導讀
在痴迷者與執著者的世界，奈特先生如是說
文／商業周刊出版部
一九六二年底，美國奧勒岡州一個二十四歲的青年人，向父親借了五十美元，跟日本的鬼塚株式會社訂了十二雙米白色跑鞋，將近一年後，他收到了，據他自己描述，那十二雙鞋「美呆了，美到連我在佛羅倫斯或巴黎所見的藝術品都不如」。
年輕人名叫菲爾•奈特，從代理銷售這十二雙日本鞋開始，五十一年後、超過半世紀的今天，他所創立的NIKE公司年營業額已超過三百億美元，全球員工六萬八千多人，代工廠與消費者遍世界，是全球第一名的運動用品大廠。長年神隱於外界，幾乎不受訪的奈特身價超過百億美元，已宣布要在今年退休，退休前，他出版了英文原名《SHOE DOG》的回憶錄，在全球賣出二十三國版權，包括此刻就在你手上的這一本。
所以，我們要讀一本人生勝利組的傳記嗎？在「成王敗寇」的商業世界中，我們還聽不夠成功者的「諄諄教誨」？
奈特先生給了我們一個意外。這本回憶錄本文結束在一九八○年十二月一日，隔天的二日是NIKE公開發行上市日，一股二十二美元。幾度拒絕上市提議後，奈特終於在這一天正式脫離十餘年跑三點半的日子，所有困苦相依的創業夥伴、家人鬆了口氣，而奈特卻告訴讀者，他覺得遺憾，他希望自己能重來一遍。
遺憾什麼？在商業與志業之間，在生命與事業之間，奈特如是而說。
這本回憶錄有如小說般，以讓讀者驚喜的坦誠、直白，陳述了美國鄉下一個跑不贏比賽、茫然的年輕人，如何痴迷於跑步、痴迷於運動，痴迷於一雙雙穿在運動員腳下的鞋子；他寫論文研究、學做會計師、兼差教書打工，住在堆滿鞋盒的房間，就為了維繫做運動鞋、賣運動鞋的生意。歷歷場景如在眼前。
奈特是二流的跑步選手，他的創業夥伴中，一個半身不遂、一個酗酒肥胖、一個只要有書讀萬事皆休，這個組合只有兩個字可形容：shoe dog，鞋痴，他們是迷戀跑步、迷戀運動、迷戀運動鞋，迷戀到令常人不解的團隊。
喔，還有一位，是奈特念大學的跑步教練，不斷瘋狂手工打造運動鞋給奈特試穿，因為他不夠頂尖，可以放心嘗試不擔心成績。你穿過鱈魚皮的鞋子嗎?鮑爾曼教練做過，NIKE的鬆餅鞋底就是他的發明。順帶一提，鮑爾曼還是美國奧運隊的教練，鮑爾曼鄙夷人們對運動的誤解，他認為，「只要你有身體，你就是運動員。」
奈特寫道：「鞋痴……是一種痴迷的狂熱，一個可辨別的心理障礙，關切鞋子的內底、襯裡、沿條、鉚釘和鞋面，到了不可思議的地步。但是，我懂。……」這份痴迷使人接受無休無止的工作、借錢借到顏面盡失、銀行刁難、廠商背叛、同業聯合打擊、政府興訟……書中以帶詩意的語言，描述出痴迷者、執著者非做不可、永無後路的堅定心意，描繪了創業者不斷被質疑、甚至造假、商業爭戰陰謀的細節。
NIKE代言人是運動世界中數一數二的明星，永遠的飛人喬丹（Michael Jordan）打下了NIKE基業的第一仗，老虎•伍茲（Tiger Woods）、約翰•馬克安諾（John McEnroe）、安卓•阿格西（Andre Agassi）、炙手可熱的「詹皇」雷霸龍‧詹姆斯（LeBron James）……歲月流離，奈特與他們各有交往，是生意也是情義，是運動員「英雄惜英雄」極特殊的企業情懷，在生命高低起伏時互勉度過。詹皇送了奈特一隻錶，上面刻著：謝謝對我賭一把。（With thanks for taking a chance on me.）
奈特先生如是說，是的，可以這麼說，對別人賭一把、對自己賭一把。他賭來了一個世界級企業和無數人的成敗人生。他在《一路玩到掛》（The Bucket List）的電影氣氛中，開始擬定七十六歲之後的遺願清單，還有很多想做、該做的事；他說，「這一切的一切絕非只是生意，永遠都不是。假如有朝一日真的變成純粹是生意，那就代表這門生意非常糟糕。」
五十餘年來，每個人也許都擁有過一雙名叫NIKE的運動鞋，但我們卻不知道在那個世界知名的勾勾之後，隱藏了這樣一段過往。
歡迎來到痴迷者、執著者的世界，歡迎來到讓人讀了會逐漸熱起心腸的人生。
這是兌現夢想的初心與勇氣的世界。
推薦序
我創新，因為我深信
文／政治大學經營管理碩士學程（EMBA）執行長 邱奕嘉
每個人的鞋櫃至少都有一雙NIKE球鞋；運動時尚的頭版永遠展示著NIKE最新的聯名款；攤開去年的財報，NIKE的市占率仍然穩居第一，收益也是一路長紅。究竟這一頁傳奇是如何寫下的？而一頁的傳奇又如何翻新再翻新，持續創造下一個市場上的傳奇？
菲爾‧奈特────NIKE創辦人────在本書中以第一人稱的方式，敘述NIKE公司發跡的過程。書中揭露許多不為人知的小故事，讓讀者一睹這個全世界最大運動用品帝國的成長祕密。有趣的是，即使現在的NIKE富可敵國，但它也跟一般公司一樣，經歷過創業失敗的風險，也面臨過競爭威脅的挑戰。但創辦人堅持創業初心，一路挺進到現在。
這樣的撰寫風格與內容，使得本書不像是一本商業管理書，倒像是一本勵志的創業故事。讀者看不到策略經營、行銷作為等專業術語與相關分析研究，卻可以透過許多故事，了解創辦人的信念與理想，在平實的文字中、在公司的日常中，他反覆驗證的關鍵字就是創業成功的第一條：創業熱情。
創業熱情為什麼是第一條？因為對照創業的高風險與高失敗率，它並不是一個最好的賺錢管道；若再計算創業家所投注的工時與精力，它更不是一個最佳的投資機會。若僅僅是為了投資賺錢而創業，結果可能會讓許多人失望。
從表面上看來，創業好像是在開創一個新事業。其實成功的創業家，往往是透過創業，把內心的信念化為外在實際的行動，具體落實心中的「相信」。這樣的過程中，有許多的「變」與「不變」：創業家必須因應外在競爭態勢的改變，不斷調整策略思維與經營模式；也要在風起雲湧的競爭中，保有創業初心。在變與不變的兩個極端，執兩用中才是經營的最大挑戰。所以，創業家不只是在「新」創一個事業，也是在「原」創自我。
因此，在創業之前，創業家除了要能找到新的機會、資源、人脈等，更需要先問問自己：相信什麼？這個「相信」才是未來面對各種挑戰的中心支柱。缺少了這個「相信」，抑或是相信的不夠堅定，都可能因為接踵而至的挑戰裹足不前。
倘若你的「相信」已經成形！恭喜你，請務必堅守信念；
倘若你仍迷惘惶惑、前路茫茫！提醒你，請重新整理初衷。
堅守理念的創業家，這本書就是激勵你前進的鼓聲；摸索前路的創業家，這本書就是釐清個人思緒的指引。透過NIKE創辦人的第一手心路歷程，重新檢視他當初所面臨的各種創業抉擇，你可以澄清並修正自己的「相信」，找出原創的自我，而非僅是蠻幹瞎闖、隨波逐流。創新來自於內在敢與眾不同、堅持理想的驅動力，這股能量可以因為前人的典範而更加有力，可以因為前人的借鑑而更加集中，期許台灣的企業主與創業家們，秉持著原創精神，走出一條創新之路。
忘了自己，才能看清自己
文／世界麵包大師賽冠軍，吳寶春麵包店創辦人 吳寶春
為了寫這本書的推薦文，我盡可能閱讀內容，理解NIKE這麼大的世界品牌，究竟是怎樣創造出來的。讀完後心裡滿激動，我想，書出版後，我一定要細細、認真再體會一遍這樣的人生故事。
二十多年前，我首度北上，朋友陪我到已經現被拆除的西門町中華商場二樓，我想買雙鞋穿回家見媽媽。麵包師傅的標準鞋就是藍白拖，工作穿、下工穿，我還穿到台北逛街。
我看上鞋架上一雙白鞋，很白，有一個特殊的標誌在上面，像彎月，又像閃電，滿好看的。跟老闆說要試穿，他看了看我的腳，走到後面去，接著拿出兩個塑膠袋，要我套在腳上才可以試穿。
我愣了一下，低下頭看了看自己的腳。是啊，一雙這麼髒的腳跟一雙這麼白的鞋……
二十多年過去，我至今忘不了這件事。我買了人生第一雙球鞋，雙腳套著塑膠袋試穿才買的，到很後頭才知道那個閃電、還是彎月叫做logo，我當時既然買得起這樣的鞋，那就不知道純白的那雙NIKE是真貨還是仿冒品了。
NIKE這麼大的公司，卻是創辦人奈特借了爸爸的五十元美金開始的。他二十四歲邊打工邊旅行去了香港，看到殘破的景象很沮喪，站在維多利亞公園山頂，遠遠望著聽說更貧窮的中國卻去不了，他想像著那裡有十億人、二十億隻腳；有一天，總有一天，他可以做點什麼……
一九九六年九月，我在日本B&C雜誌上看到日本麵包師傅師得到世界麵包大賽冠軍的照片。我想像，有一天，總有一天，我希望自己也可以登在這本雜誌上，成為世界比賽冠軍。同事們勸我，人生要踏實，不要東想西想，多賺點錢，照顧家庭、買房子，比賽當不了飯吃。
二○○八年七月，我贏得比賽的照片登在B&C雜誌上，已經過了十二年。比賽前，我的戶頭從來沒有超過二、三十萬存款。贏了比賽、四十歲創業前，扣掉照顧家人等等開銷後，存款也沒高過百萬。為了去日本找師傅學，我買書、買材料、上課，一趟五天、七天的學習，要存上一整年錢才能成行。同事、朋友、家人是真的擔心、關心，甚至生氣，他們不明白，我到底想追求什麼。
時間已經過去五年、十年，說自己一直不擔心、不難過，一直樂觀追求夢想是騙人的。人生走到一半，真是一步一腳印，再大的成績都從最小的地方做起。奈特不是賣鞋，他關心的，是穿鞋的人；在五十年前，他就關心顧客的需求，一直改良產品，在心裡決定了NIKE的未來，一直往那個目標走去，即使面臨破產、訴訟、對手阻撓、環境不友善，他都沒有忘記二十四歲時立下的志願。
我身為麵包師傅，也體會到我不是賣麵包，我關心的是吃麵包的人。吃進嘴裡的食物，有太多消費者看不見的細節。消費者愈看不見，比如清潔衛生，我們愈要關注堅持，這是我們的誠意，總有一天客戶會了解的。很多工作者也許覺得這些要求很麻煩，很費事，但身在服務業，我最大的體會是，一般人覺得很麻煩的，經常就是客人需要的。我們是服務、照顧客人，不只是那個麵包，或是賣那個麵包的幾張鈔票。
所以，我在《跑出全世界的人》這本書裡，感受到共鳴，感受到萬丈高樓平地起、真誠的熱情人生。不急著吃棉花糖的小孩，總會顯現存在的價值，只要我們一直記得反省確立自己的夢想，不能輸在那臨門一腳。自己都不相信自己，是沒辦法要別人來相信、支持我們的。
希望年輕的朋友一起來讀這本書，不管世界多變化，人心人情怎麼來去，生命的價值都是我們自己的，也要由自己認真守護。奈特在書裡重複講了幾次這句話：「忘了自己，才能看清自己。」我感同身受，這是要經歷多少事情才能有這樣的領悟。我小時候讀書不多，長大明白了，拚命想辦法補功課，學習是既甜美收穫又孤單寂寞的過程。忘了自己，拚命努力，我們就會漸漸認清自己的使命。
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Start your review of 跑出全世界的人：NIKE創辦人菲爾・奈特夢想路上的勇氣與初心
This book made me cry. Twice! I did not know a book about what I had previously viewed as the definition of a big corporation could have that sort of power. I was wrong. Phil Knight had been an unfamiliar name to me before I picked up this memoir. That, in itself, seems strange. I mean, I had no idea he's from Portland, Oregon, or that, by trade, he's an accountant, or that he identifies as an introvert. I
