The Life Story of Blake Mycoskie
What happens when a simple idea becomes a global movement? Can you begin to help people in need without relying on donations?
The idea seems impossible; you can’t start a non-profit without people making charitable contributions.
But Blake Mycoskie proved you could, and his initiative forever changed philanthropy.
An author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Mycoskie is best known for founding TOMS Shoes.
He is also the one who started the One for One®, a business model that would change the way we donate.
In this article, we will learn more about Blake Mycoskie and how his ideas helped others become involved with charity.
“I think sometimes we forget what we have, and occasionally it’s important to remind ourselves.” ~ Blake Mycoskie
Early Life and Education
Blake Mycoskie was born on the 24th of August 1976 in the city of Arlington, Texas.
His father, Mike Mycoskie, worked as an orthopedic surgeon. His mother, Pam Mycoskie, was a writer with a passion.
Mycoskie attended the Arlington Martin High School, after which he would attend the St. Stephen Episcopal School.
He graduated in 1995 with plans to continue his education.
Since he was 10, Mycoskie loved to play tennis and was adamant that he would make this a career.
He even obtained a partial tennis scholarship at Southern Methodist University, choosing a double major in philosophy and business.
Sadly, during his sophomore year, Mycoskie injured his Achilles tendon.
At that point, his tennis career was finished before it started, causing him to pursue other endeavors. He left the university and started working on his business idea.
Early Career
Mycoskie’s first venture was through a small business that he started himself. Mycoskie realized there were no on-site dry-cleaning services during his time on campus.
This prompted him to set up EZ Laundry, with his target market being the students at SMU.
EZ Laundry eventually expanded, having more than 40 employees on the payroll and servicing three universities. It has grown to be quite a success, generating about $1 million in sales.
In 1999, he sold this company to his business partner, moving on to other endeavors.
After leaving college, Mycoskie moved to Nashville, where he found Mycoskie Media.
This was an outdoor billboard company with the primary purpose of marketing to country musicians.
The company became profitable relatively fast, and 9 months after its launch, Mycoskie Media was purchased by Clear Channel.
After participating in “The Amazing Race” with his sister, Mycoskie moved to Los Angeles, where he would co-found the cable network Reality Central.
He worked on this from 2003 to 2005, as the business folded with the launch of Fox Reality Channel. He would move on to other business endeavors as a result.
TOMS Shoes
In 2006, Mycoskie went to Argentina on a vacation.
There, he met a woman volunteering for an organization offering children’s shoes for needy people.
After traveling from village to village, he noticed that compared to the capital, the poverty was very intense.
Before, in the back of his mind, Mycoskie knew that some children could not afford shoes and were running barefoot.
However, while in Argentina, he noticed the full effects of it: the sores, the blisters, and the infections.
So, he would return to the U.S. inspired, setting the grounds for Shoes for Better Tomorrow (later shortened into TOMS).
“Shoes for Better Tomorrow” was designed to be a non-profit that would provide new shoes for children in need.
For each pair of new shoes purchased, the company would donate another pair for those in need.
In addition, the shoe designs were meant to appeal to the general audience, which would generate profit and help sustain their mission.
The company was started in 2006, immediately after Mycoskie returned from Argentina. By 2013, TOMS Shoes had already donated more than 10 million pairs.
He eventually expanded the business to include eyeglasses using the One for One® business model.
For every pair of sunglasses one person purchased, the company would donate eyesight medical treatments, surgery, or prescription glasses to those in need.
In 2011, he used his philanthropic experience to write the book “Start Something that Matters.”
There, he detailed the concept of social entrepreneurship, redirecting 50% of the royalties for up-and-coming entrepreneur grants. The book became a best-seller featured in the “New York Times.”
In 2014, Mycoskie sold 50% of the TOMS share to Bain Capital. Bain agreed to continue using Mycoskie’s donation style, allowing him to focus on other businesses.
Other Ventures
Aside from TOMS, Mycoskie dabbled into other ventures that would be quite successful. In 2014,
at SXSW, he announced that he would launch TOMS Roasting Co., which provided coffee from direct trade efforts.
