I surround myself with inspirational quotations. This easy-to-follow piece of advice has played a huge role in my being able to get past my own fears and insecurities throughout my entrepreneurial career.

Giving does not just feel good, but it's really, really good for business, and it's good for your personal brand.

[Our employees] do it not because we pay them more, but because they want to be part of something.

Giving feels good, but it's also good for the bottom line. Charity is a viable growth strategy for a lot of companies. Our customers get excited to be a part of what we're doing. If you ask anyone wearing Toms how they first heard about us, most won't mention an advertisement; they'll say a friend told them our story.

One day, when I own a house, I'll keep a library full of books. Books are different from other possessions-they're more like friends.

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

Your backpack is a part of your identity as a student.