didn't know he had met his wife while teaching at Portland State (after leaving PWC to buy Phil Knight had been an unfamiliar name to me before I picked up this memoir. That, in itself, seems strange. I mean, I had no idea he's from Portland, Oregon, or that, by trade, he's an
accountant, or that he identifies as an introvert. I didn't know he had met his wife while teaching at Portland State (after leaving PWC to buy himself more time to work on building his entrepreneurial endeavor). Or that Nike literally means the Greek Goddess of Victory. Oh, and his logo? The famous swoosh? That had been designed for $35 by a previously unknown graphic design student he commissioned. Unlike Steve Jobs, Phil Knight did not really have too much faith in advertising. He felt
a good product would sell itself. I also did not know he had lost his oldest son. I don't think any of that is really a spoiler because it can also be found by doing a simple google search. I just never did. More importantly, I didn't realize this man had the courage, the drive & dare I say, the chutzpah, to do what so very few can -- offset his own imperfections with an obsessively driven, mostly loyal & phenomenally quirky team. And, objectively embrace, encourage
& build upon their skill-sets while facing lawsuit after lawsuit on a shoestring budget with a wife, young children & a very real fear of both imprisonment & bankruptcy persistently looming overhead. Who knows? Perhaps his 6 mile jogs helped him remain on-track while building what is now an empire & retaining at least somewhat of a soul.
The soul? Well, when I think of Nike, Michael Jordan immediately comes to mind. And maybe Tiger Woods a few years back. But definitely not Steve Prefontaine! In fact, I had never heard of the latter. What can I say? He died before I was born, I'm a very casual runner, and I guess my American Studies courses never really covered this particular icon. And now? Well, I'm embarrassed. And, more importantly, I simply can't get him or what he had meant to this country, to the world of running at-large & to Phil Knight both personally & professionally, out of my mind.
In closing, this book proves the American Dream is still alive. It's not nearly as straightforward or as black or white (or even as legal or illegal) as one may imagine, but the opportunity is here! (Minus the factories, of course -- those remain very much off-shore.). Also, and perhaps most importantly, if one or two or twelve of those dreams don't workout, it's ok (and possibly even admirable) to give them up, because "giving up doesn't mean stopping."
...more
I think Shoe Dog by Phil Knight is the best memoir I’ve ever read by a business person. Unlike so many memoirs, it’s not an equally balanced arc through Knight’s life. It’s not an ego gratifying display of his awesomeness, heavily weighted in the success of the company and all the amazing
things that went on around that. Instead, it’s a deep focus on the beginning years of Nike especiall Unlike so many memoirs, it’s not an equally balanced arc through Knight’s life. It’s not an ego gratifying display of his awesomeness, heavily
weighted in the success of the company and all the amazing things that went on around that. Instead, it’s a deep focus on the beginning years of Nike especially around the first decade. It quickly gets to 1964 and the equal partnership between Bill Bowerman and Knight. But then it takes it’s time, year by year (each chapter is titled with the year number only) through the first decade of the company. It’s an incredible story. I didn’t realize that for the first five years of the company,
Knight had to work full-time – mostly at Price Waterhouse and then Coopers & Lybrand as an accountant – because the company didn’t have any resources to support him and his new family. He used nights, weekends, and in all the gaps in between to get Nike (the Blue Ribbon Sports) up and running. Year one revenue – in 1964 – was $8,000. Year two revenue – with one full time employee (not Knight) was $20,000. Year 41 revenue (2015) was $30.6 billion with a net income of $3.3 billion. Knight
covers all of it in detail. The ups and the downs. The many downs. The moments where he felt like he could lose it all, which seemed to happen at least once a year. His personal struggles as a leader and a manager. The people that drove him fucking crazy at the beginning, but were ultimately indispensable to the company. His momentary conflicts about whether or not the struggle was worth it. The breakthroughs – mostly understood in hindsight – when he realized they had gotten to another level. The thread of financing the company, especially through the first decade, was just incredible. His only real source of financing was tradition banks (who sucked) and partners (playing the float). The company had literally no equity available to it, but was growing at a rate that would put most of today’s VC-backed startups to shame. He made it work and how he did it was awesome.
