A painted portrait of Chaplain TIG in profile, face lifted toward the light, dissolving into a cosmos of fire and stardust.

It ain't all buttons and charts, little albatross. You know what the first rule of flying is? Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take a boat in the air that you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of worlds. And love keeps her in the air when she ought to fall down... tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.

Mal  ·  Firefly / Serenity
March 25, 2013

I died.

Hole in heart • All blood gone • 7 minutes

I shouldn't be here... but I am. And that changes everything.

Original Interview by CBS

On March 25th, 2013 I died... hole in heart, all blood gone, 7 minutes... I shouldn't be here.

Eye on the Community · June 8, 2014

Read the transcript →
🌵

My Life in 10 Seconds

  • Born with a congenital heart defect
  • Grew up in hospitals... learned to love people there
  • Married the most extraordinary woman on the planet
  • Built things... broke things... built them again
  • Died on March 25, 2013... came back
  • Now building something that outlasts me
🌹

Who Am I

  • Servant of God
  • Husband to one
  • Father to three
  • Papa to two
  • Friend to many
🌳

Core Operating Principles

  1. Love folks like they've never been loved before
  2. Do the right thing, even when nobody is watching
  3. Build things that matter
  4. Leave every person and place better than you found them
  5. Stay curious... stay humble
  6. Protect the vulnerable
  7. Finish what you start
🌿

My Life's Mission

  1. Help young people discover their purpose
  2. Empower them with the tools and community to build it
  3. Create legacy that outlasts any one person

My Weaknesses

I believe in leading with honesty... so here's the honest part. I have short-term memory challenges from the NDE. I'm afraid of heights (ironic for someone who builds big things). I overcommit because I see potential everywhere. And my desk is never clean.

If you work with me, you'll encounter all of these. I'm not hiding them... I'm naming them.

What People Say

Don't take my word for it... take theirs.

"As a small business owner, Tig was willing to take time out of his day to mentor me and help me start my path for the goals I want to achieve in my life. Tig has genuine love for all people he comes across and you can feel that from the very first interaction. He is the total package for a human being."

Isaac Gutierrez Past Customer Reactivation

"Chaplin TIG has such a wonderful personality and giving heart. His integrity and character show through all he does in his life and his non-profit organizations to help disadvantaged / at risk children and families of fallen heroes. Quietly Working says it all. Wanting no accolades for himself, but to ‘quietly work’ to focus on helping children and families overcome adversity."

Cathie Peterson Seller, Send Out Cards

"Chaplain TIG Heaslet is absolutely one of the most giving and caring people I know. His sole purpose in his organization is to help youth in need and he is able to do that in a variety of very unique ways. He gives with his whole heart and loves without reservation and I am better for knowing him."

Charity Farrell Owner, OC Merchant Solutions

"Tig is a true leader in the most authentic form. His passion for the work he does is obvious and invigorating. I feel inspired and energized just being around him! He has an open mind, generous heart, and persistent spirit. I am excited to be supporting his efforts with his volunteer team and watching as he grows his impact nation-wide."

Stephanie Courtillier Conscious facilitator and Community Steward, xchange

"I am very impressed by Tig's vision and understanding of how to put people's vision into focus and on the correct path. Tim is upfront and realistic about project development. He is very passionate and strives to make sure every family of a fallen soldier is taken care of. I fully endorse Tig for any of your project development ideas."

Adam Fay Realtor, Arrivva

"He's an amazing mentor... we reference his decision-making regularly."

Isaac

"Chaplain Tig is one of the kindest, humble, empathetic humans I have ever known. He has a huge heart and is so compassionate to others! He is always lifting up others and showing he cares. It is obvious why he is in the roll he is in! Grateful for you Chaplain Tig! Grateful to be a plank holder with your awesome foundation!"

Natalie Essman Owner, Your Money Expert Inc.

"From my first conversation with TIG, I felt his sincerity in his mission for creating a better experience for the youth of today, and everyone else around him. What’s more is that he is one creative guy! He has a real vision for how a simple visual asset can be an exciting experience. We asked for simple 3d renderings and TIG introduced us to a whole wealth of high tech marketing that is possible. If you need 3D renderings, AR solutions and strategies, and the need to create a great story for your business, Than reach out to TIG at the Missing Pixel. Get some amazing creative and support the youth he is on a mission to help."

Paul Banagas Owner, Paul B Design Inc

"Every encounter, every discussion, every meeting, I just genuinely get such an amazingly kind and humble vibe from Chaplian TIG Heaslet. He has such a caring heart and is always uplifting others in creative ways! His non-profit organizations to help disadvantaged / at risk children and families of fallen heroes is so needed and I love his mission. Growing up in the more impoverished areas and seeing so many kids take the path they believe is their only option, I am so happy to see amazing humans such as TIG create something so wonderful to give back and give these disadvantaged youths life changing opportunities."

Elaine Ly Owner, Gotham Good Dogs
🎤

I used to tell these stories on stages all over the world...

And I'm ready to do it again.

Keynotes, panels, workshops, firesides... if you have an audience that cares about resilience, purpose, building things that matter, or leveraging technology for good... let's talk.

Spirit

Coming Back from Everything

The NDE, rebuilding identity, and what you learn when you lose it all

Work

Building Resilient Organizations

How small nonprofits and businesses can build systems that outlast their founders

Purpose

Youth Empowerment & Purpose Discovery

Helping young people find their lane... and giving them tools to build in it

Mind

AI for Good

Practical automation for organizations who want to do more with less... without losing their soul

Core Values

The WHELHO Framework

A values-based operating system for living an integrated life

Let's Talk About Your Event

Available for in-person and virtual events worldwide

🌱

My big dream is to build a self-sustaining ecosystem of hope and empowerment before I die.

My Big Dream Before I Die - a 2016 conceptual diagram showing the ecosystem vision The original napkin sketch... 2016
"Most people overestimate what they can achieve in a year and underestimate what they can achieve in ten years."
2035 Target: 100% financial self-sufficiency

A nonprofit that funds itself entirely through the products it builds and the programs it runs... no grants, no galas, no begging. Just good work that pays for itself while training the next generation of builders.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us get where we are.

The Journey So Far

1978

Born with a heart defect

Started life in hospitals... learned to love people there

2003

Started Quietly Working

A web design business that became something much bigger

2013

The NDE

Died. Came back. Everything changed.

2016

The Dream Sketch

Drew the blueprint for a self-sustaining ecosystem of hope

2020

QWF Becomes a 501(c)(3)

The Quietly Working Foundation gets its official nonprofit status

2024

Missing Pixel Launches

Youth training program... teaching the next generation to build

2025

The AI Backoffice

Agentic automation makes a 1-person team operate like 10

2035

100% Self-Sufficient

The goal... a nonprofit that funds itself entirely through its own products

Let's Connect

If you see magic in the world... please share it with me, and I'll get it out to everyone I know.

Call or Email Me

(949) 371-5TIG (5844)

[email protected]