Toms Shoes - An Inspiration for Everyone!
Today was like any other day, except when I woke up this morning, I knew it was going to be different. I had a meeting scheduled with Blake Mycowski, owner and founder of TOMS shoes.
Blake was introduced to me by Ashley McCue, a very cool photographer who attended my last workshop here in Newport Beach. She came up to me during a break in class and told me that she knew someone I had to meet. She said she has a gift of introducing people who really should know each other. I went along with the idea because Ashley is the kind of person you just trust. You can just tell that she knows what she's doing and she's so passionate. After meeting Blake, I completely agree that she has a gift.
Blake is a rockstar when it comes to designing shoes. He's also pretty much a genius at running a business with a vision to help people in need. . He's totally inspired me to find new ways to bless others and build charity into my business to the point that it's more a foundation for my business than just something I do in my free time.
My #1 goal in life is to serve God by serving others. I want to base everything I do on this including my photography business. Work is so much more meaningful when you do it in love and for a purpose.
Thanks to Ashley and Blake, I will be thinking and praying for a new mission statement. Your thoughts are appreciated!
In the meantime, watch this video and be inspired!
***CLICK HERE TO VIEW TOMS SHOE DROP VIDEO IN ARGENTINA***
posted by Mike Colón at 10:34 PM
13 Comments:
how awesome is this guy?! seeing what Blake does just makes you want to be a better person. like i said before, & i'll say again...I am so glad that God brought me to know you Mike. you have inspired me in business & in life. it's amazing to see all the people with big hearts & generous souls gravitate to you. you're a good egg Mike Colon & I am blessed to know you. you are right on about Ashley too. you can't help but to feel good being around her. she has such a wonderful energy & you just know she is going to do great things. thank you mike (& Ashley) for introducing us to another good egg. God Bless.
Awesome post! It has surely opened my eyes. When I was watching the video I had an idea in something that I am going to start doing everytime someone books a wedding with me. I am going to give a $100 to someone who needs it. It may be buying cloths for a family that has lost a home and everything in it. Or buying food for a family that don't have a lot. And if I raise my prices I will raise the gift. I am going to start to work on this I will let you know how it gose. Thanks Mike for this post. When I woke up this morning I was feeling alittle down. But now I'm ready to go
Ricki Ford
This post has been removed by the author.
Mike,
That's an awesome post!!! I think I may have to buy a pair for Lauren. These look great for kids. It is great to read something like this. We constantly get bombarded with negativity and visions of crime, etc. It is such a breath of fresh air to see something so positive and well intentioned. On a seperate note, I wanted to point out that stories like this are one of the great things about your workshops. It is so cool to meet so many people that are like-minded and have so much to offer from different areas. Keep up the great work, and I second that to Ashley for finding a way to bring even more awarness to the cause!
Wow! That is awesome! I get so excited when I see people with such a heart for others. What an inspiration. Thanks for sharing!
Hey mike it was great talking to you in the water today. This idea is great. Check out the video of Africa. http://www.cutframetv.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4ae9d2f5a76aa1c00fa2
Jeff
That was really powerful.
This is so powerful to me tonight. I was just talking to another person about giving and how much more meaningful and powerful it is to not only the obvious but to ourselves. I'm so inspired by your post ... by Toms shoe ... thank you so much for sharing this ... today there is so much excess, its so powerful how something so simple to us as a pair of shoes ... can bring so much joy, happiness and the spirit to drive others to do more good ... thank you.
Let me start out by saying I've been reading your blog for about a year now, and you have been just a huge inspiration. I'm still in the beginning stages of my business, but when I first started thinking about whether or not to create my studio, one of the questions was, 'Can I use this to glorify God, and how?' When I read your bio, I got my answer. At this point, God has used my business to open doors and opportunities to affect people's lives in a way I never would have on my own. I am an introverted person and beyond my day job (studio is part-time for now) and church I don't make it a point to meet new people, it's just very hard for me. With my business that all has changed. I can tell several stories about how people have opened up to me or asked me to pray for them and all I've done is photographed their wedding. I use to think about being in 'ministry full-time' now I realize I can have a bigger impact doing something I love, and giving clients the best images I can.
This past May I went to a leadership seminar. One of the speakers was Tim Sanders, former Chief Solutions Officer at Yahoo, he wrote a book called, 'Love is the Killer App'. In the book and at the seminar, he talked about the Social Values Revolution. In a nut shell, it's exactly what TOMS Shoes is doing. After 9/11 people have been much more socially aware and shareholders want companies they deal with to not just make a profit, but to invest in communities and people's lives. He also talked about having Mission statements that matter. Since hearing this, I have been trying to come up with one. I don't just want to help people in a spiritual or emotional way, I want to be able to help meet physical needs as well. I also want my photography to somehow bring joy to people's lives through beauty, but I haven't figured out how to do this in a charitable kind of way. Thank you for sharing TOMS Shoes' story, and thank you for being open about your faith. You are a true inspiration.
Mike,
You need to expose yourself more! Meaning, your cause with photography and how much you financially bless Thirst Relief Int. is not as obvious as you might think. Actually knowing you I am sure you are aware. I just think that your such an inspiration to others that you should reveal how much your business allows you to be generous with your giving and involvement in Thirst!
God bless you for all you give and do.
Jim Davis-Hicks
www.thirstrelief.org
www.davisphotographer.com
p.s. I hope you didn't mind me mentioning this! You Rock!
That video is so amazing!! What a great mission. :) Thanks for sharing this!
I just read about Toms shoes in a Parent magazine. How neat that you met him! I agree with everyone about how powerful the video is. Its so easy to look around and take what we have for granted. Thanks for posting this!!
I recently read about them in Relevant Magazine. It does start you thinking, "What can I do." Thank goodness for those out there like Blake who inspire the rest of us schmucks to be less selfish. Thanks for sharing.
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