The coffee would be sourced from Rwanda, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, and Malawi.
Toms Roasting Company: The business model is for every bag of coffee sold, a week’s worth of clean water for one person will be provided.
In 2020, Mycoskie launched the wellness program “Madefor” with Pat Dossett.
This subscription-based program would help its users adhere to sustainable habits of the mind and body.
In addition, it would provide a monthly kit service to help them ease into lifestyle changes through practice.
Personal Life
Blake Mycoskie was married to Heather Lang from 2012 to 2020. The couple met in 2010 and then married after two years together.
However, the two had several differences, which caused them to get a divorce.
Their marriage led to the birth of two children, Charlie and Summit, a daughter and a son.
Aside from addressing the needs of his children, Mycoskie also offers financial support to a child from Ethiopia, Wubetu Shimelash.
Blake helps with financial aid so that Wubetu can obtain an education.
While his career as a tennis player is out of the picture, Mycoskie remains an adventurous man.
He enjoys surfing and rock climbing, along with other similar activities. He also likes playing polo and golf.
Legacy and Impact
Mycoskie greatly impacted the business world through his one-for-one business model. He proved that one of the best ways to gain customer loyalty is to give them a cause.
When he started the business, he noticed many wanted brands to support causes.
As a result, when Mycoskie added a cause, people began buying more and more.
Some critics suggest these “social entrepreneurs” merely use public relations for profit.
They accuse “environmental greenwashing,” saying they do more harm than good.
However, more businesses are following his business model, pushing the world of philanthropy to new peaks.
The Bottom Line
Blake Mycoskie is what we would call a seeker. He knows how to nurture an idea and then allow it to grow.
Moreover, he motivates many aspiring entrepreneurs, showing that you can do good for the world while keeping the business wheel turning.
Key Points
- Blake Mycoskie, an author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, is best known for founding TOMS Shoes and initiating the One for One® business model.
- Mycoskie was born on August 24, 1976, in Arlington, Texas, and initially aspired to be a professional tennis player.
- After an injury ended his tennis career, he turned to entrepreneurship, starting his first business, EZ Laundry, while still in university.
- Mycoskie’s subsequent ventures included Mycoskie Media, an outdoor billboard company, and co-founding the cable network Reality Central.
- While vacationing in Argentina in 2006, Mycoskie was inspired to create TOMS Shoes, a company that would donate a pair of shoes to a child in need for each pair sold.
- By 2013, TOMS Shoes had donated over 10 million pairs of shoes. The business later expanded to include eyeglasses, following the same One for One® model.
- Mycoskie wrote a best-selling book, “Start Something that Matters,” in 2011, outlining the concept of social entrepreneurship.
- In 2014, Mycoskie sold 50% of TOMS to Bain Capital but remained involved in the company.
- Other ventures by Mycoskie include TOMS Roasting Co., a coffee company that donates a week’s worth of water to supplying countries for each bag of coffee sold, and a wellness program called “Madefor.”
- Mycoskie’s One for One® business model has significantly impacted the business world, encouraging more companies to support charitable causes.
Timeline of Blake Mycoskie
24th August 1976:
Blake Mycoskie is born in Arlington, Texas.
1995:
Mycoskie graduates from St. Stephen Episcopal School.
Mid-1990s:
Mycoskie attends Southern Methodist University on a partial tennis scholarship, majoring in philosophy and business. However, an Achilles tendon injury ends his tennis aspirations, and he leaves the university.
Late 1990s:
Mycoskie founds EZ Laundry, an on-site dry-cleaning service for university students.
1999:
Mycoskie sells EZ Laundry to his business partner.
Early 2000s:
Mycoskie moves to Nashville and starts Mycoskie Media, an outdoor billboard company. The company is sold to Clear Channel 9 months after its launch.
2003-2005:
Mycoskie co-founds the cable network Reality Central in Los Angeles, which folds in 2005.
2006:
Mycoskie travels to Argentina, which inspires him to start “Shoes for Better Tomorrow”, later shortened to TOMS.
