Meet Tiffany Wachtler | Founder/CEO of Kindness Concierge & Kindness Spreader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tiffany Wachtler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tiffany, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Leading with empathy is important to me. I know the power of feeling seen and embraced with kindness, so I am intentional about how I show up for the people in my life. When my mom suffered a stroke, and was later diagnosed with the aggressive lung cancer that would quickly take her life, I was moved by how those around me, many who could not relate, found countless ways to be supportive. I learned from them how to seize opportunities to be present, kind, and honor each person’s journey.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Grief is something that we all have to navigate, yet I’ve found that many people struggle with how to support someone who has experienced a loss. Instead of feeling bold and confident, too often people are afraid to make a mistake, misstep, or worry that no act meets the moment.

Knowing from personal experience how lonely grief can be, I founded Kindness Concierge to help friends and family members who are nervous, but have the heart, and just need the “how” when it comes to showing up for loved ones.

Much like a concierge assists with arrangements, I help support systems organize acts of kindness by sharing ideas of what they can say, what they can do, or what they can send that matches their specific situation and relationships.

When my mom died, some people showed up beautifully and some did it clumsily. Then there were others who did nothing at all, and I felt their absence and was hurt. I later learned that many people simply didn’t know what to do. I realized that there was not a good resource or a sounding board for them, which inspired me to create that space.

I believe the gift is showing up, so whether I’m sending care packages on someone’s behalf or outlining meaningful kind acts clients can carry out, I’m happy to know that their loved one will feel seen and supported during a difficult time.

I never envisioned being an entrepreneur, but I want so deeply to help change the conversation around grief. It’s not a bad word, and it is important to build community around grief and grievers. It warms my heart each time I hear from a client who shares that they would not have had the courage to reach out to their loved one without my help or encouragement. Or someone tells me the response that they got from the person who received a Kindness Concierge care package.

It is lovely to be invited in to help someone spread kindness and show up beautifully when life gets hard. I appreciate having a service that empowers loved ones to present, while allowing me to honor my mom’s legacy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m very food motivated and ice cream is an important food group. If a visiting friend has a sweet tooth, an ice cream crawl is in order. The stops would include Liks, Little Man, Sweet Action, and Bonnie Brae.

If we need to carb load before dessert, I love a stop at Angelo’s or Shells and Sauce. I don’t pretend to channel the Colorado Outdoorsy girly who climbs 14ers, but being outside is amazing, so I’m always up for visiting Denver Botanic Gardens, espeically for an Evening al Fresco, to add some live music in the mix.

I also love a grown-up night of jazz, so closing out an evening at nocturne with an martini would also hit the spot.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are some people in your life who you simply admire for the light they bring to the world, and how they are not afraid to let others shine. During the most challenging part of my life, my radiant friend Cari, was there showing me what it meant to be an anchor. I have always prided myself on being strong and able to gracefully handle chaos; and when my mom’s life was turned upside down by a stroke and lung cancer, I found myself falling apart.

As all my spinning plates were crashing, Cari didn’t hesitate to step in, offer support and guidance, a good laugh, or a bottle of whiskey to help make each day less challenging. She boldly showed up for me, and gently guided me through grief, and rallied others to the same. As one of the few friends, who’d lost a parent, she assured me that I could be both fragile and strong, all while living out the qualities I loved most in my mom. She modeled what it meant to step forward, when others felt intimidated and stepped back.

When I came to her with the idea to start Kindness Concierge, she cheered me on and encouraged me to be bold, and start without waiting to have it all figured out. We all need a Cari in our life, in our corner believing us, challenging us, and encouraging us to shine bright. I’m so grateful that she’s in my life!

Website: https://www.thekindnessconcierge.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_kindness_concierge/

Image Credits
Amy K Wright
Arianne Autaubo Martinez