Introduction

Love your work, work for what you love, and change the world?all at the same time.
 
What matters most to you? Should you focus on earning a living, pursuing your passions, or devoting yourself to the causes that inspire you? The surprising truth is that you don?t have to choose?and that you?ll find more success if you don?t. That's the breakthrough message of TOMS? One for One movement. You don?t have to be rich to give back and you don?t have to retire to spend every day doing what you love. You can find profit, passion, and meaning all at once?right now.  
 
In Start Something That Matters, Blake Mycoskie tells the story of TOMS, one of the fastest-growing shoe companies in the world, and combines it with lessons learned from such other innovative organizations as method, charity: water, FEED Projects, and TerraCycle. Blake presents the six simple keys for creating or transforming your own life and business, from discovering your core story to being resourceful without resources; from overcoming fear and doubt to incorporating giving into every aspect of your life. No matter what kind of change you?re considering, Start Something That Matters gives you the stories, ideas, and practical tips that can help you get started. 
 
Why this book is for you:
 
? You?re ready to make a difference in the world?through your own start-up business, a nonprofit organization, or a new project that you create within your current job.
? You want to love your work, work for what you love, and have a positive impact on the world?all at the same time.
? You?re inspired by charity: water, method, and FEED Projects and want to learn how these organizations got their start.
? You?re curious about how someone who never made a pair of shoes, attended fashion school, or worked in retail created one of the fastest-growing footwear companies in the world by giving shoes away.
? You?re looking for a new model of success to share with your children, students, co-workers, and members of your community.
 
You?re ready to start something that matters.

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A Letter from Author Blake Mycoskie

People often ask me what I consider my goal to be at TOMS. The truth is that it's changed over the years. When we first began, the goal was to create a for-profit company to help the children that I met in a small village in Argentina. And that objective to give new shoes to children in need continues to be a powerful driver for me and everyone else at TOMS.

But recently my personal mission has changed. Today, I would say that my goal is to influence other people to go out into the world and have a positive impact, to inspire others to start something that matters, whether it's a for-profit business or a nonprofit organization. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to share everything that we?ve learned from TOMS, so that others can learn from both our mistakes and the counterintuitive principles that have guided our success.

I would also like to share the stories of other social entrepreneurs, from all walks of life, who are taking that wonderful and courageous step forward, who are moving from thinking about doing something to actually doing it. Among many others, the leaders profiled in my book include Tony Hsieh (founder of Zappos), Scott Harrison (founder of charity: water), Lauren Bush (founder of FEED Projects), Eric Ryan & Adam Lowry (co-founders of method) and Tim Ferriss (author of The 4-Hour Workweek).

Like me, all of the people featured in the book faced insecurities and fear when first starting out. All of us bootstrapped with limited resources, and made countless mistakes along the way. After reading these stories of success, I hope that you?ll realize that you already have everything you need to get started. You don?t need a lot of money, a complicated business plan, or a great deal of experience to get your idea off the ground. What you absolutely must have, however, is the courage to take that first bold step forward?.

For me, the ultimate success of this book will be measured not by how many copies it sells but by the number of people whom it inspires. Are you ready to start something that matters?

Carpe Diem,
Blake

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