Knight are stunned by how nice they look, and sends two pairs to his old track coach, Bill Bowerman. Having been a decent runner on the U of Oregon track team, he's obsessed with shoes. Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by: Here's a preview of the rest of Shortform's Shoe Dog summary: Phil Knight has graduated from the University of Oregon and earned an MBA from Stanford, and he doesnt know what to do. Rather than looking for shiny corporate-style employees who were cookie-cutter copies of each other, Phil actively sought out the misunderstood creative geniuses. While Kitamis in the bathroom, Phil steals a folder from Kitamis briefcase. Beating yourself is a never-ending commitment.. Knight recommends following your own Crazy Idea, which he believes will motivate you more than the pursuit of money, success, or other peoples approval. The import duties use a comparable shoe as the pricing benchmark, giving rise to the $25 million price. What do the self-help and business industries both have in common? #12 A massive project is just many small projects. Just a few months later, their fledgling company sold out of their shoes and ordered another shipment of 300 shoes. Print Word PDF This section contains 1,130 words (approx. He offers an honest perspective about the imperfect process of building a successful company. *If you have a body, you are an athlete. This statement features prominently on their website and aligns with Knights understanding of the need for a deeper purpose. While sealing the initial deal had been as simple as showing up at Mr. Onitsukas door, getting the initial samples wasnt. Luckily, the Nike waffle trainers are more popular than ever. Filming Timeline . You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. "Shoe Dog A Memoir by the creator of Nike", "Words to work by: Tradespeople building the new Central Library choose their favourite book", "On Phil Knight, 'Shoe Dog,' Nike, Boris Berian and U.S. track & field: Oregon track & field rundown", "An Honest Tale of What It Takes to Succeed in Business", "Netflix plans to turn Phil Knight's 'Shoe Dog' into a movie", "WARREN BUFFETT: This is the best book I read last year", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shoe_Dog&oldid=1143053535, This page was last edited on 5 March 2023, at 18:01. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. Moehringer. Its small with just 4 employees, they work 70-hour weeks. The first commercial Nike shoe was a variation of the 'Moon Shoe' with a more refined design. Brands must have a mission that the public can agree with and get behind. Director Screenwriters. Every rejection of Nike is a rejection of himself. #7 Make a Great Team Knight describes that a lot of his success came from the excellence of his team. These iconic athletes increased public awareness of Nike and the plan was a huge victory for the brand. First, well discuss his Crazy Idea to sell Japanese running shoes. #10 Travel the World When Youre Young Phil Knight believes that he benefited greatly both in terms of his general world wisdom and knowledge by traveling the world in his early 20s. Bowermans designs influenced many of Nikes iconic styles, including its waffle trainers. Its hard to believe today, but in the 1960s, jogging to get exercise was something only maniacs would do. People everywhere loved it! He felt Adidas was arrogant and had a negative view of them, but that did not stop him from learning from them. While in Japan, Knight met with executives at Onitsuka Tiger, a Japanese shoe company, which agreed to send Knight shoe samples to sell back in the United States. Finally, well explore Knights reflections on Nike and advice for young entrepreneurs, such as learning as you go and trusting your team. Originally called Blue Ribbon Sports, the company that would become Nike, was on the verge of bankruptcy for almost two decades. . In a memo to his company, Phil announces that hes hired a spy. He stresses that this is completely accepted in Japanese business culture. Johnson hit his target and Buck allowed him to open a Blue Ribbon . Theres one barrier: he needs money. His Crazy Idea was to partner with Japanese shoe companies and sell their shoes in America. He details the many risks he encountered, the crushing setbacks, the ruthless competitors and hostile bankersas well as his many thrilling triumphs. She reminds him of Cleopatra and Julie Christie. It is easy to feel unproductive when you view a task as a huge project. Endorsements: In tennis, they dont get star Nastase (who asks for $100,000/year), which Phil thinks is irresponsible. Even though nobody was all that impressed with the paper, Phil became obsessed with the idea. For example, Jesse Owens famously wore Adidas to the 1937 Olympics, Nike