About Jackie Kelm

Jackie Kelm

“The Joy Engineer”

From Mechanical Engineer to “Joy Engineer”

I began my career as a mechanical engineer at General Motors, but my lifelong passion was figuring out how I could become personally happier. I struggled with many issues with fancy therapeutic names, and spent every waking minute outside of work trying to figure myself out.

I discovered there was actually a Field devoted to helping people and organizations change called Organization Development (OD), so I went back for my MBA and specialized in that. I became a management consultant for several years for a large firm.

Along the way I discovered Appreciative Inquiry, an OD approach that focuses on collective strengths and desires. I was able to use it in my consulting role and was shocked at how much more effective it was than traditional analytical approaches.

I began experimenting with it in my personal life and was able to get off all medications and achieve a level of happiness I never thought possible for me. I wrote my first book in 2005 titled, Appreciative Living: the Principles of Appreciative Inquiry and Personal Life, and Appreciative Living was born.

Since then, I’ve spent more than two decades developing, applying, and refining Appreciative Living through books, coaching, classes, leadership development programs, and work with individuals and organizations.

The nickname “The Joy Engineer” turned out to be a pretty good description of what I do. I never really stopped being an engineer, I just changed what I was engineering.

The Evolution of Appreciative Living

Appreciative Living began as a way to bring the principles of Appreciative Inquiry into everyday life. Over the years, it has evolved into a philosophy and integrated framework for personal transformation focused on creating greater joy and well-being.

At the heart of the work is an Appreciative Mindset, a way of thinking that focuses on what’s good and what’s wanted.

I also developed the Rapid Change Process, a four-step process with an app Appreciative Living for created what’s wanted in any area of life.

And most recently, that work has led to Habit Breaker™

My Latest Work: Habit Breaker™

Over years of working with change, I became increasingly interested in something many of us struggle with: Knowing we want to stop doing something and yet continuing to feel compelled to do it.

That exploration eventually led me to develop Habit Breaker, a standalone methodology for helping people rapidly stop or regain control over unwanted habits by changing the beliefs attached to them.

Habit Breaker grew out of Appreciative Living and can be used on its own or within the Rapid Change Process. My third book, coming in January 2027, Will introduce this work to a wider audience.

Books by Jackie Kelm

Habit Breaker from Appreciative Living

(Working title, subtitle to be determined)

Coming January 2027, Jackie’s third book introducing the Habit Breaker™ methodology for stopping or gaining control over unwanted thought, feeling, or behavior habits.

Organizations That Have Used Appreciative Living

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Education

• MBA, Organization Behavior Concentration, Case Western Reserve University
• BS Mechanical Engineering, Kettering Institute of Technology

Selected Professional Certifications

• ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC)
• Board Certified Coach (BCC)
• HeartMath Certified Coach
• TRACOM Certified SOCIAL STYLE & Versatility Instructor

Selected Previous Experience

• Manager, Leadership & Organization Change Group, Ernst & Young LLP
• Bearing Application Engineer, The Timken Company
• Senior HVAC Development Engineer, General Motors

SELECTED MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS

Selected Media

Jackie has appeared as a guest expert on SiriusXM radio, KSFR Santa Fe public radio, Guideposts magazine, and other radio, television, and print outlets.

Selected Publications

Appreciative Living Rapid Change: The Next Generation of Appreciative Inquiry,” AI Practitioner, 2025

From Mechanical Engineer to Joy Engineer: A deep dive into Erickson-trained coach, Jackie Kelm’s, groundbreaking Habit Breaker Technique. 2026

Appreciative Living: The Principles of Appreciative Inquiry in Personal Life.

The Joy of Appreciative Living: Your 28-Day Plan to Greater Happiness Using the Principles of Appreciative Inquiry.

Contributor to Appreciative Inquiry: Change at the Speed of Imagination

Contributor to Lessons From the Field: Applying Appreciative Inquiry.

CONTACT JACKIE

Interested in working with Jackie?

For speaking, interviews, coaching, training, consulting, or other inquiries, please get in touch.

(704) 799-0975

[email protected]