On my way to South by South West in March 2011, I happened to watch a documentary on the QANTAS inflight channel about Blake Mycoskie’s organisation TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need – one for one.
Coincidentaly (though I never doubt the power of the universe to put me in the right place a the right time), Blake was a keynote presenter at this year’s South by South West conference. A good looking curly-haired man, he took the stage and told the story that he had told time and again about the social enterprise that has given away 1-milion pairs of shoes to children throughout the world.
Watch the recording I made on my iPad2 of his presentation below. (The iPad was on my lap and you’ll occasionally hear the laughter of our group…) Social activism is not new, but I have (to my delight) noticed that more and more, there are businesses, big and small, whose mission is tied in with the difference they will make.
TOMS just launched a new business.
One for One sunglasses. Just like the shoes philosophy (for every pair purchased, one is donated), with TOMS Eyewear, one person buys, and one person who is sight-challenged is helped. TOMS is partnering with the Seva Foundation and its programs that provide treatment, sight-saving surgery and prescription eyeglasses
. I enjoyed Blake’s comment … “Why should charity be responsible for helping people? Why do we look to charity to solve problems? What about entrepreneurship being the way to help others.”
I was inspired by his story and still am moved and driven to see what difference I too can make.
Take a listen to Blake’s presentation
(He’s a terrific story-teller… and he has a great story to tell.)
And, please look at the TOMS site. More than that, I encourage you to buy a pair of TOMS (shoes or glasses). They’re pretty cool, AND, they make a difference.
