Caroline Freedman is the CEO and co-founder of NurturMe Organic Baby Food, based in Austin, Texas. Here is her story about how she started something that matters!
If you want to start something that matters, at some point early on you need to figure out where to begin. It was with the below-listed items that I took the idea for creating baby food in a new & different way and turned it into a reality.
INGREDIENTS
1 Thing you care passionately about (in this case, organic foods and healthy babies!)
1 Hardworking and trustworthy partner
4 Advisory board members
3 Reputable suppliers
1 “Yes” from a buyer(s)
180k in startup funds
Countless hours on the road, at the computer, in meetings, on the phone, etc.
An open mind to the opportunities that await
A will to make a difference and give back Read more
“One of the first things I did,” Blake writes in his book, “was to place an ad for interns on craigslist.” And ever since, the internship program has been a crucial part of TOMS. Interns are tasked with a tremendous amount of responsibility. Tthe intern application page states, “You will be important, essential, and you will create change in your world you can point to when you’re done.”
Some interns find their place at TOMS HQ as full-timers, while others go on do amazing things outside of the TOMS family.
The letter below is from a recent internship program alumni, Matt. While climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, he had a “sobering” conversation with his group’s porter, Benson. “As we hiked down, I learned he earns between 1 and 2 dollars a day – not enough to put a child through school.” Read more
I got a wonderful email today from Carmin Black, a former TOMS Vagabond that started her own One for One business called HALF UNITED. I hope that this note inspires you as much as it did me :)
If you’ve started something that matters, or are thinking about a new project, do let me know in the comment section of this blog. I would love to spotlight some of the community’s ideas!
Blake-
After learning about your new book, “Start Something that Matters,” I felt compelled to write and let you know how much TOMS has inspired me…
Two years after interning at TOMS, I am running my own One for One business, HALF UNITED, which gives healthy school meals to a child in need for every item sold. The TOMS family took me under their wings, and unlike other companies who are cut-throat when it comes to competition, your people encouraged me to adopt your way of doing business, and even taught me how. Read more
