Patrick Martin, Chief Happiness Officer of The Happy Project tells us how he spreads happiness and his advocacy to help people with disabilities. In this TAS (The Alpha Stories) interview he shares two strategies that is making him and his co-founder, Malen de Jesus create an impact in the society while leveraging his passion.
TAS: Tell us about you and how you integrate happiness in your life.
Patrick: I am Patrick Martin, a happy soul in his twenties who believes that life is short to be anything but happy. Traveling has been an integral part of my life, as I believe that it is the best form of learning. I always look forward to days when I can see new places, learn new cultures, and meet different people from all walks of life.
I also work as the co - Chief Happiness Officer of The Happy Project, a Philippine-based retail social enterprise that works hand in hand with differently abled individuals.
You may check out our website at www.thehappyprojectph.com to know more about what we do and learn how you can be a part of the movement.
So, what made you decide to start a company and combine happiness with it? What is your why?
Patrick: It all started when I went to a one-month vacation to New York together with my cousin, Malen de Jesus, who also happens to be my co-Chief Happiness Officer for The Happy Project. Our love for traveling gave us this idea to come up with an enterprise that can provide a solution to our OC (obsessive-compulsive)-ness when it comes to packing our small things and accessories when we travel. We both like our things organized, having a small pouch or a bag for each and every accessory that we have; may it be for our passports, phone chargers, and all small things that you think you’ll need when you travel. This, combined with our love for all things happy and positive, gave birth to our first product line – the Happy Pouches.
Happy Pouches are multi-purpose canvas pouches designed with words of happiness and positivity.
We started meeting a couple of suppliers to work on our first product line. While most of them provided good cost and superb quality, we felt that something’s lacking from our brand. We felt like in order for us to live a life of purpose, we had to do more aside from spreading happiness and positivity. That’s when we partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s National Vocational Rehabilitation Center (NVRC) to help us seek differently abled individuals who can be our officers from the production to the people that we have in our store.
How did you put it all together?
Just like with anything we want to do with our lives, nothing worth having comes easy. We started selling the products online last November 2014, with hopes that people will pick it up as our products can be considered as novelty items, and can be gifts to friends and loved ones. Orders started to come in, to a point that we got surprised with how well people are receiving the brand. It was a dream come true for a start-up social enterprise!
As we progressed in 2015, it was very timely that we met three differently abled individuals, Harry, Myleen, and Joy. They were supposed to be a part of our quality control team. I had the opportunity to have a talk with them about their goals in life, and there was a point in the conversation when they shared the discrimination that they’re getting when they try to apply for jobs. Hearing their stories really got me depressed. I refused to accept the fact that we are living in a society as harsh as where we’re in at the moment.
One month later, we opened our first mall store. It was Harry, Myleen, and Joy who were tasked to do the sales in the store on a daily basis - and we now call them as our Happy Sales Officers.
What do you think is the most important part of starting out? How do you maintain a level of organization and impact to the community?
We first started not knowing where we wanted to go with the business. We just wanted to spread happiness, and that’s it. That reflected a clear vision of what we wanted the brand to be and how we wanted it to affect other people’s lives. It’s all about knowing your purpose. Once you know it, everything will come together.
Can you give us a few strategies that helps you become an industry leader?
As of the moment, we don’t consider ourselves as an industry leader as there’s still a lot of things that has to be done and a lot of things to be ironed out. But that’s a part of our 3-year goal.
IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR PEOPLE
Our people are very integral to all the milestones and goals we achieve. We make sure that they’re being heard, and are taken care of. We consider our people as our partners.
KNOW YOUR PASSION
Me and my cousin, Malen, didn’t want anything in the beginning aside from spreading happiness. We consider it as our passion. Seeing other people happy makes us happy. The Happy Project is a company that started with that simple idea, and we’ve now grown to a brand with a cause.
What was your most inspiring moment doing what you do?
I think it’s about being able to inspire our differently abled partners. It is always good to know that day by day, they’re getting close to finding their purpose with their lives.
When did you consider yourself a success? Why do you think you are successful?
I can consider myself as a success in my own way through the number of people I’ve inspired with what we’re doing. Seeing people respond to your brand is one of the best rewards in life.
Any success habits?
It would be integrating your work with your personal life. Gone are the days when they say that you should have a work-life balance. If you live a life full of passion, and a work that fulfills your passion, then you’re one step closer to becoming successful. Hardwork follows in the equation.
How do you start your day?
I start my day just like any normal person. Waking up at seven in the morning and still feeling sleepy. Eating breakfast and still very sleepy. But when I start to come to my senses and realize there’s so much in store for me for the day, that’s when I start to get excited. I plan my daily schedule a week ahead. II look at my daily tasks after breakfast, and start to plan how to organize them once I get to the shower. How I get things done? I’m not sure how, but I always think I can.
What makes you happy? Do you think being happiness is critical in being successful?
I find happiness in traveling, learning new things, and as cliché as it may sound,seeing other people happy. Happiness equates to success.