Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Greg Kettner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Greg, appreciate you joining us today. We’re complete cheeseballs and so we love asking folks to share the most heartwarming moment from their career – do you have a touching moment you can share with us?

I’m a speaker who is on a mission to help 1 million people talk about mental health at work.

After a recent keynote, my friend Scott and I were having dinner, and he shared with me how important my topic of “Reach Out” when you need to regarding mental health.

Scott and I became friends several years prior; we follow each other on social media and have been guests on each other’s podcasts.

I asked him as I was curious what stood about about my talk versus my other talks and social media posts.

He got quiet and then shared the following story with me.

He said, your message about reaching out when struggling with life, works and it saved my life.

Six weeks prior, he had a plan to end his life. He left work, drove to the gun shop, made a purchase, got back in his truck and was driving to his favourite fishing hole. Somewhere between the gun shop and the fishing hole, he couldn’t get the message “REACH OUT’ out of his mind.

Thankfully, he pulled his truck over and called his sister, who talked with him for 45 minutes and came and picked him up.

He told me that he is now seeing a therapist and no longer has a plan to end his life.

I sat there with tears in my eyes and thanked him for sharing.

Sharing a simple yet powerful message that when we reach out, we can save lives, whether it’s ours or someone we know.

This story and many others of people who have changed their minds about suicide have inspired me to help others to reach out, share and have better lives.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a dedicated advocate for workplace well-being and mental health. My journey into this industry began over a decade ago when I witnessed firsthand the profound impact that a positive work environment can have on individuals and organizations. Early in my career, I worked in corporate settings and observed how stress and burnout affected employee morale and productivity. This experience ignited my passion for creating healthier workplaces where employees can thrive.

My unique approach combines evidence-based strategies with practical solutions, empowering organizations to enhance productivity, foster connection, reduce stress, and have more meaningful mental health conversations.

As the founder of WorkHappy, I am committed to transforming workplace culture and creating 1 million mental health conversations at work.

WorkHappy provides tailored programs and workshops designed to support employee mental health, improve team dynamics, and drive organizational success.

By focusing on holistic approaches that prioritize well-being, WorkHappy equips organizations with the tools they need to thrive in today’s fast-paced world.

WorkHappy training sessions are engaging and insightful that helped many organizations achieve less stress and increased revenue while ensuring their employees have the best possible mental health. His work is rooted in the belief that happier employees lead to more productive teams and a healthier bottom line.

Join Greg and WorkHappy in the mission to create workplaces where everyone can flourish. Together, we can build a brighter future for organizations and their employees.

WorkHappy provides a range of services designed to enhance workplace culture:

Workshops and Training Programs: Interactive sessions on stress management, resilience building, and mental health awareness.

Consulting Services: tailored strategies to improve employee engagement and foster a positive work environment.

Keynote Speaker: Inspires and motivates organizations and their people to create a happy mindset and work and home by sharing personal stories of people who have overcome obstacles and life challenges to thrive in today’s work culture.

What truly sets WorkHappy apart is our commitment to a holistic approach. We don’t just focus on quick fixes; we aim to instill long-lasting change within organizations. Our programs are evidence-based, grounded in the latest research in psychology and organizational behaviour, and tailored to meet the specific needs of each client.

I am most proud of the transformational stories from our clients. Hearing how our programs have led to increased employee satisfaction, reduced turnover, and improved productivity is incredibly rewarding. I take pride in knowing that we are making a difference in people’s lives and workplaces.

I invite you to join me on this journey to create happier, healthier workplaces. Together, we can build a culture that prioritizes employee well-being and drives organizational success. If you’re ready to transform your workplace, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s work together to make a positive impact! www.gregkettner.com

Have you ever had to pivot?

Three weeks into Covid, I was finishing up a Zoom meeting with my manager. Ask I said goodbye, he mentioned that my position of Director of Memberships & Sponsorships at our local Chamber had been deleted, and I needed to come in the next day and clean out my desk.

That was it. I mentioned that I thought that was a funny joke, but he said he was serious and hung up.

I was mad. Pissed off. I wanted to write a letter to the newspaper editor and light this guy up all over social media.

With my tail between my legs I walked upstairs to my wife’s home office to let her know that we were now on one income, for who know’s how long.

She was amazing. She listened to me vent and use up all my swear words for the month.

How could one incompetent manager let someone go without warning, cause, or conversation.

My wife suggested I take the rest of the day off, I had no job, and go golfing.

Twenty six holes later, I had calmed down and agreed not to post anything for a week.

We talked alot that week about what I was going to do, and how we were going to live on one income.

She asked me what I would do if I could do anything. I knew that going back to stand-up comedy wasn’t going to do it for our marriage and income, and there weren’t many gatherings during Covid.

She knows how much I enjoy being on stage and making people laugh, so she suggested that I start my own business and help others enjoy their jobs and have happy attitudes.

We conintued to talk and plan. I had 8 months of unemployement and she was brave and kind enough to help me start WorkHappy.

I replaced my salary within 14 months, I worked on my health and my headspace and now I get to share my lessons and insights into happiness with others.

I’m on a mission to help 1 million people WorkHappy and have more mental health conversations and won’t look back.

I’m lucky I got let go.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Three things have helped me build WorkHappy.

1. Serving others. I have been in the sales world for over 26 years and sold over $12 million in products and services. I’ve worked in the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, software, and startups. I’ve had great jobs, and I’ve had sh*tty jobs. But what I have learned is when we serve others and our passion is to make the world a better place, life is much better.

2. Being authentic. I am who I am. I don’t try to pretend to be someone I’m not. I’m a regular guy who has great days; sometimes I have sh*tty days, but staying true to who I am, and being real has allowed me to serve others. People can see through social media and find the real you.

3. Hard work. Lots of hard work, headaches, trying new things, tears, finding mentors, and failing have all led to success. Nothing worth having comes easy. Every day I do my best to serve others, work hard, and make my circle of influence better.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gregkettner.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregkettner/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gregkettner
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkettner/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/gregkettner

Image Credits
@toddduncanphotography