Patrick J. Sweeney

Award-Winning CEO, Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author, "Fear is Fuel & Philanthropist; First Cyclist to Attempt Cycling the Seven Summits & Former Olympic Level Athlete

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Boston, MA, USA
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Patrick J. Sweeney Biography

Patrick Sweeney is an award-winning CEO, Wall Street Journal best-selling author, and philanthropist. He was an Olympic-level athlete turned millionaire entrepreneur, adventurer, and motivational keynote speaker who hosts high-level CEO retreats worldwide and advises companies on digital transformation through board engagements.

His latest book, "Fear is Fuel," debuted at #5 on the WSJ best-seller list on March 14th, 2020. Over a six-year period, three dozen of the world's top neuroscientists shared their research with Sweeney. He took all that dry, scientific insight and put it into useful and easily understandable stories. A top-rated keynote speaker, Sweeney speaks to associations and corporations and on network television, helping companies and individuals create a culture of courage.

Sweeney finished second in the Olympic trials for rowing the single scull and won international races from Canada to Norway. He built ground-breaking technology companies, wrote three award-winning books, and holds seven patents. He's appeared on CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, and many other news outlets and publications, sharing lessons in courageous business growth.

After a near-death experience with leukemia, he finally unlocked a passion and energy for life that he had never known. The key was taming his fears. "I’ve seen too many people spend a lifetime working for the weekend and saying, 'I wish I could do that...' Life is meant to be fun, and I discovered that I could change the story I was telling myself and find adventure in my life again. All your dreams are on the other side of fear." Sweeney needed to do it for himself, for his kids and for the people in his life that mattered the most.

He's living life to its fullest, exploring the adventurer within, breaking world records, and embracing every day as if it were his last. He is also the first person to attempt cycling the seven summits. In February 2015, he became the first person to officially bike to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, the summit of Kilimanjaro, and the summit of Elbrus. His mission is to help others do the same and to become better partners, parents, and people.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 12/20/2023.

Patrick J. Sweeney Speaking Topics

  • THE NEUROSCIENCE BEHIND WINNING SALES ORGANIZATIONS

    The top 1% of sales organizations have leaders who intuitively understand the neuroscience behind getting a team to consistently outperform their capabilities. Those leaders have found it through trial and error. There's a better way. Neuroscience. The reason why buyers sign a contract has more to do with parts of the brain you've probably never heard of but need to know • the Amygdala, The WOrking Memory, the Limbic System, the sgACC. In one of the most engaging and entertaining keynote speeches Patrick Sweeney, the Fear Guru, will distill the neuroscience down to five actionable steps that should be at the heart of any high performing sales organization.

    If you want to blow out your numbers, and fill up your funnel hire Patrick at your sales kick-off meeting and learn from his six years of neuroscience research with the top three dozen brian scientists in the world. If you're happy with the status quo, ignore the neuroscience and keep going with the trial and error.

  • CREATING A CULTURE OF COURAGE

    What holds most people back from their full potential isn't lack of skill or lack of will, it's fear. The human brain is designed primarily for survival. That architecture interferes with our happiness, success and fulfillment in all walks of life. In fact, conferences usually present a great opportunity to learn new and exciting strategies, ones that could dramatically change businesses and lives, yet only a fraction of attendees implement those ideas. What is holding them back? Many leaders fear failure or are afraid of changing the status quo and rocking the boat. Stagnant leaders live in a fearful culture where employees do things because "that's the way it's always been done" or because they fear losing their jobs. In this riveting presentation, Patrick will explain why we get stuck in a prison of less-than-peak performance. Then he will give you tangible neuroscience techniques to take home and increase your success, power and happiness.

    Imagine finishing second in the US Olympic trials in rowing, when you could have been a gold medalist, or raising almost $30 million and creating the first cloud computing company only to have your venture capitalist make all the money when it was sold, and worst of all needing six cocktails just to get on a plane for a business trip, or not going at all.

    Fear locked Patrick Sweeney in a prison of constant suffering until he met with the ultimate terror • the diagnosis of a rare form of leukemia and a slim chance of survival. After beating the disease thanks to talented doctors, cutting edge mental techniques learned at the Olympic training center, and the grace of God, his whole life changed. He took flying lessons, started a new company sold it for millions, and then started another. He's now living the life of his dreams setting world records, adventuring across the globe, mentoring top CEOs, and inspiring audiences worldwide.PJS Speaking TEDx Google

    Patrick's mission is to teach millions of people the superpower of courage. For his upcoming book Fear as Fuel he interviewed more than 30 neuroscientists and psychologists for the newest investigations on how the brain functions and the secrets of overcoming our fear-based survival instincts. Patrick translates a vast continuum of scientific research into practical tactics on how to live to your fullest potential, create super-successful businesses, fulfilling relationships and raise courageous happy children. Using fear as fuel you'll begin to confidently make the best decisions of your life and unleash a new level of power. His talk gives you a sneak peak of what is sure to be a best seller. That's why he's called the Fear Guru!

