Blake Mycoskie

Blake giving the shoes to the children. (http://www.lipsticktracez.com/guest/2009/10/post-1.php)

A simple man, with a simple heart, came up with a simple idea, to give a simple gift of a pair of shoes, making this complex world just a little simpler. While on a trip to Argentina, Blake Mycoskie dreamed up the simple concept of TOMS Shoes (Zimmerman). Little did he know that his straightforward idea of donating a pair of shoes to someone in need every time a pair was sold would quickly sprint across the world touching thousands of people’s lives. Prior to his inspirational idea, Blake Mycoskie had lived the good life (Weilheimer). He had started many different small companies, and traveled all around the world staying in many fancy resorts. But on one of those trips to Argentina, he realized that the luxury inside the resort was concealing a less attractive reality just outside. So he ventured beyond the walls to see things for himself (Zimmerman). One of the first things he noticed was that so many of the local residents were not wearing shoes. That is when Blake decided he was going to help change their lives. Little did he know that was also going to change his own (Weilheimer). Blake recognized that a simple pair of shoes could be more than just a fashion statement. So Blake Mycoskie started to make a difference, one step at a time, one pair of shoes at a time (Zimmerman). Though his good deed turned into a successful business, he remains motivated by the positive impact he is having, and he continues to search for new ways to help others in need.

Over the course of his life, Blake Mycoskie had donated money many times. Although he was helping, he felt his giving was impersonal and that he wasn't fulfilling his potential (Zimmerman). Blake felt that he had a calling and he knew that he had to answer it: "Mycoskie wanted to inspire. Add to the world, not take from it. He was young, motivated, overflowing with entrepreneurial spirit ... and without an idea," (Zimmerman). But while many are superficially inspired, Blake Mycoskie took action. He didn’t just donate some money from a sense of guilt or obligation, nor did he give to feel good about himself. Instead he stepped out of his comfort zone and stepped into a world that challenged his perspectives and values. He gave shoes and he received smiles in return (Weilheimer). Blake walked into the lives of strangers and walked away a hero. That overwhelmingly satisfying experience left him wanting to find other ways that he could help. Blake started touching people's hearts around the world before he started TOMS Shoes, having developed a reputation of someone who was not content with traditional ideas of success: "He was seeking something more than a 9-to-5 job," (Zimmerman). He had a good job, plenty of money, and had started several businesses. But he remained unfulfilled. He was determined to do something more inspiring, something that positively affected people’s lives. On a regular business trip to Argentina, he discovered a source of joy that no amount of money could purchase (Zimmerman). He found people that touched him through their determination then committed himself to helping them. Blake Mycoskie always knew he had a purpose in life, and once found, he ran with it. What started as a sprint has become a marathon that he is committed to finishing.

Blake with some of the words that represent his c (http://hamptons.guestofaguest.com/directory/blake-mycoskie/57145/)

Although TOMS Shoes and Blake have received plenty of praise, he has never let it stand in the way of his giving. He has always thought of every award as a way of honoring those that have helped his cause through their donations (Weilheimer). Managing TOMS Shoes requires Blake to be involved in business affairs, but he tries to spend as little time as possible on that and more of his time with the children he is helping (Zimmerman). His life has been described as: "Through all this, Mycoskie maintains a weird double-life. Half his time is spent on the business. The other half is spent in desolate countries handing out shoes to smiling kids," (Zimmerman). Although Blake has plenty of money and fame, he doesn’t own large houses, or expensive cars. Instead he chooses to spend his time and money on the most valuable treasure there is, human beings (Weilheimer). Throughout all of his giving, he tries to make time to inspire even more people and companies to do the same thing. He expressed his ultimate dream when he said: '"My hope is to inspire other companies to either incorporate the one-for-one model, or straight-on giving, in everything they do,'"(Zimmerman). Every time Blake has received an award, gone on television or radio, or is at a speaking event, he tries to convince others that by giving hope, a person can find a value to life beyond the accumulation of wealth (Weilheimer). He has encouraged and is still encouraging people and companies all around the world to follow his lead and give back in some way. Blake has always been humble about what he does. He has never searched for any type of approval. The only praises he has ever needed are the smiles on the faces of children when they receive a pair of shoes (Weilheimer).