outfitted Steve Prefontaine for the 1972 Olympics, and his official endorsement in 1974 was overwhelmingly effective for the company. Buster Brown had a sweetheart named Mary Jane, so the Brown Shoe Company also bought licensing rights for "Mary Jane" for their line of girls' strap shoes. But have you ever wondered how Nike got its start? Because Phil was obsessed with the relationship between speed and design, he was constantly looking for new ways to improve the shoes they sold. #15 Shipping is Better Than Perfection It can be tempting to only let the most perfect of your products out on the market, but this is often a bad idea. Engaging your audience will have a profound effect on your marketing and brand. It was an all-consuming mania, a recognizable psychological disorder, to care so much about insoles and outsoles, linings and welts, rivets and vamps. So, as we can see from this definition, Phils role as Blue Ribbons shoe dog played a significant part in his life and identity! If the answers to these questions trend toward the affirmative, you may have a potential BHAG. Kentons guide does an admirable job of helping us identify a BHAG and it also provides a solid map for developing one for yourself. ", 100 Best Side Hustles for Teens to Make Money, 10 Proven Psychological Pricing Strategies with Examples, 100 Office Etiquette Rules You Need to Know, Dont tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results., The cowards never started and the weak died along the way. Home Business Shoe Dog 3 Minute Summary: 15 Lessons Learned + PDF. The first year, Phil sold the shoes out of the trunk of his car, a green Plymouth Valiant. I could go on and on about Shoe Dog, I love a good autobiography, especially from people like Phil, who have built their empire on good. There is a history of Nikes most effective and famous ad campaigns coming from a place of storytelling. Iowas head coach calls, angry that Nike had incorrectly claimed a partnership that didn't existbut then asks to sign with Nike too. #13 Act successful until you become successful. One of his professors described the character of an entrepreneur, and Phil instantly recognized himself. It's a messy, perilous, and chaotic journey, riddled with mistakes, endless struggles, and sacrifice. And you cant do that by simply hiring the first person who answers your help wanted ad. So Blue Ribbon is still selling the Onitsuka shoes primarily to student athletes popular as they were, they appeal to just a small niche of the population. Shoe Dog is the memoir of one of the founders of Nike. Today, Nike is a household name in sportswear. He now has to travel to Japan, find a shoe company, and pitch them his Crazy Idea. In the spirit of his newfound passion, Phil through himself into learning more about the relationship between track shoes and speed. Jeff had been inspired by Greek mythology and so he approached Phil with a new name in mind: Nike. But at Wimbledon, they find a young hothead named John McEnroe, and Phil falls in love with him. Startled by his own success, Phil randomly blurted out Blue Ribbon, when Onitsuka asked him for the name of his company. Through it all, Knight told himself to never stop. The result of his perseverance is Nike, a multibillion-dollar brand worn by many of the worlds best athletes and recognized across the globe. He was somewhat of a shoe connoisseur, constantly experimenting and fidgeting with shoes so that runners could have the best tools to push themselves and excel. Are they willing to throw their creative talents and human energies into it? Bowerman designs the LD 1000, a shoe with a flared heel meant to reduce pressure on the knee. Phil was in the US Army for a year. Phil knew that and so he developed a more creative hiring process that was sure to connect him with the right people. He had to participate in many meetings and business deals with experienced and essential business people, and by acting successful, he eventually became successful. Dont tell people how to do things. Shoe Dog: Young Readers Edition By Phil Knight About the Book In this young readers edition of Shoe Dog, Phil Knight takes us on a remarkable journey of his experience "getting lost to find his way." Filled with stories, anecdotes, risks, and setbacks, we learn how a simple mission to import high-quality running shoes leads to one of the most Shoe Dog Timeline 1962 1. They initiate settlement talks, starting at $20 million, then $15 million. Growth and life are one and the same for Knight. For starters, both of these fields are founded on the belief that people can make change. "When you see only problems, you're not seeing clearly.". Nike founder Phil Knight's memoir about the early days of the company, Shoe Dog, is being made into a feature film after Netflix optioned the story detailing a group of ragtag, running-loving. 