  • VIRTUAL: FINDING COURAGE FROM FACTS NOT FEAR HOW TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING

    Information saturation, economic unrest, fear, uncertainty and doubt • are all by-products of the global disruption caused by a "novel" pandemic. Novel means new and unknown • that's why your brain has trouble predicting the outcome, there is nothing in its database to reference. The good news is it does not have to cause anxiety or stress. Join Wall-Street Journal best-selling author, millionaire entrepreneur, world record holder and cancer survivor Patrick Sweeney as he shares the steps anyone can take during this unprecedented time of uncertainty.

    Patrick will first share how the brain works • and why running a two-million year old version of software is merciless to our well-being. Then he'll explain how you can use hard neuroscience to reprogram your brain for success and happiness as he did in his life or death struggle from leukemia. Patrick will share engaging and entertaining stories that range from his time in John's Hopkins Hospital to taking the first Cloud computing company form the ashes after 9/11 and turning it into a dominant player that he sold in 2002 when other companies were imploding. You'll leave this talk feeling empowered and in control of your destiny, plus motivated to find the potential in the present • no matter what the future brings!

  • VIRTUAL: COURAGE TO LEAD THROUGH FEAR AND ANXIETY DURING CORONAVIRUS - FRAMEWORK TO TAKE CONTROL

    What's sure to have an even bigger impact than the virus itself is the fear, anxiety and stress caused by it. Uncertainty in health, in business, in financial markets are all attacking the mental well-being of leaders around the globe. The courageous leaders who can asses the situation and decide based on opportunity not fear, will be the ones succeeding wildly when pent-up demand releases and recovery ensues. Leaders need to empower their team with the neuroscience of fear and how to reprogram the mind for courage. Join Wall-Street Journal Best selling author of "Fear is Fuel" Patrick Sweeney, YPO member & resource as he shares concrete steps you can take to be a better leader for yourself, your family, and your team during theses times of high anxiety.

  • USING FEAR AS FUEL - SKYROCKET YOUR POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESS

    What holds most people back from their full potential isn't lack of skill or lack of will, it's fear. Find out how you can use that as a tool for peak-performance and to get everything you've always wanted.

    The human brain is designed primarily for survival. We run a two million year old piece of softwar that interferes with our happiness, success, and fulfillment in all aspects of our lives. It's time to reprogram your brain for happiness and fulfillment.

    Fear locked Patrick Sweeney in a prison of eternal suffering until he met with the ultimate terror • a diagnosis of a rare form of leukemia and a slim chance of survival. Against all ods he beat the disease thanks to talented doctors, cutting edge mental techniques learned at the Olympic training center, and by the grace of God. When he did his whole life changed. He yearned to find out why.

    He interviewed 35 of the world's top neuroscientists and psychologists over 500 CEOs, professional atheltes, Navy SEALs, and others to find out how they created a life of courage. What he learned will rock your world. In this inspirational presentation, Patrick will explain why we get stuck in a prison of less-than-peak performance. He will then equip audience members with tangible techniques based in neuroscience that will increase their success, power, and happiness. He will literally rewrite the software to skyrocket you to new levels of success and happiness in your life.

Patrick J. Sweeney Videos

  • Patrick Sweeney | Keynote Demo Reel 2025
    Award winning keynote speaker Patrick Sweeney has motivated and inspired audiences around the globe. With more than 500 keynote speeches to his...
  • How to use fear as fuel | Patrick Sweeney | TEDxPearlStreet
    NOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speaker's personal views and understanding of neuroplasticity. We've flagged this talk because it falls...
  • 3 Strategies for Peak Performance Under Pressure - Patrick Sweeney
    If you want to perform your best under pressure, here are three easy and scientifically proven strategies to help you give your best when it's all on...

Patrick J. Sweeney Books

  • Fear Is Fuel: The Surprising Power To Help You Find Purpose, Passion, And Performance
    Fear Is Fuel: The Surprising Power To Help You Find Purpose, Passion, And Performance

Speaker Lists Featuring Patrick J. Sweeney

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Patrick J. Sweeney is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as THE NEUROSCIENCE BEHIND WINNING SALES ORGANIZATIONS, CREATING A CULTURE OF COURAGE, VIRTUAL: FINDING COURAGE FROM FACTS NOT FEAR HOW TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING, VIRTUAL: COURAGE TO LEAD THROUGH FEAR AND ANXIETY DURING CORONAVIRUS - FRAMEWORK TO TAKE CONTROL and USING FEAR AS FUEL - SKYROCKET YOUR POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESS. The estimated speaking fee range to book Patrick J. Sweeney for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Patrick J. Sweeney generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Robyn Benincasa, Shawn Achor, Daymond John, Heather J. Crider and Vic Strecher, Ph.D. MPH. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Patrick J. Sweeney for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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