I consumed it in a day last week. It’s about the origin story of Nike, which started out as Blue Ribbon Sports.
I consumed it in a day last week. It’s about the origin story of Nike, which started out as Blue Ribbon Sports.
It’s incredible to get inside of a man now worth over $25 billion and the founder of one of the most iconic
brands on the planet at the very beginning of his story. If you are a founder, this is a must read.
Growing up in Chicago in the 1980s and 1990s, as a collective society we were in awe of Michael Jordan. Not only did we imagine ourselves draining the decisive jump shot to seal the title, we also had to use every product that
he endorsed; Gatorade, Wheaties, Coca-Cola, and, of course, Nike Air Jordan shoes. Nike most likely would not be where it is today without the sponsorship of Jordan and subsequent Jordan Brands, so when I found out that the company's founder Phil Knight had written a memoi Growing up in Chicago in the 1980s and 1990s, as a collective society we were in awe of Michael Jordan. Not only did we imagine ourselves draining the decisive jump shot to seal
the title, we also had to use every product that he endorsed; Gatorade, Wheaties, Coca-Cola, and, of course, Nike Air Jordan shoes. Nike most likely would not be where it is today without the sponsorship of Jordan and subsequent Jordan Brands, so when I found out that the company's founder Phil Knight had written a memoir, I had my curiosity whetted. In Shoe Dog, Knight takes his readers on a journey back to the birth of company that today is one of the world's most noticeable name brands. As a
fan of Jordan and one who has used the term 'just do it' in reference to getting the job done, I knew that this was a memoir that I had to discover for myself. In 1962, Phil Knight had what he calls a 'crazy idea'. He was about to finish his MBA at Stanford, and, as part of an entrepreneurial class, pitched the idea of marketing Japanese running shoes to American markets. All but one of Knight's classmates fell asleep on the spot, yet, Knight was onto something big. The Japanese had already
flooded the American market with cameras and other products to follow as the yen recovered, so why not shoes. He pitched the idea to his father, and with a loan of $50, he set off on an around the world trip of self-discovery. After a stop on the pristine beaches of Hawaii, it was on to Japan, where then twenty four year old Knight discussed his idea with multiple companies. Only one, Onitsuka Corporation based out of Kobe, liked the idea, and made Knight into their sole western distributor of
Tiger running shoes. After completing his trips that included stops in Jordan and the Parthenon in Greece which paid homage to the goddess Nike Athena, Knight returned to his home outside of Portland, Oregon. Forming a partnership with legendary track coach Bill Bowerman, Knight was on his way to success. Forming an initial team of castoffs-- a paralyzed former track star and professionals who did not mesh with their chosen careers--, in 1964, Blue Ribbon Sports, Inc. was born. Despite
Bowerman's expertise in designing shoes; however, Blue Ribbon, later to be reborn Nike, did not take off initially. The market for running shoes, especially for the casual weekend runner, was not as popular as it is now. Japanese importers presented many problems which later resulted in law suits. Yet, Knight and his team, which later included track star Steve Prefontaine and early endorsements from athletes like Ilia Nastase, trekked on, perfected their ideas, and eventually became the
corporation that they are today. It was Prefontaine's endorsement that gave Nike credibility, and even after his tragic death, the majority of 1976 United States Olympic hopefuls competed in Nikes. The swoosh symbol was everywhere, the company had exposure to rival Adidas, and, after going public at the end of 1977, Nike was on its way up in the world. Because I am not savvy in navigating the business world, I found the sections about Blue Ribbon's fight with Onitsuka shoes to distribute
running shoes and later their entanglement with U.S. Customs Service to be fascinating. Today, people have heard one side of the story, that Nike has taken over decrepit factories in third world countries to produce athletic shoes that their employees can not afford. Yet, Knight has delivered his side of the story, from his early struggles against the Japanese, to his quest to modernizing factories to comply with current business practices. He details the company's precarious situation in the
1960s and 1970s, even after they had reached over $100 million annual in sales. Due to the constant business struggle with the Japanese and their American rivals, one ruling in the other direction could have meant the end of Nike. Yet, Knight's quality group had luck on their side, and won every law suit and threat thrown in their direction. With the business struggles behind them, the sky was the limit for the corporation that had once been a 'crazy idea'. Today Nike is situated on a
sprawling campus in Beaverton, Oregon. The company took off after employing shoe guru Sonny Vaccaro in the late 1970s and signing Jordan out of college in 1983-84. Looking back, Knight wishes he could do it all over again with one caveat, to be a better father to his children. I would have enjoyed reading more about Knight's relationship with Jordan, but the world knows the gist of that story. Learning about how Nike got its start and how each day could have been the company's last during the
entire decade of the 1970s was a fascinating read. Knight has said that business is 'war without bullets' and channeled generals such as Patton and MacArthur during the company's rise to greatness. Today the Nike swoosh symbol is emblematic as sports itself. Seeing how it came to be was a fascinating, fun, and informative 4 star read and highly recommended.
At last, when I took th At last, when I took this one up to read, I couldn't put it down. It was that good. It changed the way I look towards the world of
footwear- those who make them, those who wear them, and those who collect them. This enthralling and riveting book is the memoir of Phil Knight, who is the CEO and founder of Nike. It tells us his extraordinary story of building up a business empire from the $50 he borrowed from his father. The author describes the integral role the relationship between Nike and athletes has played in its success. Many of the top athletes and teams are sponsored by Nike. The signing of basketball legend
Michael Jordan is considered one of the significant events in Nike's history. What I learned from this book 2) Which is the best way to decide your career? 3) The importance of reading and traveling in building up our character I am glad to know that Phil Knight also has a similar opinion and gives equal importance to reading and traveling. He is mentioning about the important books that influenced him in multiple parts of this book. At the age of 24, the author decided to see the world by travling
to many countries. We can see in multiple parts of this book the author referring to this travel and how it influenced him and helped him to face all the obstacles in his life My favourite three lines from this book What could have been better? The relationship between Tiger Woods and Nike is a controversial and debatable topic. We can appreciate the loyalty shown by Nike towards Mr. Woods during difficult times. But looking back at the seriousness of the accusations against him during his marital infidelity scandal in 2009 from this #metoo era, it can be viewed from a
different angle altogether. I expected a little more in-depth analysis of that situation from Phil Knight in this book. This book was published in 2016. Many important events involving Nike happened after that, including the campaign for boycotting Nike on social media and controversy involving Nike using the image of rebellion to sell its gear. I expect an updated edition of this book discussing these crucial topics. I also hope to see the author's view on Nike's relation with Tiger Woods
from the #metoo perspective. Rating
I am not a sneakerhead who is obsessed with videos by Complex and sneaker shopping from Stadium goods. I have a couple of friends who considers buying shoes as an investment and spends a lot of money to acquire a rare collection. It is them who recommended me to read this book. I was not much interested in reading it initially as I had no clue what this book was about.
I still purchased it due to my friend's insistence. But it sat on my TBR list for a pretty long time.
I am not a sneakerhead who is obsessed with videos by Complex and sneaker shopping from Stadium goods. I have a
couple of friends who considers buying shoes as an investment and spends a lot of money to acquire a rare collection. It is them who recommended me to read this book. I was not much interested in reading it initially as I had no clue what this book was about. I still purchased it due to my friend's insistence. But it sat on my TBR list for a pretty long time.
1) Obstacles are opportunities in disguise
The author had to face an umpteen number of setbacks in this journey. He thought about dropping his business ambitions multiple times to opt for a normal life like others. But he didn't lose hope and persisted with his efforts, and the rest is history. He shows us why it is said that obstacles are
actually opportunities in disguise. "When you see only problems, you're not seeing clearly."
