840 Blake Mycoskie: Founder of TOMS & We Are ENOUGH

0:00I am unwilling to give up, but I will start over from scratch as many times as it takes to get where I want to be. You just want to make sure you will get knocked down, but just make sure you don't get knocked out.

0:14Kara Goldin:So your only choice should be, go focus on what you can control. Hi everyone and welcome to the Kara Goldin show. Join me each week for inspiring conversations with some of the world's greatest leaders. We'll talk with founders, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and really some of the most interesting people of our time. Can't wait to get started. Let's go. Thanks to Homeserve for sponsoring this episode. It's 2026. Owning a home still feels like a win until something breaks. Everything's fine until it's not. A pipe burst, the water heater quits, the AC gives up in a heat wave. Home repairs don't care about timing or your budget.

1:01Kara Goldin:You insure your health, your car, even your phone, but what about the systems inside your home? Many homeowners are surprised to learn that regular insurance often doesn't cover everyday wear and tear, like plumbing failures, electrical issues, or heating and cooling breakdowns. That's where HomeServe comes in. HomeServe is like a subscription for your home. For as little as$4.99 a month, you can choose a plan that fits your needs and your budget. And when something covered goes wrong, instead of scrambling to find a contractor, you just call their 24-7 hotline and start the repair process. It's that simple.

1:39Kara Goldin:If you've ever had a surprise home repair, you know how expensive it can get and how stressful it is trying to fix it fast. Honestly, if I had needed this, HomeServe is what I'd use. Having that kind of backup brings real peace of mind. They've been helping homeowners for over 20 years with a trusted national network of 2 ,600 local contractors with 4.5 million customers, a 4.8 out of 5 post-repair rating, and an A-plus BBB rating. They're the real deal. Help protect your home system and your wallet with HomeServe against covered repairs. Plans start at just$4.99 a month. Go to homeserve.com to find the plan that's right for you.

2:25Kara Goldin:That's homeserve.com. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between$4.99 to$11.99 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs. This message is a paid partnership with Dell Technologies. Hey everyone, Kara here, and I've got something I've just got to share. Dell PCs with Intel inside are built for the moments that matter, for the moments you plan and the moments you don't, built for the busy days that turn into all night study sessions. The moment you're working from a cafe and realize every outlet is taken, the times you're deep in your flow and the absolute last thing you need is an auto update throwing off your momentum.

3:11Kara Goldin:That's why Dell builds tech that adapts to the way you actually work. Built with long-lasting batteries so you're not scrambling for the closest outlet. And built-in intelligence that makes updates around your schedule. Not in the middle of it. They don't build tech for tech's sake. They build it for you. Find technology built for the way you work at dell.com slash dellpcs. Built for you. Hi, everyone, and welcome back to The Carol Golden Show. Have you ever stopped to think about what happens after you achieve the thing you once thought would change everything? The company grows, the valuation climbs, the recognition comes, and yet for so many founders and high achievers, there's still this quiet question underneath it all.

4:05Kara Goldin:Why doesn't this feel like it's enough. And we talk about building, scaling, winning, but we don't talk enough about what it does along the way. And the pressure might keep going, keep proving to keep becoming more and more and more. Today's guest knows that journey better than most. He has built one of the most iconic, purpose-driven brands of our time, pioneering a model that didn't just create a business, but help redefine how companies think about impact and responsibility. So today we're going to talk to Blake Makowski, who is the founder of an incredible brand called Tom's. And he is also the founder of an incredible initiative called We Are Enough and also the host of a brand new podcast called No Magic Pill, which we're going to hear all about.

4:58Kara Goldin:So Blake, Welcome to the Kara Golden Show. So nice to see you. Thank you so much for having me on the show. I'm really excited for this conversation. This message is a paid partnership with AT &T Business. Hey, everyone. Kara here. Let's get real about those early days of building a business. Not the highlight reel. The actual day-to-day. The friction, trying to manage everything across time zones, across teams, across locations, and realizing how much depends on staying connected. I remember those days at Hint, a retailer call, an order, a decision, all of it. And you realize quickly, connection isn't a nice to have.

