In 1962, fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and created a company with a simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost athletic shoes from Japan. He made $8000 in his first year. Today, Nike's annual sales top $30 billion.
The Nike swoosh is iconic and one of the most recognisable symbols in the world. This memoir is the story of the man behind its rise.
Here’s a short video summary of the book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKjtqLDGnto&ab_channel=Eudaimonia
Here’s a short text summary:
https://growth.me/books/shoe-dog/
Every founder’s story influences the company they go on to build. This is a fantastic insight into how that’s happened for Phil Knight and Nike.
Nike has pioneered some genuine design innovations and is a cultural powerhouse. There are design specific things to learn as well as how to access and harness your own inspirations.
Creativity, Innovation and Inspiration
Phil Knight made one of the biggest brands in the world. How does he speak about creativity and innovation throughout the book?
Quality and Publicity
Nike is known for its branding and marketing but Knight didn’t start out with this focus. Think about the tension between creating great work and letting people know about it while you read.
Enjoying Your Work
Knight speaks a lot about the importance of enjoyment for him. What is it you want from your work?
Self Belief and Persistence