In the fall of 2012 the author decided he needed to do some
soul-searching. The start-up he’d founded six years earlier had grown
into a global company with more than $300 million in revenue, and it was
still delivering on its promise to donate a pair of shoes for every
pair sold, but Mycoskie felt disillusioned. His days were monotonous,
and he had lost his connection to many of the executives in charge of
daily operations. He and his wife moved to Austin, Texas, so that he
could take a sabbatical. He dedicated a lot of time to private
contemplation, but he also spoke regularly with his executive coach,
entrepreneur friends, and business nonprofit leaders he admired. He
traveled to conferences around the country to learn from experts in
social enterprise and international development. And he read Start with
Why, by Simon Sinek, about leaders who inspire action and companies that
create compelling products. All this, combined with a chance
conversation about the coffee trade in Rwanda, led to the creation of
TOMS Roasting—which, like TOMS Shoes, would have a one-for-one model:
For every bag of coffee sold, the company would provide a week’s worth
of clean water to a person in need. As TOMS approaches its 10th
anniversary, the author writes, he feels more energized and committed
than ever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]