Phil Knight tells all youngsters the method to choose their career when standing perplexed at the crossroads of their lives. He shows us the importance of following your heart. He tells us it is vital to follow your passion instead of compromising for practicality. "I'd
tell men and women in their mid-twenties not to settle for a job or a profession or even a career. Seek a calling. Even if you don't know what that means, seek it. If you're following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you've ever felt."
It is said that travelling and reading are both the best
ways to broaden our minds. Some say that reading is better than traveling while some others think vice versa. I love both reading and traveling, and I think both are equally important in building up our character. "How can I leave my mark on the world, I thought, unless I get out there first and see it?"
“Beating the competition is relatively easy. Beating yourself is a never-ending commitment”
“I refused to even consider ordering less inventory. Grow or die, that’s what I believed, no matter the situation”
"Just keep going. Don't stop. Don't even think about stopping until you get there, and don't give much thought to where "there" is. Whatever comes, just don't stop."
The main complaint against this book is that the author has written it in
a misogynistic, self-absorbed manner and that he is trying to glorify exploitation by saying that it is indispensable for business success. I never felt that the author is misogynistic or self-absorbed while reading this book. Phil Knight paid only $35 to the graphic design student Carolyn Davidson for the swoosh logo of Nike. When we think about it in 2021, when Nike is a $35 billion business empire, we might feel it was a cheap gesture. But we should also consider that it was done in 1971 when
Nike was nothing compared to what it is today. Still, there are some areas in this book where I felt that the author could have treated his workers better.
5/5 Please don’t miss the opportunity to read this book if you are young person who aspires to become a great entrepreneur in the future. “It’s never just business. It never will be. If it ever does become just business, that will mean that business is very bad.”
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Shoe Dog could have been titled, "Buck Naked", because of the way Phil "Buck" Knight bares his soul in this fine memoir. I'm grateful to Knight for putting it all down in black and white. My 12 years with Nike started toward the end of the timeframe of this memoir, and so a lot of what Knight chronicles in Shoe Dog was the core of the Nike creation myth, revealed piecemeal to most of us in the late 70's and early 80's... usually in the form of humorous anecdotes shared over a cocktail or three. Shoe Dog could have been titled, "Buck Naked", because of the way Phil "Buck" Knight bares his soul in this fine memoir. I'm grateful to Knight for putting it all down in black and white. My 12 years with Nike started toward the end of the timeframe of this memoir, and so a lot of what Knight chronicles in Shoe Dog was the core of the Nike creation myth, revealed piecemeal to most of us in the late 70's and early 80's... usually in the form of humorous anecdotes shared over a cocktail or three. It's just wonderful to read this very personal account and especially to have so many unexpected revelations about Knight's state of mind during those seminal moments in Nike's early history. During my tenure at Nike, Knight was a shy, almost bashful, and sometimes quixotic, character who came across as extremely bright, introspective, and prone to occasional, intractable reluctance. I get it now. Of the dozens of CEO's I've met over these 30+ years in the sneaker business he is the only one I could even begin to describe as a seeker... his deep introspection is a quality I've always admired. More so now that I have read about the depth and breadth of what I can only call, his quest. Frankly, I'm astonished. I could never imagine him publicly sharing so much of himself as he does in Shoe Dog. Something else I always admired was his gift for hiring talented, dedicated people and giving them plenty of rope. He was always tolerant of failure, but intolerant of stagnation. These qualities certainly come across in this fine book. Remarkable man. Remarkable history. Remarkable book. ...more
I finished this book but it was a push to get beyond the self-congratulatory, privileged, misogynistic words that oozed throughout this entire book. "I paid someone very little, isn't that funny?" "I was an asshole but that's just the way I am! Blame my dad!" Very little about working through the actual challenges that Nike came across besides revelling in being a white old dude and surrounding himself with old white dudes that never challenged him on it. Awful. I finished this book but it was a push to get beyond the self-congratulatory, privileged, misogynistic words that oozed throughout this entire book. "I paid someone very little, isn't that funny?" "I was an asshole but that's just the way I am! Blame my dad!" Very little about working through the actual challenges that Nike came across besides revelling in being a white old dude and surrounding himself with old white dudes that never challenged him on it. Awful. ...more
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike, Phil Knight Shoe Dog is a memoir by
Nike co-founder Phil Knight. He 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 car in 1963, Knight grossed eight thousand dollars that first year. 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 one of the few Shoe Dog is a memoir by Nike co-founder Phil Knight. He 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 car in 1963, Knight grossed eight thousand dollars that first year. 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 one of the few icons instantly
recognized in every corner of the world. عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «سمفونی کفشها: خاطرات بنیانگذار شرکت نایکی»؛ «کفش فروش پیر: شرححالی از بنیانگذار نایکی»؛ «کفش باز خاطرات بنیانگذار نایکی»؛ نویسنده: فلیپ اچ نایت؛ «خاطرات بنیانگذار شرکت نایک»؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز بیست و چهارم ماه می سال2019میلادی عنوان: سمفونی کفشها: خاطرات بنیانگذار شرکت نایکی؛ نویسنده: فلیپ اچ نایت؛ مترجمها: علیرضا پارسائیان؛ نیلوفر خوش زبان؛ تهران، نشر سده، سال1395؛ در485ص؛ شابک9786009717002؛ عنوان دیگر:
خاطرات بنیانگذار شرکت نایک؛ چاپ دوم سال1399؛ موضوع سرگذشتنامه نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده20م عنوان: کفش فروش پیر: شرححالی از بنیانگذار نایکی؛ نویسنده: فیل نایت؛ مترجم: حامد رحمانیان؛ ویراستار: رها خیرآبادی؛ تهران، نشر نوین توسعه، سال1396؛ در410ص؛ شابک9786008738114؛ عنوان: کفش باز خاطرات بنیانگذار نایکی؛ نویسنده: فیل نایت؛ مترجم: شورش بشیری؛ تهران، نشر میلکان، سال1396؛ در328ص؛ شابک9786007845653؛ چاپهای چهل و هشتم و چهل و نهم سال1400؛ فراموشکار هستم و پیر اما این یکی
یادم مانده است که در باره ی این کتاب نوشته بودم، کتابم را هم حذف کرده بودند، امروز روز سوم خردادماه سال1401خورشیدی دوباره کتاب را افزودم نقل از متن پشت جلد: (فارغ از اینکه چه کسب و کاری داشته باشید یا اینکه در چه رشتهای درس خوانده باشید، این کتاب داستان رسیدن به خواستهها و آرزوهاست، راهنمای از هیچ به همه چیز رسیدن، راهنمای گوشدادن به صدای قلب و دویدن دنبال آرزوهاست، داستان شکست خوردن و برگشتن از عمق تاریکی شکست است، داستان هدر ندادن استعداد است، این کتاب نه تنها راهنمایی برای اهالی
کسب و کار و مدیریت است، بلکه برای هر خواننده ای که به خود و آرزوهایش ایمان دارد خواندنی است؛ زندگینامه ای که جنگیدن و دست نکشیدن را به ما میآموزد)؛ پایان نقل از متن: (کناری نشستن و کارینکردن و ترازنامه را بالابردن، برای من معنایی نداشت؛ بله، این کاری محتاطانه و سنجیده و عاقلانه بود؛ اما کنار جاده پر بود از کارآفرینهای محتاط و عاقل و سنجیده که از بین رفته بودند؛ من میخواستم با تمام قدرت پایم را روی پدال گاز فشار بدهم)؛ پایان تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 03/03/1401هجری خورشیدی؛ ا.
شربیانی
Great story. There is grit, passion, and drama. Phil Knight described in amazing details his journey from selling shoes out of his car to building a multi-billion dollar company. It'd have been a perfect zero-to-hero story if it wasn't for its elitism. All important people in Phil Knight's life seem to be rich and powerful. Knight's parents paid for his college and his expensive MBA. Then the 24
year old Knight asked for even more money to travel the world, beach-bumming in Hawaii for a while. W All important people in Phil Knight's life seem to be rich and powerful. Knight's parents
paid for his college and his expensive MBA. Then the 24 year old Knight asked for even more money to travel the world, beach-bumming in Hawaii for a while. When he was in Japan, his dad's friends checked him into a nice hotel, took him to trade exchange, introduced him to importers. His dad then paid for his first order of shoes, paid for his second order of shoes, then wrote a guarantee so he could work with a respectable bank. The moral of the story is: Take as much risk as you could as long
as you have your rich parents to catch you when you fall.
