Shoe Dog

400 pages, 2016

Phil Knight

Takeaways

Description

In this book, for the first time ever, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight share the inside story of the sneaker 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.

A young man searching for his identity after college, 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 car, Knight grossed eight thousand dollars that first year. Today, Nike’s annual sales top $30 billion—and that’s only part of Knight’s success. His leadership has helped give birth to an industry and given rise to some of its greatest athletes.

Fluent in Japanese and a voracious reader of business topics, he is among America's most revered CEOs even though he never set out to work in corporate America. In this book, Knight lays bare his successes, his failures, and his personal journey with such honesty, humor, and passion that you feel you are right alongside him for every step of the way.

The Power of Perseverance

In Shoe Dog, Phil Knight shares his journey of creating Nike, showing us that success doesn't come overnight. He faced numerous challenges and setbacks, but he never gave up. His story encourages us to keep going, even when things get tough.

Importance of Passion

Knight was passionate about running and shoes, which led him to start Nike. His story shows us that when you truly love what you do, it fuels your determination and helps you overcome obstacles. So, find what you love and pursue it relentlessly.

Value of Relationships

Throughout the book, we see how Knight's relationships with his team, suppliers, and customers played a crucial role in Nike's success. It's a reminder to value the people around us and build strong relationships, as they can be our biggest assets.

Embrace Risks

Knight took many risks to grow Nike, from borrowing money to entering unknown markets. His story encourages us to step out of our comfort zones and take calculated risks, as they can lead to great rewards.

Innovation is Key

Nike became a global brand because Knight was always looking for ways to improve his products. He wasn't afraid to experiment and innovate. This teaches us to constantly look for ways to improve and innovate in our own lives and businesses.

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Quotes 1

Shoe Dog is a great American story about luck, grit, know-how, and the magic alchemy of a handful of eccentric characters who came together to build Nike. That it happened at all is a miracle, because as I learned from this book, though we are a nation that extols free enterprise, we also excel at thwarting it. This is Phil Knight, one man who dared to believe in his crazy dream.