Day 137 - 11/1/10

Blake Mycoskie. Tonight 300 fellow students and I spent the evening with him. For those who have never heard of him, he is the CEO and founder of TOMS shoes. This experience was, dare I say, incredible. He has single-handedly changed the way capitalism works in business with his truly revolutionary model: One for One. For every pair of $45 pair of shoes you purchase, they give a free pair to a child in need. It is truly a business that believes in giving back. I am honestly so inspired by listening to his remarkable story.

Blake Mycoskie and his sister were contestants on the Amazing Race eight years ago. They were 4 minutes away from winning 1 million dollars because of it. Yet, they didn't. And luckily that could had been the greatest thing to ever happen to humbleTexan. During his journey in the Amazing Race, he fell in love with the lifestyle of Argentina and its unique artisan style shoe. So Mycoskie returned back to Argentina for a vacation. There he came across a group of volunteers who participated in "shoe drives."  A shoe drive was initially a project where this group of volunteers visited the rich in Buenes Aires and collected their slightly used shoes. Then they would go to a local village and hand-deliver these shoes to each child. Personally, putting each shoe on each foot of that child. Mycoskie was so inspired and enthralled by this simple premise, yet, he was faced with a problem: what happens when those children out grow their shoes? How to offer a steady supply? He returned to Los Angelos with this crazy idea. From the inside of his small apartment, he founded TOMS shoes. He started off with 250 shoes but the power of word of mouth spread and the nature of his intentions were too grand to ignore so immediately people were ordering them. At a rate that completely overwhelming and amazing. With all the partnerships he gained, his 250 pairs have grown to over 1,000,000 pairs sold and most importantly, 1,000,000 pairs given to children in need.

"The moment I knew my life changed was during the first official shoe drop in Argentina." -Blake Mycoskie

These children's feet were bruised, battered, inflected, and worn, yet, Mycoskie's 16-person shoe drop crew facilitated in fitting each child one at a time. I began to get the chills trying to fathom that gesture. This guy has completely touched more lives in one moment that I have at this point in my life. I am humbled and awed.

He discussed his definition of sustainability through the most common question people ask him: Why did you want a for-profit organization if the mission of One for One was about the children? It was the opportunity to sustain that influenced his decision. Mycoskie was a share holder of an online driver's ed program in California at the time he founded TOMS. But after his first shoe drop, he realized he had to devote everything he had to TOMS in order to achieve its full potential. As a result, his partners bought him out and that money was the first and ONLY investment he ever made in TOMS. At the time, he could could had used that buyout to purchase 40,000 shoes which in turn would be 40,000 pairs for children in need, but the sole reason he invested was to protect his resources to ensure he maintained sustainability. And it has paid off, that investment as allowed to far surpass 40,000 pairs or any number he could had imagined. I find that a new refreshing perspective on that concept of sustainability. As a college student, I am preparing my own wealth of resources and it is the ability to sustain that will lead me to success.

This night will continue to resonate in my mind for a long time. It is so incredible to see man as passionate and success as him. I have the utmost respect for him and company. One for One. It is such a beautiful concept and I hope to participate in my own way. Who knew that a simple shoe could style your sole and your soul?

-R.D.