We met in Michigan, working/acting on a movie set 12 years ago. He excitedly told me about his beautiful girlfriend (today his wife). 

I never knew then, that someday I would be writing his story (VERY EMOTIONAL AT PARTS) or the amazing things he would be up to…

7 Seconds

Before going into the film industry, Tim’s background was making/delivering Jimmy Johns. In fact, he could make a sandwich in 7 seconds. Due to his skills, he was offered training to become an area manager. He declined and traded making sandwiches to create. 

He also ran his own business selling skateboards and snowboards for a time.

A Drone

From the movie set where we met, he continued on various projects in the movie industry for 9 years (as a sub-contractor/freelancer). His real passion apart from acting, was in visual renderings which soon landed him a job with a drone company.

Here he helped create visual renderings for the Columbus International Airport and took progression shoots for Google, Discovery Channel and Facebook Corporation. 

More Than An Idea

Looking back, Tim mentioned how each step continued to lead closer to a discovery. While engineering new products in correlation with drones, one day he landed on an idea.

This idea was the start of his now patented educational toy.

Facing Reality

Along the way, however, he faced losing everything…

Alone

Driving home from work one day, Tim remembers feeling alone, lost, defeated and hopeless… He cried out loud in the car:

1. He told God he was tired of trying to be a better person

2. If God was real to give him a desire for Him

3. He asked God to show him how to love people (especially his family)

Unraveling The Mess

Tim got home that night to his apartment and phoned his Mom. He spoke with her about questions he had never dared to asked before…

Questions about his Dad who had died with cancer.

He only remembered his Dad working hard with little time to spend with him.

Broken

As Tim asked his Mom more questions he broke. (Note: during this part of the conversation Tim, myself and my assistant were emotional… It is amazing how childhood wounds can be a huge factor in how we see and experience the world around us).

Unintended Wounds

He realized he saw God and the world through these unintended wounds. Like he could never measure up, no matter what he did. He didn’t know how to give others true kindness because he didn’t know how to receive it.

Crying For 2-Hours

That night he realized for the first time that his Dad did love him but never knew how to show it due to his rough background. He also realized his view that God was condemning him, came from never feeling like he could measure up in childhood. He cried for 2 hours.

Gone

In this moment, Tim realized he didn’t care if he lost literally everything -job, company, family, marriage, money (and even if he found himself on the street), it didn’t matter anymore because he had found peace from his past.

Coming Clean

That night Tim had a conversation with his wife and confessed everything – all his past failures. He realized he would probably lose everything at this point.

(Im)perfect

Instead after a rocky fews days, their entire life started to (im)perfectly change and so did their marriage. They found sources to encourage and build them up in the areas they needed help. They were able to find a home to live in (short notice), even when they had no money until he got a new job. And his patented idea, the toy company started to take off.

Changes

Today a team has joined Tim’s toy company, Kingdom Quest.

Currently, the Nurkl toys are out of stock due to high demand as they are looking for a manufacturer to produce these on a larger scale.

Demand

Some of the high demand has come from colleges, elementary, middle, and high schools especially for STEM/STEAM groups as well as for private use. 

Take Away

In closing, I asked Tim what he wanted you to take away.

Here are the 3 things:

1. He wants you to know through his story that there is hope even if you are facing hopeless situations in life. And that peace can be found in the struggle regardless of the outcome.

2. He wants you to know you are enough.

3. He wants creatives to feel free to follow the path less traveled because that is the only way to create a new world.

For more information on Tim’s toy, Nurkl, and contact information visit:https://www.nurkl.com/

For a recent interview about Nurkl watch: Video