5:38Kara Goldin:It's the lifeblood of your business. As a founder, you don't want to think about your connectivity. You just need it to work every time. AT &T Business is a reliable provider for small business owners. For Small Business Month, we celebrate small businesses by helping them run better. This means reliable uptime, easy switching, and smart communications. Powered by AT &T Business. Built to work. Get AT &T Business at business.att.com. Thanks to HomeServe for sponsoring this episode. It's 2026. Owning a home still feels like a win until something breaks. Everything's fine until it's not. A pipe burst, the water heater quits, the AC gives up in a heat wave.

6:26Kara Goldin:home repairs don't care about timing or your budget. You insure your health, your car, even your phone, but what about the systems inside your home? Many homeowners are surprised to learn that regular insurance often doesn't cover everyday wear and tear, like plumbing failures, electrical issues, or heating and cooling breakdowns. That's where HomeServe comes in. HomeServe is like a subscription for your home. For as little as$4.99 a month, you can choose a plan that fits your needs and your budget. And when something covered goes wrong, instead of scrambling to find a contractor, you just call their 24-7 hotline and start the repair process.

7:07Kara Goldin:It's that simple. If you've ever had a surprise home repair, you know how expensive it can get and how stressful it is trying to fix it fast. Honestly, if I had needed this, HomeServe is what I'd use. Having that kind of backup brings real peace of mind. They've been helping homeowners for over 20 years with a trusted national network of 2 ,600 local contractors with 4.5 million customers, a 4.8 out of 5 post-repair rating, and an A plus BBB rating. They're the real deal. Help protect your home system and your wallet with HomeServe against covered repairs. plans start at just$4.99 a month. Go to homeserve.com to find the plan that's right for you.

7:54Kara Goldin:That's homeserve.com. Not available everywhere. Most plans range between$4.99 to$1 ,199 a month your first year. Terms apply on covered repairs. I'm very, very excited. So first, before we get into your latest initiative, I'd love to start at the beginning. What was TOMS and what made it so different and unique from anything else at that time? So it's actually about 20 years ago, I was traveling in Argentina and I noticed that so many children did not have shoes. And I learned that many of the kids who didn't have shoes weren't allowed to go to school because there was a requirement for a school uniform, which included shoes.

8:39And at the same time, I discovered this very simple canvas shoe that a lot of the farmers and polo players and people wore down in Argentina. And I kind of came up with this idea. It was very simple. I said, well, what if I sold these shoes to my friends back in Venice Beach, where I lived, that, you know, these cool shoes that I'd never seen before. And every time I sold a pair, I would then donate a pair to these kids that need shoes. And the original project, it wasn't even a business. It was called the Shoes for Tomorrow Project. And then we called them tomorrow's shoes. And then about a month or two into making them, we couldn't fit tomorrow's onto the tag.

9:18So we shortened tomorrow's to Tom's and people have been calling me Tom ever since, but, um, started in my apartment. Um, the whole company was, uh, financed with$3 ,000 that I had in my savings. Uh, I never had an investor. Um, and we scaled the company to about 700 million in sales. And I sold it for about that much in 2019. So yeah. And we gave 100 million children's shoes. So it was a really crazy ride and a lot of fun.

9:50Kara Goldin:Flowers.com slash Kara Golden. This episode of the Kara Golden Show is brought to you by Bombas. Let's be honest, this time of year just hits different. The weather finally turns, you're outside more, moving more, and suddenly the little things you wear every day actually matter. That's why I've been reaching for Bombas. I've been getting back into walking and hiking again, and their sport socks are a total game changer. They're cushioned exactly where you need it, super breathable, and they just stay put. So I'm not thinking about my socks. I'm enjoying the movement. And once the hikes go away, their warm weather footwear is honestly my go-to.

10:29Kara Goldin:The slides are lightweight, waterproof, and incredibly comfortable. Perfect for running around Marin, traveling, or just relaxing at home. But it's not just socks and shoes. Their underwear and tees are next level. Soft, breathable, and actually built to last. It's one of those upgrades you don't realize you need until you try it. And here's the part I really love. For every item you purchase, Bombas donates an essential clothing item to someone facing housing insecurity. They've donated over 150 million items and counting. That's impact. Head over to bombas.com slash Cara and use code Cara for 20 % off your first purchase.

