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Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.
Shoe Dog
In this candid and riveting memoir, for the first time ever, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight shares the inside story of the company’s early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of the world’s most iconic, game-changing, and profitable brands.
Young, searching, fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed fifty dollars from his father and launched a company with one simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost running shoes from Japan. Selling the shoes from the trunk of his Plymouth Valiant, Knight grossed eight thousand dollars that first year, 1963. Today, Nike’s annual sales top $30 billion. In this age of start-ups, Knight’s Nike is the gold standard, and its swoosh is more than a logo. A symbol of grace and greatness, it’s one of the few icons instantly recognized in every corner of the world.
But Knight, the man behind the swoosh, has always been a mystery. Now, in a memoir that’s surprising, humble, unfiltered, funny, and beautifully crafted, he tells his story at last. It all begins with a classic crossroads moment. Twenty-four years old, backpacking through Asia and Europe and Africa, wrestling with life’s Great Questions, Knight decides the unconventional path is the only one for him. Rather than work for a big corporation, he will create something all his own, something new, dynamic, different. Knight details the many terrifying risks he encountered along the way, the crushing setbacks, the ruthless competitors, the countless doubters and haters and hostile bankers—as well as his many thrilling triumphs and narrow escapes. Above all, he recalls the foundational relationships that formed the heart and soul of Nike, with his former track coach, the irascible and charismatic Bill Bowerman, and with his first employees, a ragtag group of misfits and savants who quickly became a band of swoosh-crazed brothers.
Together, harnessing the electrifying power of a bold vision and a shared belief in the redemptive, transformative power of sports, they created a brand, and a culture, that changed everything.
Phil Knight, a co-founder of Nike, urges young people and businesspeople to follow their passions, even if they appear foolish at first. He tells the tale of how his own Crazy Idea, Nike, came to be a well-known brand. He provides insights into the challenging, flawed process of beginning a firm as he discusses how he established Nike.
In this manual, we'll go over both Nike's history (including Knight's Crazy Idea, his initial shoe firm, and the difficulties he encountered), as well as Nike itself. We'll also look at Knight's suggestions and observations on how Nike was successful, including building a distinctive brand identity and surrounding himself with a talented team. Along the process, we'll provide viewpoints on success and overcoming challenges from other business owners.
Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.
