In this episode of The Sovereign Soul Podcast, Tina sits down with Jon Sheldon, a leadership, growth, and small unit coach, for a grounded conversation about what real leadership looks like when the pressure is high and the stakes are personal.

Jon shares how his path from Marine infantry squad leader to Fortune 500 sales executive shaped the way he coaches leaders, founders, and high-performers today. Together, they unpack the difference between motivation and leadership, why so many successful people lose themselves while building something big, and how radical honesty can become one of the most powerful tools for growth.

This conversation is full of practical wisdom for anyone navigating leadership, business, identity, and the tension between ambition and presence.

In this episode, we explore:

• What Jon means by Stoic leadership and why true leadership is often quiet
• Why high performers need radical honesty more than more strategy
• The trap of “work-life balance” and Jon’s reframe: counterbalance
• How identity, purpose, and vision shape better decisions
• Why many business owners chase freedom and end up more trapped
• The role of repetition, practice, and environment in personal growth
• How social media pulls people out of reality and away from alignment
• Jon’s decision-making framework for moving fast without losing clarity: Clarity → Condition → Cost → Align → Act → Adapt

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is not about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about serving the mission and the people.
• Balance is not a fixed state. It’s a living practice of micro-adjustments.
• The smallest repeated choices shape your life faster than the big dramatic decisions.
• Growth gets easier when your actions align with who you actually are.

CONNECT WITH JON SHELDON

Website: https://www.Belleauwood.coach

Instagram: @belleauwood_coaching

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-sheldon-82760a51/

CONNECT WITH TINA:

Website: https://thesovereignsoul.co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamtinaleann

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtinaleann/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinaleannerdmann/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@i.am.tina.leann

✨ If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who needs to hear this message!