"I'm called to touch the world" -Blake Mycoskie

By: Joe Simon, G2G Coach

Four minutes from winning $1 million, having the 'world' watching you, and encourage you, as you live out a hyper-adrenaline filled life.  How do you go home back to a normal life after something like that?  Or, do you build from this experience getting even better?  How do you equate building a global shoe company, which you have no experience in, that gives away every other pair of shoes it makes, and being profitable and vibrant with passionate employees?  You have got to meet Blake Mycoskie and hear how he moved from great to his greatest.

Acknowledged as one of today's most dynamic serial entrepreneurs, Blake Mycoskie launched five successful companies before age 30.  Best known as the founder and "Chief Shoe Giver" of TOMS Shoes, a for-profit company with a unique "One for One" business model that provides a new pair of shoes to needy children for every pair sold.  TOMS has encouraged conscious consumers to purchase and give more than 600,000 pairs of shoes to children around the world.  In December, 2009 TOMS Shoes was awarded the State Department's Award for Corporate Excellence by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.  BUT, some might recognize his face when competing in the CBS primetime series The Amazing Race with his sister, Paige.  They came within 4 minutes of winning it all, a $1 million grand prize. Or, is it the AT&T TV commercial featuring Blake on his Blackberry (his home office) seen across the U.S.?

Blake starts the conversation with his trademark smile as he describes 'shoe-biz'.  "Yeah, I was in the airport the other day, and saw this girl.  She was in the line next to me as I'm electronically checking-in.  She is wearing a red pair of TOMS.  So I turn to her and say, I like your shoes.  She sort of jumps towards me and starts to tell me about the company, and how it gives a pair of shoes away to a needy child who's without shoes when a pair of shoes is purchased.  I had to interrupt her and tell her I'm that guy, the one who started TOMS.  She steps back, looks at me and says, 'WHY DID YOU CUT YOUR HAIR?' ". Sort of humbling but very inspirational to me how excited she was about what TOMS is doing.  That's amazing to me as we see the results of doing a good thing and how others want to know more about it, and participate with us.  They are our fans".

These 'fans' include, AT&T, Microsoft, Google, Blackberry, NIKE and others.  Blake comments, "We are passionate about this, and we needed help getting the word out, so I called Microsoft. I told them our story, asked them if they would work with us someway?  They provided a ton, like a few million dollars, in free internet advertising".  A true lesson in viral marketing, last year TOMS rallied people around the world to go shoeless for a day.  "Over 250,000 people went shoeless, making a statement about how important shoes are and what it feels like when you don't have a pair of shoes.  We want people to know that on April 5, 2011 we are going shoeless for the day". So TOMS is run on profitable passion?  "Exactly" chuckles Blake, he adds, "That's sort of funny as we have had NIKE come and study our culture, they want to know what we are doing, their captivated with how our employees love this.  You know after being with TOMS for two years an employee goes out on a shoe drop at one of the third-world countries we work with, seeing the kids, fitting the shoes.  We have this energy in our office that's humming because we're doing shoe drops several time a year"!

Most would consider this a charitable effort, forming a non-profit organization.  TOMS Shoes is a for-profit corporation, why? "We're asked this alot", Blake comments, "four years ago when we started this I had fourty-thousand dollars.  I could have purchased shoes and given them out, but the next three years we would have been asking for more money to keep it going.  In our first year we actually gave out 23,000 pair of shoes, and by the end of our fourth year we gave out 680,000 pair of shoes to kids in third-world countries.  Some were sharing a pair of shoes between three kids, that just moved me when I heard that".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

(Joe Simon - G2G Coach & Author)

G2G is an achievement coaching program with a grass-roots level feel and approach.  If you are looking for high-tech, 'New Agey' stuff this is not for you.   G2G is a one-on-one achievement coaching program, best applied during the prime-time hours of your day.  About 20% of this program could entail physical activity (Tailored to the students level of physical fitness).  G2G is an 8 week committment, 2 hours per session.  Resulting in a blueprint for 'greatest' which is your Compelling Vision Plan. 

 

Who Is A 'Perfect' G2G Candidate:

High achievers in business, healthcare, athletics, or ministry, who have realized they want more in their life.  This candidate is willing to invest the precious asset of time to improve on crucial areas of living which most high acheivers tend to ignore (See 4 Core G2G Concepts).

 

4 Core G2G Concepts:

1.  Spiritual:  God has a plan with a purpose for your life.

2.  Physical:  You must invest in your 'physical', age has nothing to do with body-vibrancy

3.  Personal:  Relationships are essential, learning to grow with your spouse / family / close friends takes practice.

4.  Mental:  Learn the art of 'Marination', R & D time, 'Seasonal Allocation' .

 

G2G Group Presentation :  Micro-Sessions, Speaking Engagements:

Often G2G students wish to have their staff, team, leadership group experience G2G concepts or tools which they personally have in their one-on-one coaching.  Topics and sessions can be tailored to a specific group, typically in a 'Micro-Session'.  Taking crucial points and creating an entire group discussion around it, in a minimum period of time, typically 1 to 2 hour segments.  Larger groups may want to consider a general learning opportunity with a group presentation which is less interactive than the 'Micro-Session', and covering more information.

 

People Are Talking:

Our G2G alumni are passionate leaders who tell close friends and aquaintances about how their life is changing while walking through their coaching.  We encourage this of course, and value each of those friends and aquaintances stories.  Many times a potential G2G student meets to hear more about this program and what was meant to be a one hour meeting turns out to be much longer. 

 

'Re-create' At The Camp Fire:

G2G works with the 'fearless leader' who needs to take his or her armor off and rest at the camp fire, knowing it's confidential, safe, and recreative getting down to the core.  All warriors need a place like this.

 

Your Investment In G2G:

Your time and heart-mind are needed.  Your old way of thinking is not allowed.  Knowing with growth comes some 'good' temporary pain.  Your tailored G2G program will indicate the cost prior to the first 8 week session beginning, following your initial appointment.  Half of that will be paid at the first session, with the remaining cost paid at the beginning of the 4th session.  Micro-Sessions and group presentations are on a case by case basis.  VERY IMPORTANT:   Determining your expectations during the first appointment is vital as we want to make sure G2G is a fit by clearly defining and understanding your objectives.   100% satifaction is G2G's goal for you.  In the event these goals are not met a money-back guarantee is given. 

 

Contact:

Joe Simon at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  facebook:  great2greatest