When I say the word- “millionaire” what pops into your head? What usually comes up is someone who personally has a net worth of $1 million. I would like to start thinking about and striving for a new type of millionaire; someone who has positively and directly impacted over a million lives. Today, I’m connecting with my good friend Chad Dime, someone who is one of these “new millionaires” that I’m talking about. Chad is the Co-Founder of DIFF Eyewear, a charitable eyewear company that has helped with the eyesight and vision care of over one million people in need. They do this by providing a pair of reading glasses or an eye exam for every pair of glasses they sell, among other amazing initiatives that the company has created (which you’ll hear more about in this episode). Chad is a great reminder that good things happen with the right intentions and not to overthink the process- simply BEGIN, and go all-in on what you believe in! Check out this episode to hear more on how Chad and his co-founders built this incredible company and continue finding ways to give back.
Chad Dime Show Notes:
(2:17) Garrett and Chad talk about their long history as friends and how their worlds connected
(4:42) Chad discusses DIFF Eyewear and its foundation
(8:14) Chad tells the story of how DIFF started and their intentions to give-back, starting with giving a pair of reading glasses for every pair of glasses purchased
(8:37) Chad discusses the beginnings of giving back and working with Sherry Rigsby of “Eyes On Africa”
(11:37) Chad shares how they had to shift as the one-for-one initiative scaled (selling upwards of 500,000 frames per year)
(13:22) Chad shares how DIFF created new initiatives to be more sustainable that focus more on empowerment and education
Local: Heal The Bay, Food Bank of LA
(14:37) The Pouch Program - Chad shares a cool story of meeting Kelsey Sabo, how she helped DIFF create this program, and the impact that it has had on the community
(19:13) Chad shares how DIFF has affected over 1,000,000 humans since starting their initiatives.
(20:32) Chad tells one of his most impactful stories since the creation of DIFF: we’ll hear about his journey to Uganda to meet the people that make up the Pouch Program and school
(25:52) Chad shares some of the tipping points to the business and how Instagram took their business to the next level
(29:22) Chad remembers a big moment, when they had their first thousand dollar day as a company
(30:12) Teaming up with Joelle Fletcher
(31:52) Chad explains the beginnings of DIFF and meeting his partners Zach and Chad
(39:52) Chad shares what the festival world has taught him
(40:52) Chad’s first experience at Lightning In a Bottle (LIB)
(42:22) Garrett shares his first experience at LIB
(44:52) Chad shares his first connection with Burning Man
(51:10) Chad’s Three Truths
1) Be Impeccable With Your Word (Four Agreements)
2) All or Nothing
3) Help others (don’t harm)
