Todd Patkin is a successful entrepreneur turned happiness advocate whose life story took a sharp turn after selling his family business. A Tufts University graduate, Todd spent nearly two decades building that business before it was acquired by Advanced Auto Parts. With his time and energy newly freed, he turned toward philanthropy and mental health advocacy—particularly drawing from his personal battles with depression and anxiety. He went on to write Finding Happiness: One Man’s Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and Finally Let the Sunshine In, as well as develop a 12-week happiness program that blends lived experience with psychological insights.
From an early age, Todd had a drive to help people, but his own journey wasn’t easy. He experienced two major breakdowns that left him feeling hopeless and suicidal. Those painful chapters gave him a deep empathy for others struggling with mental health. After running the Boston Marathon to “stay busy” post-sale, he began authoring books and programs to share what helped him find peace—including plenty of humorous, humbling stories that highlight his core message: we’re all human, and we all make mistakes.
Todd’s 12-week program begins with one simple but powerful principle: exercise. It’s the fastest way to change your brain chemistry and spark motivation. But beyond that, his program walks people through the work of reprogramming their inner dialogue, identifying their strengths, setting boundaries with toxic people, and finding joy through gratitude, community, and service. As Todd reminds us, “The happiest people are those that help others”—and that happiness, no matter your starting point, is something you can actively build.
The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway
“I always tell people who are feeling awful to go to the gym. It's the quickest way to feel better. Go to the gym and feel stronger and more powerful, but start off easy so you don't get turned off.
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