A marketing rag that rebrands exploitation as entrepreneurial virtue, with enough rave reviews by endorsed celebrities to make George Orwell proud. To summarize: Stanford MBA returns from trip around the world
(funded by parents), secures a Japanese connection (through his father) and hires a rag tag team of misfits to work full time on his shoe empire while he had one foot out the door working as an accountant for PwC. His only real talent was in taking advantage of people: $50 raises for his f A marketing rag that rebrands exploitation as entrepreneurial virtue, with enough rave reviews by endorsed celebrities to make George Orwell proud. To summarize:
Stanford MBA returns from trip around the world (funded by parents), secures a Japanese connection (through his father) and hires a rag tag team of misfits to work full time on his shoe empire while he had one foot out the door working as an accountant for PwC. His only real talent was in taking advantage of people: $50 raises for his founding employees, taking money from a disabled employee's family, and paying the woman who designed his logo $35. And despite loathing the word "equity," Knight
manages to keep all of his. But no, true American success story. *slow clap*
“Let everyone else call your idea crazy.. just keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t even think about stopping until you get there, and don’t give much thought to where “there” is. Whatever comes, just don’t stop.”
In other words, Just Do It! Nike is the ultimate American dream. And it all started when a twenty-four-year-old Oregonian suddenly had this Crazy Idea of bringing Japanese running shoes, specifically the Onitsuka Tigers, into the country way back in 1962, just less than two decades after th In other words, Just Do It! Nike is the ultimate American dream. And it all started when a twenty-four-year-old Oregonian suddenly had this Crazy Idea of bringing Japanese running shoes, specifically the Onitsuka Tigers, into the country way back in 1962, just less than two decades after the United States of America bombed Nagasaki and Hiroshima. There had been some unauthorised
biographies or stories about how Nike came to be, but this is the first time we have been graced with the words from the creator himself, Philip H. Knight. Shoe Dog is a well-written, captivating and candid account of how Knight’s Crazy Idea came into fruition and eventually metamorphosized into the most recognizable name in the athletic shoe and apparel industry.
While not a business book per se, there are a lot of insights herein about entrepreneurship and challenges of running a successful business. The journey undertaken by Blue Ribbon Sports, the name of the company with which Knight started his distribution of the Onitsuka Tigers, was monumentally challenging in spite of encouraging sales and demand. What with the difficulties of dealing with the Japanese halfway across the world in a snail-mail era coupled with problematic and delayed shipments time and time again, and lousy conservative bankers who preferred equity (i.e. cash) over reinvested growth, Knight and his team of partners were constantly fighting a relentless uphill battle to stay afloat. Even when Nike as a brand was created, the challenges were far from over as manufacturing capacity and capital availability struggled to keep pace with the phenomenal growth.
And what a team he was able to garner, the foremost of them all being arguably the most renowned American running coach ever, Bill Bowerman. The story of Nike has strong parables to sports as its massive success was built on strong and loyal teamwork. A lot of the ideas that brought Nike to bear were not solely Knight’s. It was also almost paradoxical to learn that Knight was not convinced on the powers of advertising, what with Nike being so revolutionary in its advertising campaigns and ideas. What he did bring to the table was his sheer passion and stubbornness (as stopping means losing) and a bunch of people who were willing to dedicate all their money and efforts into where their hearts lie. At its core, the firm was essentially founded and nurtured by running geeks who understood the spirit of the sport and embraced innovation.
Like books, sports give people a sense of having lived other lives, of taking part in other people’s victories. And defeats. When sports are at their best, the spirit of the fan merges with the spirit of the athlete, and in that convergence, in that transference, is the oneness that mystics talk about.
Another highly notable mention in this book is, of course, the legendary Steve Prefontaine, whose greatly inspiring yet tragic story still resonates within the hallowed grounds of Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon. Admiration bordering on worship for Pre, who was famously known for once saying “Somebody may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it”, provided further fuel for the inner fire within Knight’s competitive psyche. It was also enlightening to learn about the origins of the Nike Cortezes and finally understand its cult status amongst shoe addicts.
Admittedly, I have always been more of an Adidas fan. However, this frank, emotional and in-depth look into the history of Nike and people behind its success has significantly boosted my appreciation of the brand. Taglines like “Just Do It” and “There Is No Finish Line” are not merely marketing propaganda but the embodiment of the spirit of the brand and its founding fathers.
Shoe Dog is a real-life story of passion, perseverance, belief, loyalty and teamwork with a lot of heart. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves biographies. More so for budding or even seasoned entrepreneurs, sneaker or athletic shoe fans, and especially for runners, athletes or just sports fans in general. And if you are a fan of Nike, what are you even waiting for?!
You can purchase the books from Amazon | Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)
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Overall: Meh. This book doesn't contain much. No real business or leadership insight. Not even an interesting story about the formation of Nike. Mostly the life of Phil Knight and Nike's early legal trouble. Truth be told, Phil Knight sounds to be an all around self-absorbed individual. Not someone I'd ever look up to. I'm still a fan of Nike products, just not this book. Overall: Meh. This book doesn't contain much. No real business or leadership insight. Not even an interesting story about the formation of Nike. Mostly the life of Phil Knight and Nike's early legal trouble. Truth be told, Phil Knight sounds to be an all around self-absorbed individual. Not someone I'd ever look up to. I'm still a fan of Nike products, just not this book. ...more
I’m not sure when I became aware of Nike – maybe sometime around the millennium? Certainly not before that. I was therefore astounded to learn that the company had been founded in the early 1970’s, with the
aim of producing and selling sports shoes. In fact, the co-founder (and major driving force), Phil Knight, was a runner in college and his driving goal was to produce top class running shoes. We first catch up with Phil, a native of Oregon, in the late 60’s when he’d already secured an MBA at I’m not sure when I became aware of Nike – maybe sometime around the millennium? Certainly not before that. I was therefore astounded to learn that the company
had been founded in the early 1970’s, with the aim of producing and selling sports shoes. In fact, the co-founder (and major driving force), Phil Knight, was a runner in college and his driving goal was to produce top class running shoes. We first catch up with Phil, a native of Oregon, in the late 60’s when he’d already secured an MBA at Stanford and had decided to travel the world. Off he went on his voyage of discovery – and what a journey it was. In listening to an audio version of this book
I was pretty much captivated from the very start. This wasn’t at all the book I’d anticipated it to be - it was much more literary than the account I’d expected. The descriptions of time and place and people and events transported me directly there. I was stood beside him, drinking it all in. When visiting Japan Phil came across the Tiger brand of running shoes and he decided to set up a business importing the shoes and selling them in America. His his old college running coach, Bill
Bowerman, became a trusted adviser and then a partner. Along side this, Knight also took up a job in an accounting firm, eventually gaining a full accounting accreditation. In fact, these early days were a real struggle for his infant business, there were many challenges to overcome and it often seemed inevitable that the enterprise would fail. The author comes across as a bit of a romantic – he really wanted to produce the perfect shoe and worked tirelessly with Bowerman and his Japanese
supplier to evolve their offering – but also as a workaholic, super-ambitious businessman not prepared to let any challenge stop him. Eventually, however, the challenges of working with his supplier did wear him down and as it became inevitable that he’d lose the ability to import their shoes he decided to start producing his own. So was the company that became Nike born. The details of his struggles are compelling as are his descriptions of the people he met along the way. At one point he
describes a tough looking businessman he’s just met thus: light seemed to bounce off him differently. No, rather light didn’t bounce off him - he absorbed it like a black hole. Nike started to grow steadily, but Phil was in the habit of spending every last cent the company could raise on producing more stock. He knew this was a dangerous strategy but he was convinced it was the only way to ensure growth. He operated very close to the edge – in fact sometimes way over the edge - but
still he continued to do things his way. It brought him perilously close to ruin, but (as we know) the business survived and went on to become the leviathan it is today. If it was fiction it’d be a great story, but as non-fiction it comprises a tale of almost unbelievable tenacity in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds. The account of his business adventures is wound up at the point the company is floated (at the same time as Apple) in 1980, by which point Nike had attained a 50%
market share in the American athletic shoe market. The final section of the book comprises Knight’s reflections on his life and updates on the key figures featured in the book. What I like most about this book is the way the story is told. The author gives much credit for his successes to others – people he worked with through the years – and he explains not just what he did but also his motivations for taking the actions he did. Sometimes these seemed counterintuitive, and he
acknowledges this, but he took them all the same. He is humble and self-deprecating in his portrayal of himself throughout. I grew to like him a lot. I can’t recall when I’ve enjoyed a memoir as much – maybe I never have. It was a joy and an inspiration to spend time with Phil Knight and to learn his story. NB: I was running in the early 70's when the leading brand of shoe in the UK seemed to be New Balance (the shoes I wore). I then played many other sports (soccer, tennis, badminton)
again never wearing Nike but trying out Puma and Addidas amongst others. Later I ran again, this time buying Asics, Mizuno, Brooks and Hoka. Just as as was despairing of the fact that I'd never bought a pair of Nike shoes I spotted my current golf shoes in the garage - yes, you've guessed.
