In a world that often feels out of control, Susan Hall has built something truly extraordinary: a real-world playbook for feeling more positive, calm and strong every day. With over 25 years as a performance coach and corporate leadership consultant, Susan has helped thousands of people across 5 continents learn tools to thrive – in their professions and lives.
“Throughout my career, I’ve focused on understanding what people really need, spotting the patterns that hold them back, and helping them make small shifts that lead to big results,” she says.
Decide Happy brings together the most effective tools from her work in adult learning and human performance, along with her own “battle-tested” life lessons.
Her approach is simple but powerful. “I’m not asking people to overhaul their lives,” Susan says. “I help them take small, meaningful actions that lead to a happier, more fulfilling life—one choice at a time.”
Out of Difficulties, Grow Miracles
Susan’s real story didn’t begin with branding or business plans. It began with a year that brought her to her knees.
Within one year, she was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer while facing a cascade of other life-altering challenges. “It was the most painful year of my life, and tested every emotional muscle I had,” she shares. “Happiness is a constant decision. We can’t control every situation, and we certainly can’t control other people. But we can always control how we respond.”
That year forced Susan to get laser focused on the small actions that make a difference. “I realized that happiness isn’t just a mindset. It’s a set of learnable habits, practical tools, and daily decisions.”
That realization sparked the foundation for Decide Happy—created to help people navigate real life with more resilience, strength, meaning, and joy.
The Two-Minute Shift
Susan shares what she calls, The Two-Minute Shift—simple actions that take less than two minutes but have the power to reset your mood, your mindset, and your day.
“For example,” she says. “Do you ever open your eyes in the morning and instantly feel the weight of the day rush in before you’re even out of bed?” she asks. “Instead of stacking up all the stressful things ahead of you, try this quick reset.”
While you’re still in bed:
- Decide. What kind of day do you want to have? It all starts with a choice. “Today is going to be a good day.” “No matter what happens, I’m going to find the grace in the day.”
- Take three deep breaths and name three things you’re grateful for. Really savor these things. Make the first one, “Thank you for this day.” You have the privilege of opening your eyes to a shiny new day. Not everyone is so lucky.
- Set your intentions. Ask yourself: How do you want to be today? Courageous? Calm? Playful? Present? Anticipating how you want to be this day makes it easier to show up that way.
In less than 2 minutes you have taken action to set your day up for success.
Real Tools for Real People
What sets Decide Happy apart?
Every tool Susan shares is grounded in real-world use—from managing burnout and caregiving to leading teams and navigating life’s hardest challenges.
Her workshops are known for being refreshingly real—part inspiration, part application. “We don’t need more advice or information,” she says. “We are drowning in information. What we need are simple tools we can actually use on a stressful Tuesday afternoon.”
Decide Happy offers 20 tools to help reduce stress and increase joy. Her upcoming follow-up, Real Life Extraordinary (coming Fall 2025), includes 23 practices to stop second-guessing yourself, become braver, and step up into the extraordinary life you are meant to live.
As Susan says: “You don’t need a life overhaul to feel better. You just need the right tools to meet real life with more clarity, calm, and joy.”
A Voice for the Room That’s Heard It All
What makes Susan’s work resonate so deeply in corporate and high-performance environments? She speaks as someone who’s been there. She doesn’t preach, she guides – with warmth, humor, relatable, personal stories and “battle-tested” tools that work in real life.
- At a recent keynote, one attendee—a veteran scientist—admitted he usually tunes out these kinds of talks. But after hearing Susan, he said he felt “seen, understood, and surprisingly hopeful.”
- Another called it “a masterclass in leadership without burnout.”
- One more described her message as the “secret sauce”—heartfelt stories, practical tools, real-life application right there in the session.
The Happiness Pivot: From Reactive to Intentional
Decide Happy isn’t about toxic positivity. It’s about regaining clarity, control, and confidence at any moment.
And that’s exactly what overwhelmed directors, HR managers, and entrepreneurs are craving. “You don’t have to change your whole life to change how you feel in it.”
Ready to Shift?
Whether you’re planning a leadership summit, refreshing your wellness program, or simply trying to make it through Monday with more grace than grit, Susan Hall has something for you.
Happiness is a never ending decision and Susan is on a mission to share practical skills to help you make that choice each and every day.
Susan Hall is a professional performance coach, keynote speaker, and Bestselling author of Decide Happy: A Practical Guide for Less Stress & More Joy. She helps busy people thrive with real-world tools for less stress, more joy. For information on speaking engagements and to sign up to receive “A Little Happy in Your Inbox” once a month,check out www.decidehappy.com.
