One for One
One for One
American Transcendentalist writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” In today’s society many entrepreneurs and businessmen do not see this as the definition of success. However, thirty-five year old entrepreneur and adventurist, Blake Mycoskie, agrees with Emerson’s definition of success. In 2006, Mycoskie started the for profit company, TOMS. The company sells shoes here in the United States, and with every pair sold TOMS gives a pair to needy children in third world countries. Mycoskie and his company have become very successful. In 2007, one year after business, “the revenue was an estimated $3.7 million” (“Making”). TOMS is successful, not only in the business side, but in the charitable side as well. The only aspect that is bigger than the success of the company is its positive impact on people around the world. TOMS directly impacts the children receiving the shoes, but TOMS touches the lives of so many more. TOMS touches the lives of everyone from their customers to someone who has just heard about its story and movement.
In 2002, Mycoskie and his sister, Paige, traveled around the world on the second season of the CBS reality show, The Amazing Race. As fate would have it, after traveling and racing around the world, Mycoskie and his sister came in third place, missing the million-dollar prize by just four minutes. In the race through six of the seven continents, and eight countries, Mycoskie fell in love with the culture of Argentina. Three years after the disappointing loss Mycoskie decided to go back and visit the country he fell in love with on the race.
In 2006, Mycoskie took time off to go on vacation in Argentina. He made it his main mission while there to submerse himself into the culture. He spent his days learning how to tango, the national dance of the country, and playing the national sport, polo. He also got used to wearing the
American Transcendentalist writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” In today’s society many entrepreneurs and businessmen do not see this as the definition of success. However, thirty-five year old entrepreneur and adventurist, Blake Mycoskie, agrees with Emerson’s definition of success. In 2006, Mycoskie started the for profit company, TOMS. The company sells shoes here in the United States, and with every pair sold TOMS gives a pair to needy children in third world countries. Mycoskie and his company have become very successful. In 2007, one year after business, “the revenue was an estimated $3.7 million” (“Making”). TOMS is successful, not only in the business side, but in the charitable side as well. The only aspect that is bigger than the success of the company is its positive impact on people around the world. TOMS directly impacts the children receiving the shoes, but TOMS touches the lives of so many more. TOMS touches the lives of everyone from their customers to someone who has just heard about its story and movement.
In 2002, Mycoskie and his sister, Paige, traveled around the world on the second season of the CBS reality show, The Amazing Race. As fate would have it, after traveling and racing around the world, Mycoskie and his sister came in third place, missing the million-dollar prize by just four minutes. In the race through six of the seven continents, and eight countries, Mycoskie fell in love with the culture of Argentina. Three years after the disappointing loss Mycoskie decided to go back and visit the country he fell in love with on the race.
In 2006, Mycoskie took time off to go on vacation in Argentina. He made it his main mission while there to submerse himself into the culture. He spent his days learning how to tango, the national dance of the country, and playing the national sport, polo. He also got used to wearing the