Picked this up hoping it would be a fascinating and inspirational book about leadership and passion. Well... it was an interesting book, at least. It follows Phil Knight's professional career starting from a small running shoe importer up until Nike becoming a publicly traded company. Other reviewers have said they were disappointed that it doesn't cover the birth of Air Jordan, and I would have to agree that it feels like part of the story is missing because of that. My biggest complaint, howev Picked this up hoping it would be a fascinating and inspirational book about leadership and passion. Well... it was an interesting book, at least. It follows Phil Knight's professional career starting from a small running shoe importer up until Nike becoming a publicly traded company. Other reviewers have said they were disappointed that it doesn't cover the birth of Air Jordan, and I would have to agree that it feels like part of the story is missing because of that. My biggest complaint, however, is that the book largely just revealed to me that I just don't like Phil Knight very much. He basically brags throughout the book that he never told his children or employees "I love you" or "I'm proud of you," even though one of his main partners ended each of his letters (of which there were thousands sent) with "Please send words of encouragement," in times of doubt and unsure footing. He speaks of his oldest son as if he's not much more than a nuisance, and as a result sounds completely insincere talking about how paralyzed he felt in response to his death. In fact, it seemed like he only wrote about it in his book so he could name drop all of the A-List athletes that shared condolences with him. Maybe other people won't interpret his stories the same way as I did, but I came away with a pretty poor impression of Phil Knight. ...more
"Let everyone else call your idea crazy . . . just keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t even think about stopping until you get
there, and don’t give much thought to where “there” is. Whatever comes, just don’t stop." Motivation on spot. Enjoyed it. Once you start reading this one, pray you could stop in between. It was a real struggle for me. I just couldn't stop reading it. I feel like I should have read this book years ago. But I still feel great reading it now because I still have the desire to make Motivation on spot. Enjoyed it. Once you start reading this one, pray you could stop in between. It was a real struggle for me. I just couldn't stop reading it. I feel like I should have read this book years ago. But I still feel great reading it now because I still have the desire to make some huge changes in my life. And no matter
how hard people try to convince me anything different but I would always say it's books that actually make things work. And this book is actually one of them. This guy is someone I could totally relate with. At least he's had some people in his family and friend circle who supported him both financially and emotionally from the very beginning. But the real lesson lies in the fact that we see our dreams first and the first step starting with us. Now I believe traveling and
experiencing new places do impact our minds and how we evolve too. Otherwise nothing much will change living the same life everyday until we die. I enjoyed meeting Bowerman through this book. An interesting personality I would say. And Johnson. This personality is something I would want to avoid but yes, something I want to keep a track on. The best part about the book is that it's hard to stop reading in between. Yes, that's right. For a non-fiction autobiography, it's
awesome to read something that's been written this well which felt like I was reading a fast-paced novel worried about our clueless main character. No, he isn't exactly clueless but his life during the 1960s sounds clueless with the extreme personalities he had to deal with. It's business that was booming and crashing. It's now or never it seems. It's do or die it tells. The whole book got me anxious the entire time worried about the anxiety he and his partners had to deal with. But
also, it gave me time to consider things that are inevitable to build a business. And not just business, but some things we need to reconsider when it comes to our lives and for people who want to change their lives. The business with the Japanese read like I was reading about some suspense much like the dilemma of the author. The risks are high yet what matters is we do not stop trying. And here, not just trying but learning things and going for the same goal using different plans
that's might most possibly work out the best. It's about the connection, the right people we can trust, the investments we can do, consistently learning from our mistakes and knowing the people we are involved with and for those who we are giving the services for. Each person or character mentioned has something to tell the reader. I love their enthusiasm and positive vibes. I liked the parts where Woodell had things to say. Kitami surprised me. But then again, let's me know
the idea of "keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer". There's this part of terrorist attack in which athletes were kidnapped. Told you, this book is just too interesting to put down once you start reading it. I loved how one setback after another setback for almost a decade to deal with how he kept telling himself to "keep going" and not to stop. I could see how persuasive and determined he was. Competition is cut throat. It's exciting to read about it. This book
will let you see what goes in the making of a world conquering brand. All the hard work, the determination, the conflicts, the laws and rules, the difficulties and the oppositions, the connections and the teamwork. I mean it's not all the details and everything but you will get to see a good view of what made Nike as it is today. When you are good (believing in what you do no matter what!), never give up on making it better and take indefinite number of chances to make it big and there's
nothing to stop you. Instead everyone would want to find you, know you through what you do. And yes, it tells us not to think too much about the jalebis. No, the jealous baes, I mean. Be focused. Be with those who would help you and you know would give you constructive criticism.
I felt like I was in a country club, sitting at a round table, while an old white man blathered on about his past. Knight
continually astounded me with his complete lack of self-awareness – of his white male privilege, of how he took advantage of his family and friends – and his obsession with trivial details from 40 years ago. Knight skips over so much of Nike's history that could be interesting, including everything post-IPO, and gave little insight into how grow and maintain an innovative and I felt like I was in a country club, sitting at a round table, while
an old white man blathered on about his past. Knight continually astounded me with his complete lack of self-awareness – of his white male privilege, of how he took advantage of his family and friends – and his obsession with trivial details from 40 years ago. Knight skips over so much of Nike's history that could be interesting, including everything post-IPO, and gave little insight into how grow and maintain an innovative and global business (besides "winning is everything"). Knight's
greatest hardship, to this day, is getting cut from his high school baseball team – a memory that he harps on more than his now passed-away son. That says all you need to know about Knight's character. It's frustrating reading a "business" memoir from a misogynistic and self-absorbed multi-billionaire, and it's equally frustrating seeing how much acclaim Knight's book has received.
4.50 ⭐ GENRE - NON FICTION / MEMOIRS / AUTOBIOGRAPHY. For the first time in my life I decided to read a book of a entrepreneur and boy o boy never at any moment during the course of reading this book was I left disappointed. The author Phil Knight is a great story teller for sure and this has been my first such read which not only kept me intrigued, glued and interested but also made me feel
that this book never ended so good was story telling. GENRE - NON FICTION / MEMOIRS / AUTOBIOGRAPHY. For the first time in my life I decided to read a book of a entrepreneur and boy o boy never at any moment during the course of reading this book was I left disappointed. The author Phil Knight is a great story teller for sure and this has been my first such read
which not only kept me intrigued, glued and interested but also made me feel that this book never ended so good was story telling. This is the 14th book I choose to read over all and completed this book in July 2021. Thank you 😊
A must read for those who love Biographies.
Key take awa
A must read for those who love Biographies.
