Information About the Book and Reasons Why I Chose It
“For every pair I sell, I’m going to give a pair of new shoes to a child in need,” according to the book of Blake Mycoskie's (2011, p.6) work. He is not only the author of “Start Something That Matters”, but also the founder of TOMS.
“Start Something That Matters” is a biography of Mycoskie that it was published in the United States by Spiegel & Grau. In this book, Mycoskie shares the story between him and TOMS, including the lessons learned. He also mentions six elements of entrepreneurialism which provide a positive effect to help the entrepreneur succeed.
In addition, a half of the royalty on the book will be used to support new entrepreneurs through the Start Something That Matters
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After finishing the book, I am moved by Mycoskie’s action greatly and many thoughts run in my mind. A simple idea could bring the real impact. “It was a simple concept: Sell a pair of shoes today, give a pair of shoes tomorrow” (Mycoskie, 2011, p.6). A pair of shoes could create lots of happiness to children. When Mycoskie and his crew gave the promised shoes to the children in need in Argentina, the happiness was reflecting on the smiling faces of children.
In fact, it is not easy that Mycoskie fulfills his dream. When he started up TOMS, he had no any experience or connection in the shoe business. He did not give up his dream and tried to solve the problems one-by-one. When they performed in giving the promised shoes to the children in need, they drove 18 hours and slept on the bus. Although there were many challenges in the whole journey, they were still brave and hardy to face those challenges. I admire their effort that the work is not only for themselves but also for the millions of children around the
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It is useful that people apply the leadership skill in the college or workplaces.
Reviewing my leadership qualities, I realized that my existing leadership qualities are same with some leadership traits of Mycoskie in the Big Five Model. Two of my existing leadership qualities is integrity and dependability. When I make a commitment to someone, I know I am able to fulfill it and willing to put in extra time and efforts to accomplish commitment. For example, I promise to become an assistant guitar teacher in the summer course in church every year.
In addition, another leadership quality is also same with Mycoskie. It is the trait of openness to experience. I love trying the new things. It could be studying a new subject, learning an interest or entering an activity. During this summer holiday, I learn Korean and also try to travel alone in a foreign country one week. It makes a big change to myself. I become more bravely to face the new
So how does this apply to Tom’s Shoes? This is something the company Tom shoes knows all too well. Tom’s shoes is doings so by giving back to the community. For every shoe sold, they give away a free pair. Not only shoes but eyewear as well. So what started this? Tom’s shoe is a company based out of the U.S, and was founded back in 2006. They also design and sell the brand in Argentine. During one
Leaders possess many qualities but of course some are important than others. The strengths I posses would be courage, bravery and integrity. Some may say that my weaknesses would include collaboration (at times) and agency. I do stick up for what I believe in, I do not always jump into my assignments. However, I believe that there is nothing like the adrenaline rush you get when you are pumping out a paper a few days before it is due, I think that my intelligence level is actually raised when I am, last minutely working on something.
Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS in 2006. He was originally going to call the company Shoes for Tomorrow, buy a pair of shoes today and we will give a pair of shoes to a child tomorrow. Because of the length of the name he later shortened it to TOMS. The idea to start a for-profit company that could provide shoes to children in need came to him when he was in Argentina. He met some volunteers who told him they were there to give shoes to children. He was intrigued and went with them. There he befriended some children and witnessed firsthand the hardships they faced due to lack of foot wear. He saw that shoes not only protect those little feet from blisters and getting cuts that get infected but they also prevent foot infections, and diseases that can penetrate the skin through bare feet such as ring worm and podoconiosis a very painful disease caused from walking barefoot on volcanic soil. Shoes also are part of a school uniform, therefore if a child doesn’t have shoes they cannot go to school. He...
When Laura was teaching children and volunteering in the construction projects in the Situmi Village on the border of Uganda and Kenya, she came across an interesting scenario. Four previously shoeless Ugandan children each received a pair of TOMS shoes, along with a “TOMS” piece of fabric that resembled a flag. The four children hung the fabric on a stick and ran through the village for days waving it joyously. Today, the flag is still a toy in the Situmi Village (“Waving the TOMS Flag in Uganda”). Some may ask why these children are getting shoes; this happiness is all thanks to a man named Blake Mycoskie. He has created a surprisingly successful business, in which for every pair of shoes bought, a pair is given to a barefooted child. This respectable business may be a representation of the evolution of business in the future.