2011:
Mycoskie publishes his book “Start Something that Matters,” where he discusses the concept of social entrepreneurship.
2012:
Mycoskie is married to Heather Lang. They have two children, Charlie and Summit.
2013:
By this year, TOMS Shoes has donated over 10 million pairs of shoes.
2014:
Mycoskie sells 50% of TOMS to Bain Capital. He also announces the launch of TOMS Roasting Co., a coffee company sourcing from direct trade efforts.
2020:
Mycoskie and Pat Dossett launch the wellness program “Madefor”, a subscription-based service promoting sustainable habits.
Lessons From The Life of Blake Mycoskie
The lesson for this post is that you can run a business while making the world a better place.
According to BDC, Social Entrepreneurship is a business model companies use to help solve some of the world’s greatest problems.
Traditional business models focus on profit, and social entrepreneurs are about running a business and making a profit while focusing on positively impacting society.
Therefore, the cause they support is important and part of their business plan.
Criticism for this type of business model exists, and some have merit.
The reason is that some operate the business putting profits first, and the cause is used to promote the business without putting effort and resources into impacting the cause.
Blake Mycoskie is a social entrepreneur who has used this business model for different causes. TOMS shoes provided one pair of shoes to needy children for every pair sold.
His Roasting Company also focused on providing clean water for underdeveloped nations. The business model is for every bag of coffee sold, a week’s worth of clean water for one person will be provided.
When considering starting a business for a cause, you must put in policies and the effort required to ensure the cause succeeds and your business fully supports it.
Next, you must ensure the cause and business operations are balanced.
If you put all your efforts into the cause, your business will suffer, and no one will benefit.
On the other hand, if your focus is only on the business, there will be serious consequences. You have lost credibility, tarnished your reputation, and your business will fail.
Another important point is the cause must be something worthy of doing and something people are proud to support.
When you have a cause people care about, they will support the business which supports the cause.
The result is a win-win for the cause, customers, and your business.
I see it as an excellent way to run your business when you have a good plan because you can run your business while making a positive change.
22 Facts Related Blake Mycoskie
- Blake Mycoskie was born in Arlington, Texas, on August 24, 1976.
- His father, Mike Mycoskie, worked as an orthopedic surgeon, and his mother, Pam Mycoskie, was a writer.
- He graduated from Arlington Martin High School and St. Stephen Episcopal School in 1995.
- Mycoskie obtained a partial tennis scholarship at Southern Methodist University, majoring in philosophy and business.
- His tennis career ended after an Achilles tendon injury during his sophomore year, leading him to pursue business.
- Mycoskie started his first venture, EZ Laundry, during his time at Southern Methodist University.
- EZ Laundry expanded to service three universities and made about $1 million in sales before Mycoskie sold it in 1999.
- Mycoskie moved to Nashville after college and founded Mycoskie Media, an outdoor billboard company that was sold to Clear Channel nine months after its launch.
- In 2003, he co-founded the cable network Reality Central in Los Angeles.
- Mycoskie founded TOMS Shoes in 2006 after a trip to Argentina, where he was inspired by the plight of children without shoes.
- The business model of TOMS Shoes is “One for One®”, where for each pair of shoes sold, a pair is donated to a child in need.
- By 2013, TOMS Shoes had donated more than 10 million pairs of shoes.
- The company later expanded to include eyeglasses, applying the same one-for-one business model.
- Mycoskie wrote the book “Start Something that Matters” in 2011, discussing the concept of social entrepreneurship.
- He sold 50% of TOMS shares to Bain Capital in 2014.
- Mycoskie also founded TOMS Roasting Co. in 2014, which donated a week’s worth of water for each bag of coffee sold.
- In 2020, he launched the wellness program “Madefor” with Pat Dossett.
- Mycoskie was married to Heather Lang from 2012 to 2020, and they have two children, Charlie and Summit.
- He financially supports a child from Ethiopia named Wubetu Shimelash.
- Despite his career-ending injury, Mycoskie continues to be active, enjoying activities like surfing, rock climbing, polo, and golf.
