Tim Young - Spreading Gratitude by Wearing Gratitude
Tim Young
Tim Young is a passionate marketer and entrepreneur. He has written 10 books (and counting). His books cover diverse topics ranging from business strategy to personal preparedness to self-sufficient farming. He has also launched several businesses, including one that earned a spot on the INC. 500 list as the 130th fastest growing company in America. Most recently, Tim launched Gratitude Garb with his wife and daughter. Gratitude Garb’s slogan is “spreading gratitude by wearing gratitude.” Their mission is to inspire people to incorporate gratitude into their daily lives.
I’m excited for you to connect with Tim, check out his work, and follow along as he continues to spread an attitude of gratitude to create a kinder, happier world!
I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.
Hi, I’m Tim. I live a simple life in rural America with my wife and 8-year old daughter. We practice self-sufficient homesteading and produce much of our own food. We also homeschool our daughter. While we love the modern conveniences we all enjoy, we try to produce much of what we need rather than buy what we need. We enjoy being close to nature and are grateful for simplicity. My wife, daughter, and I operate gratitudegarb.com.
How did you get started?
I’m a long-time entrepreneur. One of my aims is to help my daughter develop the confidence and skills to provide for herself when she reaches adulthood. It doesn’t matter to me if she one day gets a job or if she starts a business. Or if she volunteers. It matters to me that she has options and the confidence to make decisions. And that she is happy. So, I’ve been teaching her about entrepreneurship as part of her homeschool curriculum.
What Inspired the work you’re doing?
My homeschool agenda starts with my daughter posting something she's grateful for on our gratitude tree. After writing on the tree one day, we talked about how expressing gratitude made us feel. We agreed that it allowed us to feel happy and content.
We discussed the opposite too. About how we would feel if we didn’t feel grateful. Lonely, depressed, sad, angry, and unfulfilled were the words that came to mind. We don’t want to feel that way. We don’t want anyone to feel that way.
So, the idea for Gratitude Garb emerged organically from that conversation. Sort of a “what if” kind of notion.
What if we could find a way to spread gratitude so others could feel as happy as we do when we feel grateful?”
In our homeschool writing class, my daughter completed a simple kid’s business plan template that I made for her. For our mission, we settled on the idea of spreading gratitude by wearing gratitude. The idea was to encourage others to focus not on what they don’t have, but on all they do have. To be grateful and to spread gratitude to others. To make the world a happier place.
What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?
My passion is my family and enjoying life’s simple pleasures. A wonderful aspect of modern life is that you're free to create the lifestyle you want. As I stated, we try to be as self-sufficient as possible. An important part of modern self-reliance is the ability to produce your own income. For me, that includes having a home-based business so that I can maximize my time with my family. And working alongside my wife to educate our daughter and maximize our time with her during her formative years.
So, yes, I am living my passion and purpose. Absolutely. I am giving all of myself to them.
What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?
Being fully present in simple moments with my family is my joy blueprint. When I’m away from them I want to be with them. When I’m with them I want more of them.
Now, don’t get me wrong. My family enjoys and is grateful for luxuries such as nice vacations and exquisite meals as much as anyone. But that’s not what we crave. We crave time together and sharing experiences.
How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?
I’m aware of our moment in human history. Of how fortunate we were to be born at this time and in a developed nation.
When reading history books, many of us marvel at the lives of kings and pharaohs. Yet, I’m willing to bet that you, like us, enjoy more conveniences than all rulers from antiquity. They didn’t have aluminum foil. They didn’t have toilet paper or indoor plumbing. And an Egyptian pharaoh certainly hope for a cup of ice. You can.
So, I remain aware of how fortunate we are to live in a time with ice machines. With electricity to power modern conveniences. With paved roads, emergency responders, and the internet. It is so easy to take those things, and so much more, for granted. It’s so easy to focus on what we don’t have rather than what we do.
Every time I turn on the faucet and feel hot water I realize how magical that is, and how blessed we all are. We are kings.
What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?
Earlier in life, I focused more on goals. On achievements. On plans. But many years ago I simplified. That doesn’t mean that I “minimalized” as I’m not a tiny house person or a minimalist. But I stopped valuing material things. In 2003 I bought a shiny new truck, an F-150. I8 years later I still drive it, and it has over 270,000 miles. I’ll drive it as long as I can.
I would advise my younger self to search for a lasting meaning of happiness. Of joy. For me, it comes not from things, but from relationships. From experiences. From being there for others and letting them be there for me.
Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?
Yes. Make your life what you want it to be, and do it today.
Most people do today what they did yesterday. They continue that in perpetuity. Life happens to them and, before they know it, they’re wondering where all the years went.
If you don’t like something in your life, change it. And change it now. Because you may not have too many tomorrows. Who knows?
What is your biggest dream?
My biggest dream is for my wife and I to watch our daughter grow up into a happy, healthy, well-adjusted woman. One who positively impacts the world. And, if I can be greedy, to become a grandpa :-)
Until that happens, we’ll continue to be grateful for all that we have. And to do what we can to spread the gift of gratitude far and wide.
To learn more about Tim visit gratitudegarb.com and http://authortimyoung.com/ and on Facebook @timsmallfarmnation and LinkedIn here
Joy Corner is an interview-style blog series brought to you by Seek The Joy Podcast. Our mission continues to be a desire to share your stories, truths, joys and inspiration in your words. We invite you to join our corner, and share your joys, passions, and moments of inspiration as we continue to seek the joy, together. Join this series here