11:11Kara Goldin:That's B-O-M-B-A-S dot com slash Cara. Code Cara at checkout. That's so interesting. This episode of the Cara Golden Show is brought to you by Momentum. I've always been focused on health, but there was a point where my routine just became way too complicated. Too many powders, too many supplements, and no real clarity on what was actually helping. That's why Momentum stood out to me. Momentum is a longevity-focused daily shake designed to simplify everything. Instead of juggling 20 different supplements, you get one clean, thoughtfully formulated scoop that supports the things that actually decline as we age, like energy, cognitive function, and joint health.

11:57Kara Goldin:What I really love is how simple it makes my mornings. I'm not standing there trying to remember what I've taken or what I've missed. It's just one thing and I'm done. And honestly, I feel the difference. More consistent energy, clearer focus, and it actually tastes good, which is not always the case with these types of products. And it's not about short-term performance. It's about feeling better long-term and making that sustainable. Honestly, Momentum has become one of those things I didn't realize I needed until I started using it. My mornings feel less like a production and I just feel better.

12:35Kara Goldin:Go to MomentumShake.com slash Kara Golden and simplify your supplement intake. Get Momentum today and they'll send you a free, that's right, free welcome kit and travel collection, a$70 value to get you started. Live better, longer with Momentum. This episode of the Kara Golden Show is brought to you by ZocDoc. I care a lot about staying healthy, but I'll admit, actually, booking appointments isn't always at the top of my list. It's not the visit itself. it's the process, finding someone good, making sure they take your insurance, and then trying to fit it into your schedule. That's why ZocDoc really stood out to me.

13:18Kara Goldin:ZocDoc is a free app and website that helps you find and book high quality in-network doctors so you can find someone you really love. We're talking about booking in-network appointments with more than 150 ,000 providers across all 50 states. Whether you're looking for dermatology, dentistry, primary care, eye care, or one of the other 200 plus specialties, you can easily search by specialty or even by symptom to find exactly what you need. What I love is how easy it is. You can read real patient interviews, see who feels like the right fit for you, check their real-time availability, and book instantly.

13:59Kara Goldin:No phone tag, no waiting around. You can choose in-person visits or video appointments and appointments made through ZocDoc happen fast, typically with just 24 to 72 hours, sometimes even same day. Honestly, it just takes all the friction out of something that a lot of us tend to delay and makes it easy to actually take control of yourself. Stop putting off those doctor's appointments and go to ZocDoc.com slash Cara to find and instantly book a doctor you love today. That's Z-O-C-D-O-C.com slash Cara. ZocDoc.com slash Cara. Thanks ZocDoc for sponsoring this message. You grew Toms into a global brand.

14:46Kara Goldin:You sold it. And did you stay on with the company that bought the company for any period of time? Yeah, I stayed on for five years. And actually, you know, that was a really great experience. Like I had really good partners. It was a hard time during the company because we were trying to expand into some new categories, new markets. And, you know, the shoe had just been like this crazy rocket ship. I mean, it literally, I think we were the fastest growing shoe company in the world for three years. And so just hard to keep that growth. And so ultimately, after five years, I realized it was, you know, time for me to move on.

15:27I moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where I, you know, kind of became a ski bum. And it was, you know, in hindsight, I think it was the right decision. but it was also a really hard thing to not be so connected to something I spent so many years building.

15:45Kara Goldin:This episode of the Kara Golden Show is brought to you by Momentum. I've always been focused on health, but there was a point where my routine just became way too complicated. Too many powders, too many supplements, and no real clarity on what was actually helping. That's why Momentum stood out to me. Momentum is a longevity-focused daily shake designed to simplify everything. Instead of juggling 20 different supplements, you get one clean, thoughtfully formulated scoop that supports the things that actually decline as we age, like energy, cognitive function, and joint health. What I really love is how simple it makes my mornings.

