Small Things that Make a Big Difference; The Shoe that Grow with Kenton Lee

I often say Thought Leaders provide out of the box solutions to everyday problems. Today’s thought leader, Kenton Lee, is a speaker and the Founder of Because International, an organization that provides growing shoes to children in need. After traveling to Nairobi, working at a small orphanage, he saw a child with ill-fitting shoes and cuts on her feet. He used his innovative mind to ask the question, what if there was a shoe that could adjust and expand its size? Thus, Because International was born with the mission to help those in need, and what started as a small business began a worldwide movement.

Let’s jump right into this episode and learn how Kenton did something small that made a huge difference, and how you can be one of these heroes too. 

[00:01 - 07:02] Opening Segment

• Let's welcome our guest for today, Kenton Lee
• Kenton gives a bit of background
• • Because International 
  • Located in Idaho 
  • Using products as solutions to alleviate poverty 
  • The Shoe that Grows 
  • 10 years of service 
• I talk about how my book applies to Kenton’s work 
• • Gratitude economy 
• Kenton’s story 
• • Traveled the world after college 
  • Saw the need in Kenya first-hand 
  • Donations only offer one-time solutions 
  • Started as a hobby for six years 
  • Went viral in 2016
  • Distributed over 300,000 pairs of growing shoes to kids in 100 countries 
  • Bringing jobs to the areas 

[07:03 - 16:20] A Small Thing that Makes a Big Difference

• Kenton talks about why shoes are so important 
• • 300m kids in Africa alone without shoes 
  • 1.5b people worldwide with soil-transmitted diseases
  • Shoes provide protection 
  • Shoes as a requirement to attend school
  • Kids in orphanages are the same as our kids 
  • Happiness and confidence 
• Potential being realized 
• • Trying to create a solution to a clear problem 
  • There’s power in small things

• Kenton talks about problem-solving 

• It doesn’t have to be the perfect solution 
• This stops you from moving forward 
• All of us can do small things to make a big difference 

[16:21 - 24:51] Seven Heros to Save One Person

• The conspiracy of goodness 
• • There is a wave of goodness that is not reaching the internet 
  • The story from Le Chambon France 
  • • 7 rescuers to every 1 person saved 
• Kenton shares the story of people asking for his shoes 
• • Gro-Five owned by the non-profit 
  • Money from here goes back to the kids 
• Kenton talks about being part of the story 
• • Being a small part of a big conspiracy of good 

[24:52 - 36:03] The Gratitude Economy; Businesses Run with Good Hearts

• Kenton talks about his work 
• • Does the world need more non-profits? 
  • We need more good businesses with good hearts 
  • Believing in the small 
• What people can do
• • Making money while doing good things 
  • It can be done, and you can be the one 
  • You don’t need to be the next giant 
  • See where the journey takes you 
  • Work with what you’re passionate about 
• Figure out what makes you go 
• • Being happy to wake up in the morning 
• How Covid has come into play
• • Forcing us to pause 
  • Taking lemons and making lemonade 
  • We have no control, so what will we do with what we have 
  • Humans are good at adapting to their circumstances 
• How we can change the future 
• • I talk about my book 
  • • Storm before the calm 
    • We leap forward together 

[36:04 - 47:17] Closing Segment

• What keeps Kenton hopeful in the world 
• • There’s power in small things
  • Everybody can do small things
  • The example of Kenton’s Mayor 
  • People are encouraged by the small things 
• Your actions can be magnified 
• How people can reach out and support Kenton
• • Links below 
• What reminds you that it’s still an amazing world? 
• • Kenton talks about his children and family 
  • You can learn from the littlest ones among us
  • Seeing life through the eyes of a child 
• Final Words and Announcements 

 

Tweetable Quotes:

“Shoes are small things that make a big difference. In Africa alone, there are 300M kids without shoes…” - Kenton Lee

“Kids in a small orphanage in a developing country in Africa, they are just the same as my kids… Kids anywhere, they have what they need, to be able to succeed.” - Kenton Lee

“I saw a problem so clearly, and I knew I just had to do something.” - Kenton Lee

 

Resources Mentioned:

• Interview with Kenton Lee
• Ever Widening Circles Article with Kenton Lee 
• GroFive Expandals

 

You can reach out and support Kenton on Instagram, Twitter, and kentonlee.com. Also, visit his website https://becauseinternational.org/ to learn more about how you can donate and get involved. 

Ever Widening Circles Links:

https://everwideningcircles.com/

EWC Ed:

https://ed.everwideningcircles.com/

Conspiracy of Goodness Summit Recordings:

https://www.cogsummit.com/ 

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EWC APP:

https://everwideningcircles.com/good-news-app-ever-widening-circles-app/

Dr. Lynda's Book:

https://www.dr-lynda.com/book/happiness