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5 8 o p r a h . c o m S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1

Out with the Old

Donna Brazile sees a few things in dire need

of a makeover.

Snack food. Finding a healthy morsel at movie theaters and in vending machines is almost impossible—and airports are the worst. It’s like they’re trying to make us die of heart disease by the time we board.

The poliTical apology. I’d like to see a politician actually be remorseful, and not just for getting caught. Or they could take the advice of my middle school principal: Don’t be sorry, be different.

reSpecT for women’S healTh. Planned Parenthood provides the only access to affordable healthcare that many women ever see, including cancer screenings, prenatal care, and breast exams. Yet as soon as a budget needs trimming, politicians start clamoring to cut their funds and throw women under the bus.

The newS. Scandals, name-calling, and semi-naked politicians belong on TMZ, not C-SPAN.

The handShake. The Obamas got it right: A fist bump is much more hygienic.

The Toms Shoes founder—whose first book, Start Something That Matters, hits stores this month—travels widely, dances badly,

and believes giving things away is good for business.

Blake Mycoskie

1 A little imagination goes a long way. In 2006, while vacationing in Argentina, I noticed impoverished

kids walking around with no shoes on—which put them at risk for disease. When I got home to Los Angeles, I started brainstorming and came up with Toms, which donates one pair of shoes for each pair sold. We’ve given away more than a million pairs.

2 Stuff can’t make you happy. When I started distributing shoes in ethiopia, South Africa, and South

America, I saw that the people had so little, yet seemed to worry so much less than my friends and family back home. Instead of stressing over gadgets, they were talking around the campfire.

3 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.

4 Your home should inspire you. A few years back, I downsized to a sailboat. now I wake up when the sun

finds its way into my bedroom. I’m more in tune with nature, which has influenced my shoe designs. I’m reminded every day to keep things simple and comfortable.

5 Life is more fun when you stop caring what other people think. I’ve been blessed with a lot of things in

life, but God did not give me rhythm. Still, I love to dance—which past girlfriends always found hilarious. recently I got onstage at a concert and started bouncing around and hitting a tambourine in front of thousands of people. I was probably off the beat, but you have to do what you enjoy. —As told to Jessica Silvester

mycoskie gives a pair of toms to a child

in argentina, 2010.