Tom Patterson, the founder of Tommy John, started his innovative underwear brand during the 2008 recession. He shares his incredible journey from a small-town upbringing to thriving in tough markets. Tom discusses the power of mentorship, the importance of a courageous mindset, and finding opportunities amidst challenges. He emphasizes the value of personal growth and resilience, inspiring listeners with anecdotes of overcoming adversity and balancing work-life pressures. His insights on adaptability and humor in business make for an engaging conversation.
36:24
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Tom's Small Town Entrepreneur Start
Tom Patterson grew up in a small town in South Dakota with simple values of hard work and kindness.
He developed an entrepreneurial spirit early through lawn mowing, snow blowing, and painting houses as a kid.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Tom's Undershirt Innovation Story
Tom noticed men's undershirts didn't fit well, shrink, yellow, or stay tucked in.
He sketched designs, made prototypes, and friends quickly became enthusiastic customers for his better undershirts.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Launching Tommy John During Recession
After losing his medical sales job during the 2008 recession, Tom went all in on Tommy John.
He financed inventory on credit cards and got the brand into Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom through persistent outreach.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The Bible is a comprehensive collection of texts that form the central religious text of Christianity and Judaism. It is divided into the Old Testament, which includes books such as Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and others that narrate the creation of the world, the history of the Israelites, and the prophetic messages. The New Testament focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, along with the early Christian church and its spread. The Bible contains a wide range of genres, including historical narratives, poetry, wisdom literature, prophetic writings, and epistles[2][3][5].
Die with Zero
Bill Perkins
Die with Zero presents a provocative philosophy and practical guide on how to get the most out of your money and your life. Bill Perkins argues against over-saving and under-living, advocating for investing in experiences early and maximizing positive life experiences. The book introduces concepts like 'time-bucketing,' 'net worth curve,' and 'fulfillment curve' to help readers optimize their life stages and make the most of their resources. Drawing from his own life experiences and insights from psychological science and behavioral finance, Perkins makes a compelling case for living large and accumulating memorable experiences rather than wealth.
No matter what the market's doing, it's never a bad time for a good idea! In this episode, Tom Patterson shares his incredible entrepreneurial journey, from his small-town upbringing, to co-founding Tommy John during the 2008 recession and going on to achieve phenomenal success.
YOU WILL LEARN:
· The value of mentorship and personal growth.
· The benefit of identifying opportunity in challenging times.
· The importance of a courageous mindset when others are fearful.
“Perfection is the enemy of good enough.” – Tom Patterson
“I don't believe that people are self-made. I think there's people that make you along the way in different seasons or periods of your life.” – Tom Patterson
“Great companies find ways to win and to build momentum in tough times.” – Tom Patterson
“Be courageous when everybody's fearful.” – Tom Patterson
“Once you stop growing and learning, you start dying.” – Tom Patterson
It's a Good Life 