Key take aways are the Story telling ability, Leadership skills of Phil Knight and its all about innovation 💡
As a long-time lover of Nike, it was only matter of time until I read Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, Nike’s founder. I was pretty sure I’d enjoy this one and I was right, I really liked it! The story, told in first person by Phil himself, begins by focusing on his early life, most notably his post-college adulthood in the early 1960s. Phil was unsure of what exactly he wanted to do and had a strong
desire to travel the world first. This is nothing new, in my opinion, if anything, this desire has only b The story, told in first person by Phil himself, begins by focusing on his early life, most notably his post-college adulthood in the early 1960s.
Phil was unsure of what exactly he wanted to do and had a strong desire to travel the world first. This is nothing new, in my opinion, if anything, this desire has only become more common with young adults. I enjoyed the whole book but began to get impatient with this part - Only because I felt this young adult desire to travel the world wasn’t too unique, and I was eager to get started on the Nike story. Of course, we never know which life experiences will shape us and how they will leave
lasting impacts, and this did tie back into the ultimate story of Nike. ”Seek a calling. Even if you don’t know what that means, seek it. If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you’ve ever felt.” I liked learning about the origins of a company I’ve loved and supported for most of my life, and seeing how certain products came to be. I would’ve enjoyed a little more on the
endorsements and relationships with athletes in the 90s and 2000s, like Jordan, Tiger, Lebron, etc. but the majority of the book is set well before this timeframe. Before Nike became what it is today, it was Blue Ribbon Sports, being run out of Phil’s parents’ home in Oregon. Like most successful companies, there were many challenges and growing pains. I admire people who continually have the strength to overcome such obstacles and keep pursuing the vision they believe in. It’s daunting and much
easier said than done! It was interesting to read about the other key players who helped craft Nike’s culture and footprint too. ”I’d never witnessed anything quite like that race. And yet I didn’t just witness it. I took part in it. Days later I felt sore in my hams and quads. This, I decided, this is what sports are, what they can do. Like books, sports give people a sense of having lived other lives, of taking part in other people’s victories. And defeats. When sports are at
their best, the spirit of the fan merges with the spirit of the athlete, and in that convergence, in they transference, is the oneness that the mystics talk about.” I especially enjoyed the last chapter of the book, which jumps forward to 2007, where Phil reflects on how far the founding group has come, where they all are at that point, and where Nike now stood, several years later. It also sheds more of a light on Phil’s personal life, which was nice to read about. Shoe
Dog is a great story; one that shares the origins of an iconic global brand, and provides many lessons for both the aspiring entrepreneur and the ultimate sports fan.
Wow! What a delightful read it was. Shoe Dog was in my reading list for a quite long time, but I never managed time to read it. But now I am gladsome that I read this stunning memoir. We all heard about
brand NIKE, a shoe company. But we don't know about the journey of NIKE's founders Philip Knight and Bowerman. We definitely Google some facts, but Google will not connect us to their story emotionally. In his autobiography, Phil talks about his personal and professional life in a very subtle man In his autobiography, Phil talks about his personal and professional life in a very subtle manner. If you think about shoes all the time even at the time of your children's birth too that will be made you
Shoe Dog. The title goes perfectly with the storyline. The cover page is artless and precise with a monogram of NIKE. Phil Knight dedicates this book to his grandchildren so they will know about him and his company. He born in Oregon; earned a master's degree from Stanford University. In his college time, he made a paper regarding shoes that stuck with him for a long time. Phil travels the whole world at the age of 24. After coming home, he started his own company named Blue
Ribbon which sale Japanese shoes in the USA.
Read the full review here - //www.bookscharming.com/2018/12...
...more
Ive learned so much from Phil over the course of my career, but never understood the full story of how he started Nike. This book taught me about the tenacity and focus on quality that goes into building a company.
Loved this book. It was very inspiring to read Phil Knight's story of how he built one of the world's most successful companies. It also inspired me to finish writing Underdog! Loved this book. It was very inspiring to read Phil Knight's story of how he built one of the world's most successful companies. It also inspired me to finish writing Underdog! ...more
Never read something like this. The story of adventure, failure, friendship, love, triumph, highs and lows, banks and money, business, happiness and a journey to life. Try this one... Its recommendable 👍👍👍😍❤️
Easily one of my all-time favorite business books, out there with Liar’s Poker and The Snowball. From cover to cover it exuded positive vibes; a nice kick-start for my 2018 reading year.
The key
messages conveyed by this memoir were not unlike those in biographies authored by founders of other successful businesses: marry career with passion, place subordinates according to their talents etc. etc.
And yet Phil Knight expertly presented the mortal side of a legendary CEO; he forsook platitudes an Easily one of my all-time favorite business books, out there with Liar’s Poker and The Snowball. From cover to cover it exuded positive vibes;
a nice kick-start for my 2018 reading year.
The key messages conveyed by this memoir were not unlike those in biographies authored by founders of other successful businesses: marry career with passion, place subordinates according to their talents etc. etc.
And yet Phil Knight expertly presented the mortal side of a legendary CEO; he forsook platitudes and business jargons, instead opted for relatable anecdotes that he could trade with general reading public over cocktail.
In the
bulk of the book Knight told his stories with resounding humor and self-deprecation. Himself, his co-founder and first employees were all more or less misfits, with, at times, uncompromising temperament; it was the love for running and the devotion to the company that bound them firmly enough to endure otherwise unsurmountable challenges.
in the last chapter he shifted his tone, and delivered heart-felt reflection and reminiscence of the last 40 years. If until then I saw Knight as a
bohemian, who employed a playboy attitude toward barriers and setbacks, in this chapter I could clearly felt his heaving emotions, from grief to joy, from proud to anger…
The book covered the founding of Nike, first formed as Blue ribbon Sports, through its 1980 public offering. We witnessed how a group of early-1960s entrepreneurs turned a novel business idea of selling imported Japanese running shoes (as a business school assignment) into an iconic sports brand worth hundreds of millions
of dollars at its IPO. That was before the existence of venture capital fueling today’s startups like Facebook and Uber. Back then they were under the mercy of commercial banks, who were extremely risk-averse, and would trade growth for balance sheet cash/equity in a heartbeat. Not surprisingly the most suspenseful parts were when Blue Ribbon/Nike several times narrowly escaped bankruptcy.
Several times Knight rejected the idea of IPO for fear of losing control. Ironically his original idea
“futures”, then designed to preserve liquidity, later became a key gage for Nike’s financial health, or a catalyst for Nike stock.
Like that Bill Gates was late to recognize the potential of internet browser, Knight was not totally sold on either the Nike company name or the swoosh logo at first. For some reason I found it comforting that these business magnates are humans; they don’t possess God’s perfect vision.
Knight was honest, if not humble, to publicly acknowledge the power of
luck. One does not have to read Outlier by Malcolm Gladwell to echo this view. Yet Knight’s humbleness was also reflected throughout the book by how much he attributed each breakthrough to his teammates and luck.
Blue Ribbon’s first employee Jeff Johnson was my favorite character. He was handsome, creative, loyal and oh so addicted to books. I felt somewhat unjust, and thought he was not sufficiently compensated despite being instrumental to Nike’s success.
I only wish the memoir had
included post-IPO period of Nike, at least until Knight retired from his CEO role in 2006. ...more
JUST DO IT. Those words are the life story of Phil Knight. To every athlete, entrepreneur, mother, father, and dreamer his greatest legacy will be a life well played. More valuable than his pledge of
giving back to society $100,000,000 a year, Phil 'Found His Greatness' in life by inspiring us all to play harder, dig deeper and never quit. Thank you, Phil. This book is well worth every hard-won word, shared and earned over 50+ years of grueling competition. More than once the story looked like im This book is well worth every hard-won word, shared and earned over 50+ years of grueling competition. More than once the story looked like impending failure. Most would have given up. Perhaps Phil's greatest advice, and example, are the words he shared on his book tour in Portland
where he told us all, "The only time you must not fail is the last time you try." Pick your heroes with the greatest of care. Phil Knight, your name shall stand beyond your lifetime in our generation's Pantheon of Heroes for never failing to try.
Well it was interesting in parts but not really the book for me. I thought the last chapter that touched on how he handled the sweatshop
accusations was the most interesting. It was just a blow by blow account of how a man aggressively created a very successful business. It didn't have heart and it wasn't inspirational. I thought the last chapter that touched on how he handled the sweatshop accusations was the most interesting. It was just a blow by blow account of how a man aggressively created a very
successful business. It didn't have heart and it wasn't inspirational.