Over the years Blake Mycoskie has had to face many challenges. He has found that sometimes there are obstacles in the way of doing the right thing. However, those obstacles have not stopped him, he continues to push forward because the need is too great (Zimmerman). One of those constant challenges is continuing to raise the money necessary to keep the business going in difficult financial times. Usually when times get tough, people have to cut back on unnecessary expenses, and the first thing to go is often donations (Weilheimer). But somehow Blake managed: "TOMS' charitable business model has also proven so far to be recession-proof," (Zimmerman). He has been successful because he has a product that people want and provides a service that shows a high return on investment. Even during hard times he has been able to convince people that making a difference are not luxuries, but a necessary part of life. Another very difficult challenge in a business like TOMS, is how to get the shoes to the people that actually need them (Weilheimer). He describes that struggle: '"Forty percent of the world doesn't have shoes, we decided to change that.’ Through their commitments to take action on pressing world challenges, are reshaping the philanthropic world,” (Weilheimer). Blake constantly sees people who have no home, little food, or are often suffering with diseases. But through all of that despair he is still able to remain positive. Blake has realized over the years that even through all of this pain, a small gift of a pair of shoes, can brighten up a child’s day, year, or even the rest of their life (Zimmerman). Blake knows that those shoes do not change their conditions. But he also realizes that he is giving away more than shoes, he's giving hope (Weilheimer).

Blake standing with just a few of the children th (http://www.shuzsociety.com/tag/toms-shoes/)

Blake turned a basic product and a simple idea into a very successful business, and a lifelong passion. From the beginning, Blake had to overcome many obstacles as he transformed his life into a dream come true for so many others (Weilheimer). Through it all, he never gave up, he remained humble, and he realized that in the end, he received more than he gave. He always looked for new ways to get more people involved so they too could share in his joy (Zimmerman). It was never about himself, and there was always another bare foot to put a shoe on (Weilheimer). Blake has inspired me and hundreds around the world to dream big, and to take on huge challenges one step at a time. He has shown that everyone can make a difference one simply has to get involved. Blake has discovered that sometimes the greatest reward is the smile on a young child's face when they receive a pair of shoes (Zimmerman). Blake had a simple idea, to help people in need, and that makes him simply a hero in my book.

Works Consulted

"Blake Mycoskie | Guest of a Guest." Hamptons | Guest of a Guest - New York People, Places, Parties & Nightlife. Web. 20 May 2011. http://hamptons.guestofaguest.com/directory/blake-mycoskie/57145/.

"Blake Mycoskie// Toms Shoes Updates the Classic - Guests - Lipstick Tracez." Lipsticktracez Is Contemporary Art, Design, Fashion and Youth Culture. - Lipstick Tracez. Web. 20 May 2011. http://www.lipsticktracez.com/guest/2009/10/post-1.php.

Murray, Michael, and James Wang. "Person of the Week: TOMS Shoes Founder Blake Mycoskie - ABC News." ABCNews.com: Breaking News, Politics, World News, Good Morning America, Exclusive Interviews - ABC News. Web. 04 May 2011. http://abcnews.go.com/International/PersonOfWeek/person-week-toms-shoes-founder-blake-mycoskie/story?id=13331473.

Schweitzer, Tamara. "I'm so used to traveling that I can sleep anywhere." Inc. June 2010: 112+. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 6 May. 2011.

"TOMS Shoes | Shuzsociety.com." Women's Designer Shoes Blog - Shuzsociety - An Online Magazine for Women Who Love Shoes! Web. 20 May 2011. http://www.shuzsociety.com/tag/toms-shoes/.

Weilheimer, Neil. "Goodwill Hunting." Footwear News 64.46 (2008): 50. General Reference Center Gold. Web. 12 May 2011.

Zimmerman, Mike. "The business of giving: Blake Mycoskie of TOMS Shoes believes 'philanthropic capitalism' may be the best business model of all." Success (2009): 34+. General Reference Center Gold. Web. 11 May 2011.