16:25Kara Goldin:I'm not standing there trying to remember what I've taken or what I've missed. It's just one thing and I'm done. And honestly, I feel the difference. More consistent energy, clearer focus, and it actually tastes good, which is not always the case with these types of products. And it's not about short-term performance. It's about feeling better long-term and making that sustainable. Honestly, momentum has become one of those things I didn't realize I needed until I started using it. My mornings feel less like a production and I just feel better. Go to MomentumShake.com slash Kara Golden and simplify your supplement intake.

17:06Kara Goldin:Get Momentum today and they'll send you a free, that's right, free welcome kit and travel collection, a$70 value to get you started. Live better, longer with Momentum. Flowers.com slash Kara Golden. This episode of the Kara Golden Show is brought to you by Bombas. Let's be honest, this time of year just hits different. The weather finally turns, you're outside more, moving more, and suddenly the little things you wear every day actually matter. That's why I've been reaching for Bombas. I've been getting back into walking and hiking again, and their sport socks are a total game changer. They're cushioned exactly where you need it, super breathable, and they just stay put.

17:50Kara Goldin:So I'm not thinking about my socks. I'm enjoying the movement. And once the hikes go away, their warm weather footwear is honestly my go-to. The slides are lightweight, waterproof, and incredibly comfortable. Perfect for running around Marin, traveling, or just relaxing at home. But it's not just socks and shoes. Their underwear and tees are next level. Soft, breathable, and actually built to last. It's one of those upgrades you don't realize you need until you try it. And here's the part I really love. For every item you purchase, Bombas donates an essential clothing item to someone facing housing insecurity.

18:28Kara Goldin:They've donated over 150 million items and counting. That's impact. Head over to bombas.com slash Kara and use code Kara for 20 % off your first purchase. That's B-O-M-B-A-S.com slash Kara. Code Kara at checkout. That's so interesting. Yeah. So can you talk a little bit about that? I mean, what was the point when you sort of knew that obviously you had sold the company and you were going on to do other things, but was there a point where you really thought, okay, what am I going to do next? Do I go build another company? Do I do nothing? I mean, what was that moment? And did you feel like you were just kind of only allowed to do shoes?

19:23Kara Goldin:I mean, we've heard it from so many founders over the years. Like, where was your head through this process? Well, you know, and I've done a lot of therapy about this, which kind of led to my latest venture, We Are Enough. But, you know, when I sold the company, I felt like I'd accomplished everything I'd ever dreamed of. You know, Tom's is not my first company. I had five companies before Tom's. A lot of people don't know that. And so Tom's is like I had made money and then I made a lot of money. But really what Tom's was is my, you know, way of giving back, of making something that really changed the way that people thought about business.

20:00It was, in a sense, I thought my legacy. and so it was really hard to be 42 years old in hindsight and you know have made more money than you ever thought was possible helped a lot of people kind of achieved all the things you wanted to do as an entrepreneur and so yeah I was kind of like I'm done like I don't know like I don't know how I'm gonna top this I mean like literally like you know it was I had you know built an incredible culture and and so I did I moved to Jackson Hole I started snowboarding a lot I started rock climbing, you know, focused on my, my kids were very young at the time.

20:33Um, but it was about a year and a half in when I started waking up and not feeling very good, like not really knowing what I, not feeling excited to go snowboarding or not really feeling as engaged with my family. And, and I'd never been depressed before, but I'd heard about it. And I had friends who had said they were depressed, but I didn't even understand what that meant really, if I'm honest. And I started, you know, just not really having much excitement for life. And it started small, but then it got worse and worse. And I realized I didn't have purpose anymore. I wasn't connected to my community.

21:06It was getting dark early, you know, Jackson Hole in the winter, five o 'clock, it's dark. You know, I'd always lived in, you know, sunny California. So, you know, a mild depression started up. And then I kind of panicked, to be honest, because I'd never been depressed in my whole life. I think people would say is like, I'm one of the most optimistic, people they know. And so having these feelings, I really didn't know how to deal with them. And so, you know, I kind of did probably what other people might have done who were in my position. And I was like, okay, well, maybe I can just kind of like have new experiences.