The book tells a brilliant, absolutely amazing, story of the Nike company (Blue Ribbon Sports), its founder
– Phil Knight, and its Execom members who were also called butt-faces. Anyway, the book describes Phil’s struggles and how he started out the company. It is a great recap of The book tells a brilliant, absolutely
amazing, story of the Nike company (Blue Ribbon Sports), its founder – Phil Knight, and its Execom members who were also called butt-faces. Anyway, the book describes Phil’s struggles and how he started out the company. It is a great recap of the early days showing the ceaseless fight with a shortage of money as well as with unfair competition at relatively early stages. You can see both sides of the personal and professional story while also learn about one of the most iconic brands in
the world. This is an interesting story just because it gives you a better perspective on a lot of setbacks, a lot of problems and issues he had to challenge with. The book also gives a touch on the manufacturing process of shoes in Asia as well as talks about forming the partnership with Michael Jordan and other sport titans like Tiger Woods. Worth to say that Phil Knight is an excellent writer and a storyteller. He did a great job as the book is absolutely astonishing not only by the
inspiring story it tells but also by its abundance of useful information for experienced an inexperienced entrepreneurs. I really enjoyed reading about real financial struggle (cash flow in particular) as so few popular books underline that. He reveals many behind the scenes looks at... (if you like to read my full review please visit my blog:
//leadersarereaders.blog/shoe-do...)
I am so glad I bumped into this book. Explaining what Nike is would be just beating a dead horse. Nevertheless, my knowledge concerning Nike shoes was rather limited even though I had a few pairs when I was a teenager.
I am so glad I bumped into this book. Explaining what Nike is would be just beating a dead horse. Nevertheless, my knowledge concerning Nike shoes was rather limited even though I had a few pairs when I was a teenager.
Co-founder of Nike, Phil Knight, has a remarkable life story of starting this world-wide shoe brand. I love reading memoirs and the story has places with keen interest--yet other areas are boring and could have been easily cut. The results is something OK but NOT amazing and page-turning for the reader. The 386 pages could have been cut to something like 200 or 225 and been much better. It's OK and worth reading. Co-founder of Nike, Phil Knight, has a remarkable life story of starting this world-wide shoe brand. I love reading memoirs and the story has places with keen interest--yet other areas are boring and could have been easily cut. The results is something OK but NOT amazing and page-turning for the reader. The 386 pages could have been cut to something like 200 or 225 and been much better. It's OK and worth reading. ...more
"For some, I realize, business is the all-out pursuit of profits, period, full stop, but for us the business was no more about making money than being human is about making blood. Yes, the human body needs blood.
It needs to manufacture red and white cells and platelets and redistribute them evenly, smoothly, to all the right places, on time, or else. But that day-to-day business of the human body isn't our mission as human beings. It's a basic process that enables our higher aims, and life a "For some, I realize, business is the all-out pursuit of profits, period, full stop, but for us the business was no more about making money than being
human is about making blood. Yes, the human body needs blood. It needs to manufacture red and white cells and platelets and redistribute them evenly, smoothly, to all the right places, on time, or else. But that day-to-day business of the human body isn't our mission as human beings. It's a basic process that enables our higher aims, and life always strives to transcend the basic process of living ..." I really enjoyed the message of this book. I actually found it to be rather
inspiring. It's all about doing things your own way; being true to yourself. Phil Knight pursued his Crazy Idea, even when no one was backing him, and he fought for it when people tried to bring him down. He overcame obstacles through the sheer determination to keep fighting. And he gathered around him people who believed in the dream as wholeheartedly as him. It's also fascinating to learn how this iconic brand began and all the brilliant little Nike trivia throughout. I'd never heard of
most of the people mentioned in this book, yet they were big names back in the day. It's amazing all the effort that went into building this brand. I work for a company that sells predominantly Nike products, and to be surrounded by it - and dressed in it - while reading about those humble beginnings was an awe-inspiring experience. Plus, it'll be fun to tell customers and colleagues all these new and interesting facts. I'm always thirsting for knowledge. The writing was surprisingly good
and I, like many, wonder if there was some ghost-writing involved. If not, it's pretty impressive. I was actually entertained throughout, even with all the mentions of numbers, loans, shoe materials, factories, etc. There's a great human element that's evident in the storytelling, and it helps you to connect. It's also incredibly honest. Knight was kind of a jerk, and did some questionable stuff. But he reflects on himself and is able to admit when he was acting petulant, or whiny, or
stubborn. The story of how Nike got its name was my favourite. It would have been nice to have some pictures, but I guess there's always Google for that. I was also hoping to read about the signing of Jordan, whose first choice was Adidas, but alas, he only gets a brief mention in the final few pages. There was some stuff that I feel didn't really need to be included, though I can see why it was, and was still interesting to read. All in all, a fascinating look at the beginnings of a
sports giant, and a rather inspiring memoir about doing things your own way, being true to yourself, and making more out of life than just money. Anyone interested in the brand will enjoy the trivia, but this is also an inspiring memoir for people who are interested in stories of overcoming adversity, of the little guy with sharp teeth, of a start-up business that ultimately became one of the most successful in the world. Highly recommend.
“Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” Nike is one of the most well-known brands in the world. Some think its outsourcing business strategy is brilliant, while others think it's contentious. Nike is a brand that everyone knows, or at least we think they do. Nike is one of the most well-known brands in the world. Some think its outsourcing business strategy is brilliant, while others think it's contentious. Nike is a brand that everyone knows, or at least we
think they do. Grab your copy here.
Phil Knight, the author and founder of the company, tells
an unexpectedly gripping story. The book's chapters are divided by year, and it spends a lot of time on the company'
Phil Knight, the author and founder of the company, tells an unexpectedly gripping story. The book's chapters are divided by year, and it spends a lot of time on the company's first ten years. Knight is able to depict the terror and frustration that comes with living on the edge year after year, even as his firm grows.
The book is unexpectedly enjoyable to read - well written and intriguing - and is not your standard entrepreneurship story, aimed primarily at
young individuals seeking inspiration or others of a similar nature. It focuses primarily on the early days of Blue Ribbon / Nike (the early 70s).
Shoe Dog is an extraordinary hero's journey, an epic tale of faith, unparalleled determination, excellence, failure, triumph, hard-earned wisdom, and love. It's nothing short of a miracle that Nike exists. I finished the last sentence in complete awe, inspired and grateful for the experience.--Lisa Genova, New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice and Inside the O'Briens Shoe Dog is an extraordinary hero's journey, an epic tale of faith, unparalleled determination, excellence, failure, triumph, hard-earned wisdom, and love. It's nothing short of a miracle that Nike exists. I finished the last sentence in complete awe, inspired and grateful for the experience.--Lisa Genova, New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice and Inside the O'Briens ...more
4|5 I didn’t know anything about Knight before reading this, but I ended up having a special affection for him. I didn’t know anything about Knight before reading this, but I ended up having a special affection for him.
Throughout the whole book I sensed a truthfulness in his writing. He wasn’t shy in
showing his weaknesses and his miss judgments; he didn’t want to make it seems like you need some kind of super powers to build a brand as big as Nike or that it’s a one man job or that you don’t need to make important sacrifices for it. And his commitment for what Nike represents,as a brand, which for hi
Throughout the whole
book I sensed a truthfulness in his writing. He wasn’t shy in showing his weaknesses and his miss judgments; he didn’t want to make it seems like you need some kind of super powers to build a brand as big as Nike or that it’s a one man job or that you don’t need to make important sacrifices for it. And his commitment for what Nike represents,as a brand, which for him is so much more than a business that’s making him extremely rich, was very enduring. By the end of this book I was completely
sold.
Philip Hampson Knight, whose nickname is "Buck", is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the co-founder and current chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc., and previously served as chairman and CEO of the company. Philip Hampson Knight, whose nickname is "Buck", is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the co-founder and current chairman emeritus of Nike, Inc., and previously served as chairman and CEO of the company. ...more
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