“If there is nothing else that we leave you with today, we want you to see the possibilities in each of us and in each person we meet,” Mark X. Cronin said as part of the keynote talk that he and John Cronin gave to a business group on Long Island, the North Shore Service Group.
John and Mark X. Cronin, the father-son team that founded John's Crazy Socks, gave a speech that mixed the inspirational and the practical, leaving people laughing, shedding a few tears and, in the end, standing to applaud.
“What an amazing talk, so inspirational,” said Karen Signoracci, one of the organizers of the event. “Our members loved it. It gave us a great way to start the day and kick off the new year.”
Kerry O’Brien, owner of T. F. O’Brien Heating and Cooling, introduced the speakers by showing off the custom socks that John’s Crazy Socks has made for his business and speaking about how they are a family business like many of the businesses in the room.
John and Mark broke their talk into four parts:
- Sharing what John has overcome so we can see the possibilities in each of us
- Telling the story of John’s Crazy Socks
- The power of a purpose driven business
- The benefits of hiring people with differing abilities
“I have Down syndrome and I want people to see that Down syndrome never holds me back,” said John, who also told the audience, “I love being an entrepreneur.”
Speaking with the Small Business Owners
Today’s event was the monthly meeting of the North Shore Service Group, an exclusive group of small business owners who understand the value of providing both superior service and unmatched customer satisfaction. The group consists of both residential and business-to-business professionals and each member is a leader in their respective field.
“We love speaking with business owners because we are business owners too,” said Mark X. Cronin. “We applaud them for the impact they have on so many people: their employees, their customers, their community.” John and Mark have spoken with business organizations across the country including Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs and networking groups.
Keynote and Event Speakers
John and Mark X. Cronin are frequent speakers at conferences and corporate events. They share their entrepreneurial story of how a young man with Down syndrome together with his father created what is today the world’s largest sock store with a mission to spread happiness. Their speaking engagements bring laughter, tears and inspire people to see what is possible for each of us to achieve. They have spoken in person at events across Canada, the United States and Mexico and at virtual events around the world. They have spoken at events for Microsoft, EY, Bank of America, the Special Olympics, and the U.S. State Department, among others.
Their advocacy work has seen the Cronins testify twice before Congress and speak at the United Nations on two occasions. Their work has been featured on many national news shows. They are winners of many awards including the EY Entrepreneurs of the Year. They serve on the CEO Commission for Disability Employment and the Neurodiversity at Work Business Roundtable.
John and Mark recorded their second TEDx Talk entitled, “Hiring People with People with Differing Abilities is Not Altruism, It Is Good Business.” That talk is available on YouTube and the TED platform. Their first TEDx Talk entitled Differently Abled People Want to Help Us is also available on YouTube and the TED platform.
If you would like John and Mark to speak at your event, please visit the speaker’s pages at our website or contact Maria Lerner at MLerner@johnscrazysocks.com.
About John’s Crazy Socks
John’s Crazy Socks was inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, and his love of colorful and fun socks—what he calls his “crazy socks.” He and his father, Mark X. Cronin, started the company as a social enterprise with a mission of Spreading Happiness™. With more than 4,000 socks, John’s Crazy Socks is now the world’s largest sock store. More than half their employees have a differing ability, and their Giving Back program has raised over $700,000 for charity partners like the Special Olympics, the National Down Syndrome Society, and the Autism Society of America. Most of all, they are Spreading Happiness™.
For more information about John’s Crazy Socks, visit our webpage, Facebook page, Instagram account, TikTok or YouTube channel. You can also contact us at 631-760-5625 or via email at service@johnscrazysocks.com.