21:38And I built the dream house and, you know, went on the great vacations and I got divorced and then I got remarried and I got divorced again. I mean, like I really made a mess of my life chasing, trying to see what I could do to feel better, you know? And I thought that if I just did this, it would be enough and this would be enough, but it never was enough. And ultimately over a long seven year struggle with this and, you know, one that frankly almost, you know, ended my life. I mean, it was really scary. Um, I realized that at the end, underneath it all, and with the help of an incredible therapist, um, I was able to see that I had never felt that I was enough, not as a kid, not as an athlete, not as a founder.

22:20I mean, not as a human. Like I just never felt that I was enough no matter what I did. And I think the reason that was so crushing was I accomplished everything and I still didn't feel enough. And then I bought everything and I still didn't feel enough. And I changed my personal life and I was still stuck with this feeling of not feeling enough. And so I started a really deep, deep healing journey. And that journey led to me eventually over time with a lot of work, really understanding that I am enough just as I am. And so I really been dedicating the last year to spreading that message. We create a nonprofit that we are enough organization and we do these bracelets.

22:59I don't know for those over here who are watching it. If you're listening, it's a hand beaded bracelet in green that says enough. It's handmade in India and we sell the bracelets and we wear them as a daily reminder that we we are enough just as we are. And we donate 100 % of the profits to mental health organizations. And my favorite thing about the bracelet isn't actually wearing it myself. It's when I give it to someone I love. Because when I'm giving it to them, I'm telling them, hey, I got your back. You know, no matter what, I'm here for you. You're never alone. And we together are all enough.

23:34And I've seen the coolest experiences I've had and now other people have had. And we get emails and social media posts to people like giving it to their son or to their daughter or to their best friend. And so it's just been a really cool thing how I took something that was so painful for me and such a block in my life for so long and then was able to heal it myself. But a big part of the healing has come in me sharing it with others. And so the website's weareenough.co and it's really fun. And it's fun to be building a startup again.

24:07Kara Goldin:Flowers.com slash Kara Golden. This episode of the Kara Golden show is brought to you by Bombas. Let's be honest, this time of year just hits different. The weather finally turns, you're outside more, moving more, and suddenly the little things you wear every day actually matter. That's why I've been reaching for Bombas. I've been getting back into walking and hiking again, and their sport socks are a total game changer. They're cushioned exactly where you need it, super breathable, and they just stay put. So I'm not thinking about my socks. I'm enjoying the movement. And once the hikes go away, their warm weather footwear is honestly my go-to.

24:46Kara Goldin:The slides are lightweight, waterproof, and incredibly comfortable. Perfect for running around Marin, traveling, or just relaxing at home. But it's not just socks and shoes. Their underwear guarantees are next level. Soft, breathable, and actually built to last. It's one of those upgrades you don't realize you need until you try it. And here's the part I really love. For every item you purchase, Bombas donates an essential clothing item to someone facing housing insecurity. They've donated over 150 million items and counting. That's impact. Head over to bombas.com slash Cara and use code Cara for 20 % off your first purchase.

25:28Kara Goldin:That's B-O-M-B-A-S.com slash Cara, code Cara at checkout. That's so interesting. This episode of the Cara Golden Show is brought to you by Momentum. I've always been focused on health, but there was a point where my routine just became way too complicated. Too many powders, too many supplements, and no real clarity on what was actually helping. That's why Momentum stood out to me. Momentum is a longevity-focused daily shake designed to simplify everything. Instead of juggling 20 different supplements, you get one clean, thoughtfully formulated scoop that supports the things that actually decline as we age, like energy, cognitive function, and joint health.

26:14Kara Goldin:What I really love is how simple it makes my mornings. I'm not standing there trying to remember what I've taken or what I've missed. It's just one thing and I'm done. And honestly, I feel the difference. More consistent energy, clearer focus, and it actually tastes good, which is not always the case with these types of products. And it's not about short-term performance. It's about feeling better long-term and making that sustainable. Honestly, momentum has become one of those things I didn't realize I needed until I started using it. My mornings feel less like a production and I just feel better.