Blake Mycoskie - One for One - TOMS
Blake Mycoskie - the Founder + Chief Shoe Giver at TOMS. Who isn't inspired by Blake? I consider Blake a creative genius. Blake's business model is Incredible & he is sharing it with the world. What he has created out of a simple vision to help children blows my mind. Blake, you show me - through your efforts - that I too can change the world. We all can.
I would love to work w/ the TOMS team when I am feeling better. I am beyond inspired by all of them - it's the best cause. Please get yourself some TOMS this summer - I love them!
Who is Blake Mycoskie? In Blake's own words:
My life has gone in amazing and unexpected directions since I was young, and I could have never imagined that at age 32 my job title would be “Chief Shoe Giver.” I started the Shoes for Tomorrow project after traveling to South America in 2006. My goal was to learn to sail in Brazil and take polo lessons in Argentina but after befriending so many children who did not have shoes to protect their feet, I was inspired to create a business that would give back.
My polo instructor, friend, and co-founder Alejo, and I spent the next few months in Argentina becoming shoe makers, and I returned to the States with a duffle bag full of shoes. My goal was to sell 10,000 pairs, and for every pair sold, one pair would be placed on a child in need.
It's amazing to see how TOMS has grown. I'm humbled every day by the people who say they have been inspired by One for One!
You can go to www.startsomethingthatmatters.com to learn even more about Blake:
After five amazing years of giving shoes, Blake was ready to address another need: vision. On June 7, 2011, TOMS debuted One for One Eyewear, which provides eye treatment, prescription glasses or eye surgery with every pair purchased.Former President Bill Clinton has introduced Blake as “one of the most interesting entrepreneurs [he has] ever met.” And Bill Gates featured Blake and TOMS Shoes in his Time magazine article, “How to Fix Capitalism.”
Blake is an avid reader and traveler. He is 34 years old and lives on a sailboat in Los Angeles. A favorite quote of his by Gandhi: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
On September 6, 2011, Blake released his first book, titled Start Something That Matters. In Blake’s own words, the goal of the book is to “…inspire others to go out and make a positive impact, to start something that matters to them.” Its words provide a simple blueprint for readers to transform themselves and the world around them for the better.
The book debuted to positive reviews in The Wall Street Journal and claimed the prestigious #1 spot on The New York Times Best Seller list less than two weeks later. With every book purchased, a new book is provided to a child in need.
Love your work, work for what you love, and change the world – all at the same time.
– Excerpt, Start Something That Matters.
