TOMS Shoes & Blake Mycoskie

In continuation with "Inspirational Tuesdays," today is all about TOMS Shoes and its founder, Blake Mycoskie. Beginning with a trip to Argentina in 2006, strictly for pleasure and recreation, Mycoskie discovered many areas experienced extreme poverty, and were in specific need of shoes. This need was currently being filled by shoe donations, but the shoes were either beat up or didn't fit, if the people received shoes at all. Mycoskie felt that he needed to do something to solve this problem. Being an entrepreneur, he began doing research and asking questions about how to go about solving the issue, and create a business that would help him give back to these people he had met. The result was TOMS Shoes, based around a "One for One" business model. For each pair of shoes he sold, he would personally give a pair to a child in need. In only four years, TOMS Shoes has grown from a tiny operation in his apartment into a successful brand, and is on track to sell (and give!) its one millionth shoe this month! How incredible is that?!

I've known about TOMS for... Well, probably since around the time Mycoskie started it. I vaguely remember a story about such an endeavor a few years ago. But, I'm just now learning about the man himself. I would love to work with the organization, or do something similar, to help those in need. Blake seems like an awesome person, with a selfless and loving passion to give and build relationships. Much respect for him and what he (and his team) have created! One day, I'll own (and give) a pair of TOMS, once money is right to spend on shoes. There's no way I can't take part in this movement.

Also, here's an interesting interview I've recently read on Blake Mycoskie:
http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/201009/?pg=30#pg28

... I didn't have any experience in shoes... Sometimes not having experience is the greatest thing in the world. If you have experience, you've already heard that you can't do it this way, and you can't do it that way, but with no experience you just do it your way.

Blake Mycoskie, on the challenges of creating TOMS Shoes (emphasis by me)