EP (67) Kim McDonnell: Building A Business Around Gratitude To Improve Overall Happiness And Wellness Around The World
Would you consider yourself to be a risk taker?
If success meant that you would have to move your family around the world in order to build your business, would you do it?
These are questions Founders Kim McDonnell and her husband had to ask themselves when they started to build their current business, Thankful. Originally from Australia, they decided to move to New York City to ramp up their social enterprise and lifestyle brand company.
It took them over three years just to get all their trademarks in order.
As they say on their site, the company “taps into the science of positive psychology, Thankful creates opportunities to provide Thankful Moments via an innovative business model that merges a product licensing program, global cause awareness campaigns, and a nonprofit arm. Creating the first multi-product, multi-cause social impact brand capable of spreading thankfulness and measurable impact.”
Their mission: create a healthier and happier world.
Armed with a background in marketing and advertising and a lot of experience working with big brands, Kim recognized that she wanted her own legacy to stand for something more than just helping big businesses grow. She was fulfilled in her career; but recognized there was something missing. She wanted to do more and have a bigger impact.
She asked herself: how do I want to be remembered? And what does that look like?
Knowing that consumerism isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, they wanted to build a brand that could take the profits and not only make the consumer feel better about their choices - but know that their money is going towards non-profit causes that helps those in needs.
Their innovative new model merges philanthropy and business to spread the power of gratitude, via licensed products that give back, activations that spark thankful thinking, and harness the power of gratitude for good.
Currently, they’ve been working with the UN on various campaigns, are working to shed light on women and girls making an impact in their communities and raising money and awareness for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the Caribbean island.
To find out how you can get involved and give back with Thankful, check out their latest campaigns here.
SOME QUESTIONS I ASKED:
What were you guys doing for work before starting Thankful?
Why did you decide to pick up and move your family around the world to build your company?
Who came up with the idea for Thankful?
How long did it take you to get it off the ground?
What do you mean by blending a social enterprise and lifestyle brand - what does that look like to you?
How do you practice gratitude in your own life?
How do you plan on creating a global movement?
What are your campaigns about and how do you come up with them?
And so much more...
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
How five minutes of gratitude a day can change your life
What Kim’s personal challenge is and how she is working on it
What the science of positive psychology actually is, and how it can help change your mindset
The value of their unique business model and why more companies need to take their approach to business
The various campaigns and effect they are having on communities
And lots more...
OTHER LINKS:
CONNECT WITH Thankful
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
Listen, subscribe, and leave a review on: iTunes, Spotify or your favourite podcast app.
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Edited by: James Nicholson