Lessons on life and business you are guaranteed to find nowhere else.
Crocs are many things to many people. They’re the best-selling non-sneaker shoe on the planet, for starters. For some, it’s true, they’re the ugliest shoe ever made. What’s indisputable is, two decades later, they’ve worn by billions of feet worldwide, from the supermarket to the red carpet. In fact they’ve never been more popular.
For me, Crocs are a journey. They’ve taken me from a kid who stole milk from rich neighbours because he was hungry (until I realised I could sell it back to them), to someone who made millionaires of my childhood friends. Along the way I’ve circled the planet 28 times, been behind bars 11 times (though never convicted), and been banned from all 15 of a friend’s restaurants. Oh and I partied with Fleetwood Mac, kibbitzed with Robin Williams and bought Keith Richards’ first Fender guitar too.
Now I’m ready to tell you my lessons on life and leadership. I guaranteed you won’t find them anywhere else. Stranger than fiction, larger than life, uglier than sin and absolutely unique … but I’m not talking about Crocs anymore. This is how I made millions just to give them away, and nearly destroyed myself in the process.
Funny, twisted, touching, exuberant, Croc is not just a business story; it’s the story of a life like no other.
Crocs are many things to many people. They’re the best-selling non-sneaker shoe on the planet, for starters. For some, it’s true, they’re the ugliest shoe ever made. What’s indisputable is, two decades later, they’ve worn by billions of feet worldwide, from the supermarket to the red carpet. In fact they’ve never been more popular.
For me, Crocs are a journey. They’ve taken me from a kid who stole milk from rich neighbours because he was hungry (until I realised I could sell it back to them), to someone who made millionaires of my childhood friends. Along the way I’ve circled the planet 28 times, been behind bars 11 times (though never convicted), and been banned from all 15 of a friend’s restaurants. Oh and I partied with Fleetwood Mac, kibbitzed with Robin Williams and bought Keith Richards’ first Fender guitar too.
Now I’m ready to tell you my lessons on life and leadership. I guaranteed you won’t find them anywhere else. Stranger than fiction, larger than life, uglier than sin and absolutely unique … but I’m not talking about Crocs anymore. This is how I made millions just to give them away, and nearly destroyed myself in the process.
Funny, twisted, touching, exuberant, Croc is not just a business story; it’s the story of a life like no other.
Reviews
He lives way out on the fringe of everything. You don't get to the position of being able to help the vast number of people that he can help by being normal. He cares about people who don't have what he has. This is a guy who is walking a tightrope between reality and craziness on one hand and is enabling, on the other hand, people to have a life. Shoes and sub sandwiches? Awesome. Music and charity work? Angel wings.
In this moving story, George Boedecker rebounds from a fractured childhood to create an invention that catapults him to CEO global stardom. On the journey to Crocs' success, George is inspired to channel his heart through the power of community and philanthropy. And he does it all - his way.
Every founder thinks they're contrarian. George Boedecker actually is one. A funny, honest, and surprisingly moving look at what it takes to build something the world isn't ready for - until, suddenly, it is.
I f***ing love this guy. . . . He's addicted to amusement. He's just looking for trouble all the time.
Beyond his skills as an entrepreneur and author, George has the gift of music. As a singer his interpretation of classic hits takes them to another level. A champion of the outlaw sound, he delivers raw emotion like no other. Truly a multi-talented Renaissance man.
A twisted cross between Steve Jobs and Hunter S. Thompson. Pure entertainment.
A tremendous character.