- His one-for-one business model has greatly impacted the business world, encouraging many brands to support causes.
- Critics accuse Mycoskie and others like him of “environmental greenwashing,” but more businesses are adopting his model.
Questions And Answers
The information in this post answers many of the questions about Blake Mycoskie. In addition, this section provides a summary and any further information.
How much is the owner of TOMS Shoes worth?
About $300 million is reported to be Blake Mycoskie’s net worth.
What is Blake Mycoskie known for?
Blake Mycoskie is an American entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist who co-founded TOMS Shoes.
Was Blake Mycoskie on Shark Tank?
In season 12, he appeared as a Guest Shark on Shark Tank and struck a deal with Barbara Corcoran.
Is TOMS still profitable?
Bloomberg reported that TOMS generated more than $200 million in 2020, down about $300 million due to the pandemic.
What’s so special about TOMS Shoes?
A pair of shoes is donated to a child in need for every pair of TOMS Shoes purchased.
Why is it called TOMS Shoes?
In the brand’s early days, its name was derived from the “Shoe for Tomorrow Project,” which inspired the initial designs.
Did TOMS Shoes go out of business?
TOMS Shoes is still in business and sells its popular canvas shoes.
The footwear company no longer donates one pair of shoes from every pair it sells as part of its previous charitable initiative. Instead, it takes a new approach to contributing to the community.
Where are TOMS Shoes made?
TOMS Shoes are primarily manufactured in China and Vietnam by third-party contractors, according to their official website.
How much did Blake sell TOMS for?
According to Reuters, Bain Capital acquired 50% of TOMS on August 20, 2014, for $625 million.
What is Blake Mycoskie known for?
Blake Mycoskie is best known for founding TOMS Shoes and initiating the One for One® business model.
When and where was Blake Mycoskie born?
Blake Mycoskie was born in Arlington, Texas, on August 24, 1976.
What were the professions of Blake Mycoskie’s parents?
His father, Mike Mycoskie, was an orthopedic surgeon, and his mother, Pam Mycoskie, was a writer.
What career did Blake Mycoskie initially intend to pursue?
Initially, Blake Mycoskie intended to pursue a career in tennis.
Why did Mycoskie leave Southern Methodist University?
Mycoskie left the university after injuring his Achilles tendon, which ended his tennis career.
What was Mycoskie’s first business venture?
His first business venture was EZ Laundry, an on-site dry-cleaning service for students at Southern Methodist University.
What led Blake Mycoskie to start TOMS Shoes?
Mycoskie was inspired to start TOMS Shoes after a trip to Argentina, where he witnessed the dire need for shoes among children in impoverished areas.
How does the One for One® business model work?
The One for One® business model entails that an identical product or service is donated to someone in need for every product sold.
How many pairs of shoes had TOMS donated by 2013?
By 2013, TOMS Shoes had donated more than 10 million pairs of shoes.
What did Mycoskie do after selling 50% of TOMS to Bain Capital in 2014?
After selling 50% of TOMS, Mycoskie could focus on other business ventures. At the same time, Bain Capital continued to use its donation style.
What is TOMS Roasting Co., and what is its charitable component?
TOMS Roasting Co. is a coffee company that sources its beans from various countries. For each bag of coffee sold, the company donates a week’s worth of water to the supplying countries.
What is “Madefor,” and who is Mycoskie’s co-founder for this venture?
“Madefor” is a Mycoskie and Pat Dossett wellness program launched in 2020. It’s a subscription-based program that provides monthly kits to help users adopt sustainable habits.
What is Blake Mycoskie’s marital status?
As of 2020, Blake Mycoskie was divorced from Heather Lang, whom he married in 2012.
How many children does Blake Mycoskie have?
Blake Mycoskie has two children, Charlie and Summit.
How has Mycoskie’s one-for-one business model impacted the world of philanthropy?
Mycoskie’s one-for-one business model has greatly impacted the world of philanthropy, proving that businesses can successfully incorporate giving back into their operations.
It has also inspired other businesses to adopt similar models.
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