I did what I think a lot of entrepreneurs do. I started putting up a lot of ads on Craigslist for interns.

People always ask me, when I had the idea for TOMS, did it change my life? As romantic and noble as it is, no it did not change my life. But when I went to Argentina on that first shoe-drop, it did change my life.

Who is Tom? There is no Tom. If we sell a pair of shoes today, we give away a pair of shoes tomorrow. Originally we thought of "Tomorrow's Shoes," but I could only fit "TOMS" on the label. I had no idea everybody would want to meet him. There is no Tom; it's an idea for a better tomorrow.

TOMS is no longer a shoe company... we're a one-for-one company.

The greatest competitive advantage is to allow your employees to be part of something. Something bigger than what you're doing.

The most important things are actually the easiest to obtain: great friends, good food, and a decent bottle of wine.

The goal isn't how much money you make, but how much you help people.