EP #103: Socks and Social Enterprise with John and Mark Cronin
What if you could live out your child hood dream and make a positive impact in the world at the same time? You can! And your type of abilities don’t matter. There is a place for everyone to do something great. As long as you follow your heart, follow your dream, work hard, and show you can do.
Those are the words of one of our guests this week. John Cronin is an entrepreneur at heart. When he had graduated school and was looking for something to do in life he couldn’t find anything that fit his skillset - so he made something. He asked his dad, Mark, if they could start a sock business together (it was actually a food truck first). Mark was honored that his son made the request and thus, John’s Crazy Socks was born. Listen in as we John and Mark show us how business can and SHOULD be a social enterprise.
What You'll Learn In Today's Episode:
How you can be good in business
How business is a must for impact
How many sock companies there really are
The importance of relationships in business
How to bootstrap a company
How video helps business
How to excel at the hardest things
The importance of resilience
The emotions that “socks” cause
What’s a “happines creator”
The importance of engagement with customers
How you have to deliver more than a product or service
The story of John’s Crazy Socks
Why a social enterprise is increasingly important
How The Great Resignation is changing business
How you can attract great employees
How to produce content for business
The importance of following your heart
How differing abilities are good business
How a mission can drive more than a business
Ideas Worth Sharing:
“Do for others and gratitude.” - John Cronin
“We have a social enterprise.” - Mark Cronin
“If we’re not successful on the business side then there is no impact.” - Mark Cronin
“I’ve wanted to sell socks my whole life.” - John Cronin
“John has Down syndrome and was trying to find out what he would do next.” - Mark Cronin
“Fewer than 1 and 5 people with a disability have a job here in the US.” - Mark Cronin
“I want to go into business with my dad.” - John Cronin
“We went the lean startup route.” - Mark Cronin
“I did handwritten thank you notes and candy.” - John Cronin
“Our colleagues have to be happy working here.” - Mark Cronin
“I’m still doing home deliveries.” - John Cronin
“We do our own fulfillment.” - Mark Cronin
“More than half of our colleagues have a different ability.” - Mark Cronin
“Our customers for all intents and purposes are there in the room with us sharing the message..” - Mark Cronin
“You’re getting more than just socks.” - Mark Cronin
“I wanted to start a food. truck.” - John Cronin
“We can’t cook.” - John Cronin
“John and I, it turns out, we like to live in doors.” - Mark Cronin
“I want this to be there best job ever.” - Mark Cronin
“People don’t buy socks in the summer.” - Mark Cronin
“John’s like a minor celebrity.” - Mark Cronin
“My favorite sock is the Down Syndrome Super Hero.” - John Cronin
“Follow your heart. Follow your dream. Work hard. Show you can do.” - John Cronin
“It really has to be about the people you serve.” - Bob DePasquale
“It seems to me that you’ve found the joy in the work that you do.” - Bob DePasquale
“When you sell a sock to someone I imagine it’s more than just, ‘I made another $10.” - Bob DePasquale
Resources In Today's Episode:
John’s Crazy Socks - Website - LinkedIn - YouTube - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram - TikTok
Mark Cronin - LinkedIn
Bob’s Book - Personal Finance in a Public World
This week’s E-Impact Blog Entry
Episodes Referenced:
EP #50: Accepting Adversity and Conquering Challenges with Dr. James Perdue
