736 Blake Mycoskie: TOMS Shoes Founder on Changing Business and the World

Episode Summary

Executive Summary: Lewis Howes interviews Blake Mycoskie about building TOMS from a simple one-for-one shoe-giving idea into a global social-impact brand, why storytelling and transparency matter in modern business, how to respond to criticism with empathy, and how TOMS is now using its platform to push for universal background checks after a mass shooting near his family.

Main Topics: Origin of TOMS and the One-for-One Model (Priority: 5/5): Mykoski explains how a trip to Argentina inspired TOMS: he saw children unable to attend school because they lacked shoes, leading him to create a simple business model where each purchase funds a donated pair. Storytelling, Social Media, and Brand Growth (Priority: 5/5): He argues TOMS scaled because the mission was easy to understand and share on social media, turning customers into marketers and making the brand part of a bigger story. Criticism, Empathy, and Business Adjustments (Priority: 4/5): Mykoski discusses backlash against TOMS' aid model and how he learned to treat critics with curiosity, then adapted sourcing to create local jobs and improve sustainability. Purpose-Driven Business vs. Pure Profit (Priority: 4/5): He says modern brands need a purpose beyond making money to attract younger consumers, citing transparency and social good as key differentiators in a crowded market. Using Corporate Platform for Gun Violence Prevention (Priority: 5/5): After the Thousand Oaks shooting, TOMS launched a campaign for universal background checks, redirected its homepage to postcards for Congress, and made a major donation to anti-gun-violence groups. Entrepreneurial Focus, Time, and Balance (Priority: 3/5): Mykoski reflects on juggling his renewed workload, family life, and mission, emphasizing Essentialism, saying no, and focusing only on what he uniquely can do. Three Truths and Personal Philosophy (Priority: 3/5): He closes with his guiding principles: carpe diem, the more you give the more you live, and be present with the people and moments that matter.

Key Arguments: A simple, transparent social mission can power a scalable business because customers understand and share it easily. Social media was crucial to TOMS' growth because the brand story gave customers something meaningful to post and talk about. Criticism can be productive if approached with empathy and curiosity; it can reveal legitimate business improvements. Modern consumers, especially younger ones, want brands with a mission bigger than profit, whether through giving back or radical transparency. A company can use its platform to address human issues that have become unnecessarily politicized, such as gun violence. Growth requires new stories; once the original story is exhausted, businesses must innovate in product, market, or mission to keep momentum. Entrepreneurs should not waste years chasing mediocre ideas just because capital is available; launching quickly and generating revenue matters more than fundraising. Presence, intentionality, and generosity are the foundations of a meaningful life and a strong company culture.

Data Points: Pairs of shoes donated by TOMS since 2006: Almost 90 million / 88 million - Mykoski cites the scale of the one-for-one model and TOMS' social impact over time. Annual shoes given away: About 10 million shoes per year - He describes the ongoing scale of TOMS' giving program. Estimated annual giving cost: $50 million to $70 million per year - Mykoski says this is the cost of donating products, framed as marketing/customer loyalty investment. TOMS sales growth milestone: Zero to half a billion dollars in sales in five to six years - He notes TOMS reached massive sales with no investors in the early years. Business ownership change: 50% of the business sold - He says he sold half the company and brought in a partner/CEO to help scale and reduce pressure. Number of social-impact investments: 30 to 40 companies - Mykoski says he and his wife have invested in social entrepreneurs and nonprofit-minded businesses. Mass shootings in the U.S.: Over 300 in 340 days of 2018 - He uses the statistic to explain why TOMS chose to act on gun violence. Corporate contribution to anti-gun-violence groups: $5 million - He says TOMS made the largest corporate contribution in U.S. history at the time. Postcards sent through TOMS campaign: Almost 700,000 - Users sent postcards to Congress via the TOMS website urging universal background checks. Goal for postcard campaign: 20,000 expected - He says the team initially hoped for far fewer participants than they received. Gender mix before campaign: 85% women, 15% men - He describes the audience split before the gun-violence campaign boosted male traffic. Gender mix after campaign: 40% of sales from men - He reports a major increase in male buyers after the campaign and new men's product discovery.

Pivotal Quotes: "the more you give, the more you live" — Blake Mykoski: One of his three truths; summarizes his philosophy on generosity and meaning. "if your purpose is just to sell a widget and make money, I think it's very hard to attract and retain young customers" — Blake Mykoski: On why modern brands need mission and transparency beyond profit. "we are 100% pro-Second Amendment, 100% pro-guns. I mean, I grew up in Texas hunting" — Blake Mykoski: He clarifies the TOMS gun-violence campaign is about universal background checks, not gun confiscation.

Implications: The episode argues that mission-driven businesses can build loyalty, growth, and influence by solving real human problems. It also shows brands can move public policy when they use trust, storytelling, and customer participation strategically.