LFG and TOMS Shoes: One for One

I seek balance in most things. I said MOST things. Free market(s) and entrepreneurship, balanced by the appropriate level of regulation and oversight is my mantra. Charity is crucial to the survival of humanity—no argument from me on this issue and I walk my talk by giving my time and money when possible. I’m at odds with the old Churchill quote…. “Show me a young man who is not liberal and I’ll show you a man with no heart—show me an old man who is not conservative and I’ll show you a man with no brain”. The older I get, the more moderate in my views I become. Without free markets there is inadequate prosperity from which to draw charitable resources. And for those of you who are convinced that government knows best how to assure that you have food, shelter and clothing—keep in mind that without a thriving economic engine, you have an inadequate base to tax. It’s all about balance.

Ok, that concludes my half baked indefensible treatise on free markets and charity. One of the best examples of balance is TOMS shoes. I love this Blake Mycoskie’s business model. He’s all about free markets, he’s all about style, texture, whimsy, choice and he’s all about giving. He’s not trying to eradicate HIV or put an end to genocide or human slavery—all honorable endeavors by the way. He’s all about giving a pair of shoes to a kid who has none. The beauty in his mission is the strength of simplicity. And never, ever equate simplicity with weakness. I think his one for one strategy is stellar.

So LFG and I go to the TOMS website. We read and watch a video clip and then we talk shoes. Hardly a typical shoe conversation, LFG and I discussed the implications of not having shoes to wear. None...no shoes at all…zip…zero…nadda. She then realized that when selecting her pair of TOMS, an additional pair would be set aside for a deserving child.

If you’ve never been to the TOMS website, head over there and snoop around a little bit. Also, check out this video segment to get a peek at Blake's One for One strategy. 

One for One…it’s all good.

Onward with LFG in TOMS…ADG