perhaps your vision isn't large enough." That thought has stayed with me ever since. Our greatest work may not be simply what we accomplish ourselves. It may be what we leave behind for others to carry forward. That's legacy. That's stewardship. That's hope. Another thought returned to me during this past week. Years ago I read The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker. One of its enduring ideas is that much of human behavior is shaped by our fear of death. But something interesting happens when that fear begins to lose its grip. Other fears begin to lose their power too. When you realize every day is a gift, you also realize every day is an opportunity. You become freer. Bolder. More generous. Less concerned about protecting yourself. More concerned about investing yourself. That may be one of the hidden blessings of living longer than you expected. As we celebrate Independence Day, we naturally think about freedom. Freedom as a nation. Freedom as individuals. But perhaps there is another kind of freedom worth celebrating. The freedom to become the person God intended us to be. The freedom to forgive. The freedom to serve. The freedom to encourage. The freedom to live courageously rather than cautiously. The freedom to leave this world a little better than we found it. I'm increasingly convinced that our "encore years" are not meant to be years of simply slowing down. They can become years of mentoring. Teaching. Creating. Encouraging. Building. Passing the baton. Helping others discover their own calling. Perhaps that is one of the greatest privileges of growing older. You finally understand that life was never only about you. It was always about those whose lives you touch. So if, like me, you've lived longer than you once imagined, perhaps this isn't the end of your story. Perhaps it's the beginning of your encore. And perhaps the most important contribution you will ever make still lies ahead. I certainly hope so. Because I still have people I'd like to encourage. Businesses I'd like to help. Young broadcasters I'd like to mentor. Entrepreneurs I'd like to inspire. Friends I'd like to serve. And transformations I'd like to witness. If God gives me another day, I'll try to use it well. If He gives me another year, I'll be grateful. If He gives me many more, I hope to spend them helping others become fully alive and fully free. That's becoming my definition of success. Maybe it could become yours as well. Things to Remember Every unexpected year is a gift, not an entitlement. Legacy is often more important than achievement. Some of your most meaningful work may happen during your 'encore' years. Living with purpose is one of life's greatest freedoms. Things to Share Ask someone you love, "How do you want to be remembered?" Encourage someone entering retirement to think about their next mission rather than their last career. Share hope with someone who thinks their best years are behind them. Things to Give Some Thought To If you were given ten more years, how would you use them? What unfinished work deserves your attention? Who could benefit most from your experience and wisdom? What legacy are you intentionally leaving behind? A Final Thought As we celebrate this Fourth of July, enjoy your family. Enjoy your friends. Celebrate freedom with gratitude. But somewhere during the holiday, find a quiet place. Ask yourself one simple question: "If I've been given more life than I expected... what should I do with it?" The answer to that question may become the beginning of the most meaningful chapter of your life. Until next time, may you live fully, love generously, serve faithfully—and if you've been given an encore, may you make it your finest performance yet. And if you'd like to see and hear this podcast and video you can choose it from the link right here{ https://youtu.be/zDzzaBz9OT0