... April 2011). Shoes for Business: The unintended consequences of doing good. The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved from: http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/4/27/shoes-local-toms-pair/
"Opinion | Your TOMS Shoes Won't save the World." The Miami Student. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.
In The Art of the Start, Guy Kawasaki recommends several key principles that are important for “anyone starting anything” as suggested by the sub-title of the book. Kawasaki’s main focus in this book is entrepreneurship and the process by which a successful business can be created and maintained. Kawasaki suggests five core concepts of successful entrepreneurship: causation, articulation, activation, proliferation, and obligation, along with many key principles for each concept.
What I have learnt in the class proof that these are all leadership qualities because a successful leader is the one that build a strong team and motivate others to contribute. A leader is also hard working because people follow someone that works hard and performs well therefore a leader is always action oriented. A leader also respect different cultures because a team consist of different people that belong from different cultures therefore a leader respect all the team members and appreciate their contribution and
This generation desires to do all things and more: to shop, socialize, and save the world all at the same time. TOMS Shoes, a popular shoe company that donates a pair of shoes to needy children for every pair purchased, is showcasing just how much brand enthusiasm young consumers will show for a company with a similar worldview. A standing army of social media activists and over twelve-hundred university clubs use their online and personal networks to broadcast their admiration of TOMS Shoes. As the style industry and consumers have embraced the many charms of TOMS Shoes, “shoe drops” organized by the company in Argentina, Ethiopia and South Africa have distributed over 140,000 pairs of shoes to poverty inflicted children. The shoes, advertised from $44 to $70, are the seamless feel-good
Blake Mycoskie is a man who has seemingly done everything. He has started many different organizations, and accomplished many things in his 40 years. Mycoskie is an entrepreneur, and an accomplished leader. He has passion for all that he does, and always works with a purpose, usually with the well-being of others in mind. Mycoskie has started many businesses, but what I know him for is starting the TOMs organization. This organization sells shoes and eyeglasses, and for each pair bought of either, a pair shoes or eye care (surgery, sight-saving treatment, prescription glasses) is sent to a child in need, in a third world country. Kawasaki says “If you make meaning, you’ll probably also make money”, and this is something I firmly believe that
Barringer, Bruce R. (2010) Entrepreneurship: successfully launching new ventures 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ Prentice Hall
The most important quality that differentiates a leader from other people is the ability to think strategically. Vision is the most important aspect that drives a leader’s strategy. It is all about where you want to be. Other qualities include Decision making, problem solving, time management, self-motivation, emotional intelligence and many more. Once we know the type of leadership, it is easy to find what leadership skills we have and which we need to develop which is explained in the book “Leadership: Theory, application, skill development (5th ed.) by Lussier and Achua.” Also, Keirsey Style Sorter personality type helps to knowing our temperament type, and work on our weakness and to emerge out as a good leader.
One quality that has always stuck with me through the 17 years of my life is leadership. Whether it was me organizing the games my sister and I would play when we were younger, or being the one person to start a class discussion on the first day of school when everyone else was too shy to muster something up, I have always been one to
In a conference discussing the importance of entrepreneurship in the 21st century, a startling statement was made “It is vital for the world economy to study the different tasks an entrepreneur has to accomplish because without entrepreneurs a world economy cannot exist.” (Ludwig Von Mises Institute Europe, 2015). This statement is sound is this age, where modern economy thrives on innovation and novelty from these model of entrepreneurs. And yes, “the different tasks and entrepreneur has to accomplish” are taxing and complicated. For these reasons, JumpStart was established. The organization’s mission is to help entrepreneurs navigate through the barrier of difficulties in their early days through various programs and services, in hope of promoting a healthy job growth and economic growth in Northeast Ohio. Firstly, this paper will introduce the history of JumpStart, Inc., followed by its initial startup program. Then, the paper will discuss JumpStart’s approach
Charles & Keith, a well-recognized women’s footwear brand was established in 1996 in Singapore Amara shopping centre by the two young brothers, Charles Wong and Keith Wong. The company began its foreign market venture in 2000. To date, Charles and Keith has a presence in more than 20 major cities around the world. The brand are well-known internationally today with the vision “to be the most admired fashion-forward company” and the mission “to offer high quality products and services, with a commitment to perfection” in mind all the time (Charles & Keith, 2013).