Contributors

Sarah Ratekin Blogger

I have taken the career path less traveled, and that breadth and depth of experience fuel my unwavering drive for excellence (both my own and others), authentic empathy, and an insatiable curiosity that allows me to see the world through an innovative and creative lens.

About fifteen years ago, I discovered my superpower. I could take a complicated subject and translate it into something that my audience could understand, connect with, and actually use to its fullest. New software, esoteric academic concepts, and complicated governmental business processes became straightforward and, dare I say it, EASY for my teams. I know! It sounds more like the plot of a comic book than real life!

And so when the time came to start my own company, I drew heavily on this skill, because many organizations are wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars on well-intended employee engagement/workplace experience programs that just don't have the ROI you need to justify the expense! That's inefficient financially, and heart-breakingly awful for the people who trust you to lead them.

A radical positivity activist, I'm also the founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Happiness Is Courage, where I translate the science and the data behind what really fuels job satisfaction, employee engagement, and healthy company cultures into programs your people will actually use. I embrace cognitive well-being, happiness, and gratitude as avenues to greater personal and professional Resilience and organizational performance.

I've spoken at conferences across North America, facilitated numerous workshops on workplace excellence, and worked with groups from 1 to 6000+ to discover and embrace their personal strengths, ambitions, and relationship goals.

A Navy veteran, I also hold a Doctor of Business Administration and focus my research on how intentional gratitude impacts organizational performance. I also received a Masters Degree in Management and Leadership and an MBA. I've had the opportunity to be a guest on dozens of podcasts speaking on the power of happiness in the workplace and in life, and I'm the author of "Silver Threads: Living a Life of Gratitude" and the companion Silver Threads positivity and gratitude journal.

My spouse Kris, a certified Laughter Yoga leader himself, and I also travel extensively sharing the joy and power of laughter and positivity with community organizations, non-profits, and corporations in a wide variety of industries. The work you all do is very different, but the people who are making it happen? They're all very, very human, and I want to help you connect their passions to your purpose. Once you do that, the sky's the limit!

In our downtime, we enjoy exploring the outdoors (usually by kayak), dancing, and general merry adventuring! We currently live in Indiana with a truly astounding collection of garden gnomes who keep watch over my ever-expanding container gardens.

Books Authored By Sarah Ratekin

Glimmers and Other Poems of Hope and Gratitude

By Dr. Sarah Klein Ratekin

Silver Threads Gratitude Journal

By Sarah Ratekin

Silver Threads: Living a Life of Gratitude

By Sarah Ratekin

Recent Content

Negative Employee Experience Is Eclipsing The Good Work Your Company May Be Doing

Hey there, fellow wo…

Hey there, fellow workplace wanderers! Let's talk about something that's been lurking in the shadows of our corporate realms: negative employee experience. Yep, you heard that right. It's like a solar eclipse, overshadowing all the good stuff your company is trying to achieve. Now, before we dive in, let's address the elephant in the room: sinking happiness levels, especially among (but not limited to) younger professionals. Picture this: you're scrolling through the latest Gallup World Happiness Report, and what do you see? North America, where many of us call home and where I primarily con…

Sarah Ratekin March 28, 2024

From Paradox to Possibility: Redefining Success for Women in the Workplace

This blog was inspir…

This blog was inspired by two things. 1. It's Women's History Month, and 2. we recently watched the Barbie movie with that intensely relatable monologue by America Ferrera. If it's not already seared in your psyche, she starts with this line: "It is literally impossible to be a woman." Oof. Yeah. Preach it, sister. I think every woman I know has been caught in the tightrope walk of needing to "make your presence felt" while at the same time being nudged to "play it down a bit" in our work or social circles, and I know similar impossile pressures are put on our gender-rebel colleagues as we…

Sarah Ratekin March 10, 2024

Dancing Through Change: How Companies Can Move Beyond Resistance to Embrace Transformation

Ah, the paradox of o…

Ah, the paradox of organizational change: companies clamoring for innovation and improvement while simultaneously resisting the very changes that could lead to their evolution. It's a tale as old as time, or at least as old as the corporate world itself. Why does this happen, and more importantly, how can a hope-focused approach help navigate these choppy waters? Let's talk about that! The Conundrum of Change Resistance Imagine you're at a party. Everyone's having a good time, the music's playing, people are dancing, and then someone decides to change the music. Suddenly, there's a pause—a …

Sarah Ratekin February 19, 2024

Save Money, Look Cool: 3 Tools for the Savvy Entrepreneur

As someone always on…

As someone always on the lookout for smarter, slicker ways to hit my business targets, I've seen my fair share of 'revolutionary solutions' being peddled my way. Sound familiar? It's like every day a new gadget or gizmo is promising to be the panacea for all our entrepreneurial woes. Amidst this cacophony of pitches, I've stumbled upon three stellar tools that genuinely deserve a spot in the modern entrepreneur's arsenal. Think of them as the Swiss Army knife of the business world—versatile, indispensable, and incredibly budget-friendly. These aren't just tools; they're your allies in carv…

Sarah Ratekin February 16, 2024

Micro-dosing Appreciation- It’s Not Just For Mushrooms!

Kudos Deficiency Syn…

Kudos Deficiency Syndrome (KDS) is a term I've completely invented to describe a common workplace issue characterized by a lack of recognition and appreciation for employees' contributions. This syndrome leads to disengagement, reduced productivity, increased turnover, and a negative work culture. Unfortunately, KDS is becoming ever more widespread. Only about 15% of people say they express appreciation at work, and 35% say their managers have never thanked them! KDS is one of the many types of Organizational Inflammation wreaking havoc on our companies and the people in them. Enter Apprec…

Sarah Ratekin January 25, 2024