TOMS Book Review and Giveaway!

"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

Inside each of us, there is a desire to succeed. A desire to make a difference. We don't want to be purposeless and empty. We want to be remembered. We want to do something that matters. We want to change the world. But often, I think we look at it from too broad of a perspective. We sit at home and think, "One person can't make the whole world perfect and fix all of it's problems. I can't fix everything, so I just won't do anything."

In 2006, a man named Blake Myscoskie visited Argentina on vacation. While he was there, he got used to wearing the national shoe, called the alpargata. The shoe was a soft, casual canvas shoe worn by almost all of the local people. Blake loved the shoe, and thought it would have a great market in the United States, but pushed the thought to the back of his mind. After all, he was on vacation - he wasn't supposed to be working. Later on his trip, he met a woman who collected shoes from donors and gave them to kids in need. He was heartbroken to find out that many times they didn't have enough shoes to give out, or when they did, they weren't the correct sizes, and many kids were still left barefoot after her shoe drop-offs.

He wanted to change that. The idea he formed was simple. He would start a shoe company that sold shoes similar to the alpargata. For every pair he sold, he would give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. This was the basis of the TOMS story. In his book, Start Something That Matters, Blake Mycoskie shares his story while creating a guidebook to anyone interested in starting something that matters - something that makes a difference.

He gives six elements that give you somewhere to start as you create your idea, and then he shows you how to apply the concepts and elements. He devotes one chapter to each key trait, focusing on that trait, how he used it, how others are using it, and how you can use it. The six elements he gives are finding your story, facing your fears, being resourceful without resources, keeping it simple, building trust, and giving.

Each chapter is relatively short, but is packed with stories, advice and interesting (and entertaining!) tidbits along the way. Blake Mycoskie brings you along on his journey with TOMS, while showing you how to embark on a journey of your own. All of the chapters include stories from the TOMS business, as well as stories from others who have started their own businesses, organizations and companies. He also mixes in lots of tips on how you can use his six elements for your own dreams and ideas, questions to jump start your brainstorming, and advice and insight he has learned and gained along the way.

The book was definitely encouraging and inspiring. Everyone wants to do something to make a difference - and everyone can. It all comes down to taking the first step. Toward the end of his book, Blake says "The most important step of all is the first step. Start something! What if that idea in the back of your head is a really good one, one that might end up helping tens of thousands of people? You owe it to the world to act. Or maybe it will help only a few people : The same advice applies. ... Just because the first step is a very simple one doesn't mean that it can't lead someday to something profound."

I'm giving one copy of this book away (United States residents only, please)! All you have to do is leave a comment with a link to your favorite pair of TOMS. You can find all of their styles on the TOMS website : http://www.toms.com/. On February 14th, I will randomly choose one comment to win a copy of the book, Start Something that Matters.


*I received two copies of this book free from the TOMS company, one to keep, one to give away. The opinions in this post are mine, I was not paid to review the book, nor was I required to post a positive review.