Meet Mike Veny

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mike Veny. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mike below.

Hi Mike, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

When I was younger, I was told to pursue my passion. “If you do what you love, you will never have to work a day in your life,” I was told multiple times. Reading Deepak Chopra’s book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success taught me that finding our purpose has less to do with passion and more to do with using our natural gifts.

So, what were my talents?

After weeks of reflection, I realized my talents are public speaking, drumming, and mental illness. Let me explain:

– People often commented that my voice was highly articulate and pleasant. I do not think about it much (because it’s how I naturally talk), but it is a talent.

– I became a professional drummer in high school. To make money as a musician requires talent.

– I’ve suffered from mental illness (depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and emotional dysregulation) for my entire life, so I decided that this was one of my talents as well.

A mentor once told me that when you discover your talents, you get to decide whether or not you become a servant to those talents. I decided to become a servant to mine. I invested time, money, and energy into improving them.

Through this process, I found a way to combine them. I became a mental health speaker who used drumming in his presentations, which led me to a new sense of purpose. Nowadays, I’m the CEO of Mike Veny, Inc. Our mission is to support people in discovering the gift of emotional wellness through unique learning experiences designed to empower their personal and professional growth.

And through finding my purpose, passion is the byproduct.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Mike Veny won Corporate LiveWire’s 2022, 2023 & 2024 Innovation & Excellence Awards for his work as a Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist®. He also won NAMI New York State’s 2023 Leader Of Mental Health Awareness award.

As a PM360 ELITE Award Winner, he was recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the healthcare industry for his work with patient advocacy. Determined to overcome a lifetime of severe mental health challenges, Mike’s career began as a professional drummer and evolved into becoming a change maker in the workplace wellness industry.

In addition to being a world-class keynote speaker, he’s a corporate drumming event facilitator for team building, podcast host, and the author of several books, including the best-selling book Transforming Stigma: How to Become a Mental Wellness Superhero. His expertise and life experience have been featured on ABC, NBC, and CBS News.

As a child, Mike was expelled from several schools, attempted suicide, and spent time in psychiatric hospitals for extended periods. His path to becoming a motivational speaker became evident early when he learned how to convince the staff to discharge him.

In the fifth grade, Mike was put in a special education class. Aside from getting more individualized attention from the teacher, he learned that pencil erasers make great sounds when tapped on a desk. He had no idea that drumming would become his path to mental wellness.

As an adult, Mike dedicated many years to facilitating drum workshops for children with disabilities. The success of this project was profound, leading him to expand his drumming program to include adults in recovery and eventually to team building in organizations. The transformative power of his drumming workshops is a testament to the impact of his work.

Mike’s approach to learning is unique, designed to go beyond simply educating an audience to providing them with actionable steps they can take to change their lives and work environments. His presentations, delivered to Fortune 500 companies, healthcare providers, and educators, are not just informative, but engaging and Exciting. His reputation as a dynamic speaker provides confidence and peace of mind for meeting planners everywhere.

Mike Veny, Inc. is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Mike Veny, Inc. complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard, recognized internationally as a standard of excellence in instructional practices. As a result of this accreditation, Mike Veny, Inc. is accredited to issue the IACET CEU.

Mike Veny, Inc. is not just accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), but also recognized by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. Additionally, they are a Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) Accredited Provider. This comprehensive recognition by multiple organizations ensures that their clients receive the best and most comprehensive service.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. When you wake up in the morning, ask yourself aloud, “How can I help?” and “How can I serve?”. Do this daily.

2. Make a list of your talents and keep that list with you at all times.

3. Once you discover your talents, decide whether you will become a servant to those talents.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra. Everything I learned about purpose came from that book.

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