Today on Alone with Peter, I am joined by two very special guests, John and Mark Cronin of John's crazy socks. John and his dad, Mark Cronin are the co-founders of John's crazy socks, a social enterprise with a mission to spread happiness. Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Listen on Stitcher Listen on Podchaser Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Listen on Stitcher Listen on Podchaser This episode of Alone with Peter is brought to you by Sagebrush Coffee Roastery Sagebrush is an online coffee roastery with a wide variety of single-origin coffees you can order from the comfort of your home knowing that your coffee is so fresh, it isn’t roasted until after you order. If you’re interested in learning more about the world of coffee, Sagebrush is a great place to start. You can find their website online at Sagebrushcoffee.com and for a limited time from now until August, you can save 10% on your next order of coffee beans by visiting sagebrushcoffee.com/awp10 or by using the promo code awp10 at checkout. John's Crazy Socks John’s Crazy Socks was inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, and a wacky fashion sense. In five years, they bootstrapped their business into the world's largest sock store with multimillion-dollar sales in 88 different nations.  John and Mark remain fierce advocates for the rights of the differently-abled with more than half of their employees having differing abilities. They’ve been able to raise over $475,000 for charity partners like the Special Olympics, the National Down Syndrome Society, and the Autism Society of America. And they’ve used their platform to instigate change in legislature, testifying twice before US Congress, speaking at the United Nations, and recording two TEDx talks. I’m so excited to have these two on Alone with Peter today to talk about their origin story and entrepreneurial journey. In part 1 of this three-part interview we discuss:  John and Mark’s father-son bond and how their relationship shapes their business Anecdotes of John’s problem-solving ability, his adventurous spirit, and natural entrepreneurialism  The origin story of John’s Crazy Socks. A multi-billion-dollar social enterprise based on spreading happiness. Being born with down syndrome: John’s medical issues and an unfortunate point of view How life becomes so much easier when you just accepted that you’re an idiot  Why start a business and why socks? Recognizing the limited opportunities people of differing abilities face and shifting the culture. Authenticity in business: Embracing who you are, doing what you love, and reaping the rewards The surprising emotional response to John’s Crazy Socks Embracing imperfection and experimenting with your business: How overplanning kills productivity and efficiency The biggest secret to success: starting small and learning as you go. Why socks? Why Down Syndrome doesn't define John or others with differing abilities..  John’s fashion style, why he and Mark could never be classmates, and how John reacts to being noticed on the street. The beauty of social enterprise: Using John’s Crazy Socks as a platform for change Follow us on Instagram! Be sure to follow Alone with Peter on Instagram for highlight clips of the latest episodes, previews of upcoming guests, and more. Follow along, and send me a DM to let me know what you think of the show! Get 10% off your next sock order with promo code PETER22 Looking for a daily dose of happiness? Follow John's Crazy Socks on social media and get 10% off your next order of crazy socks using our promo code PETER22. Website: https://johnscrazysocks.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnscrazysocks Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnsCrazySocks LinkedIn: MXC  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mxcronin/ LinkedIn: JCS: https://www.linkedin.com/company/