4 - 5 months of age - Dogs start to lose their deciduous teeth around this age - this is the stage of teething that you are most likely to notice. Despite his bravery, however, he didnt have very high hopes for success. Finally, Nike files a $25 million antitrust suit against its competitors and rubber companies, who had conspired to cripple them. In 2006, Phil steps down as Nike CEO. [4], Bill Gates named Shoe Dog one of his five favorite books of 2016 and called it an amazing tale, a refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really looks like. Today, Nike is a household name in sportswear. My Rating: 6/10. Shoe Dog is a memoir by Phil Knight, the creator of Nike. Knight breaks down the process of creating Nike. Instead, your brand needs to help people believe in a higher cause or idea and galvanize people to a higher purpose. In Shoe Dog, he tells his story at last. While he waits for shoes to arrive, he yearns to travel, and wonders whether his journey was the peak of his life. At the time, Bowerman was the most famous track coach in America, training local champions and Olympic track stars, and Knight hoped he would like the shoes enough to order a few. People flock to see him, and Pre urges them to give Nike a try. Phil responds that its a backup in case Onitsuka cuts ties with Blue Ribbon. But he eventually gets his fire back, and hes wearing Nikes while winning. He decides to travel to Japan, exploring the rest of the world on his way. Shoe Dog Summary 1966-1967 1966 Blue Ribbon's first salesman, Johnson has a personality quirk - he sends Phil mountains of letters, detailing his every development, every sale and notable customer. This is a bluff to pressure them to sell. Despite not yet having a company, he told them Blue Ribbon, inspired by his childhood wall, decorated with blue ribbons from track. Lebron James gives Phil a Rolex from 1972, engraved with Thanks for taking a chance on me. Michael Jordan reserves a front-row seat for Phil at his fathers funeral. He values the wisdom that he gained from his travel as a young man and is a proponent of young people (with the means to do so) traveling as much as they can before they settle into careers. Nike stands as an emblem of success and athletic prowess; the cool kids were Nike and theyre proud to show it off! Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.. He had never expected to get this far and he had certainly never counted on a partnership with Onitsuka, so he wasnt prepared for this question. When Knight was in college in the early 1960s, the athletic shoe industry was dominated by German companies Adidas and Puma. The harder you work, the better your luck., 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. Knights Crazy Idea is similar to Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porrass idea of a Big Hairy Audacious Goal, or a BHAG, which is a goal that takes you out of your comfort zone. Pure white with the signature Nike swoosh in bold red, the Cortez was an instant hit. He is 24. Bill didnt just help with encouragement though. When you break that project down into small goals and success markers, it becomes a lot easier to manage, and the little amount you complete each day, adds up until the job is done. He doesnt know the significance of this meeting until far later. They have Nikes showing up in Hollywood, with Farrah Fawcett wearing Seniorita Cortezes in Charlies Angels. Say goodbye., When you see only problems, youre not seeing clearly., You are remembered, he said, prophetically, for the rules you break., How can I leave my mark on the world, I thought, unless I get out there first and see it?, In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, but in the experts mind there are few. He greets his family warmly, but hes concerned about one thing have the shoes from Onitsuka arrived? A 3 Minute Summary of the 15 Core Lessons #1 Things Were Tough at the Beginning Shoe Dog by Phil Knight is a memoir of his time building Nike. When Phil was running for Bill, Bill would always use him as a guinea pig. In Shoe Dog, he discusses the story of how his own Crazy Idea turned into the globally recognized brand, Nike. Seek a Calling, Not a Career: The key to remaining motivated despite setbacks. 6 Months and Older: By the time, your puppy is about six months old or so, all of his puppy teeth should have fallen out, and his adult teeth should have grown in. There are few brands as recognizable as Nike. Phil always wanted to let people be themselves. #8 Improve where improvements can be made. Phil even issues him a challenge sell 3,250 pairs of shoes in a few months, and Johnson could open his retail space in LA. (Shortform note: Knight admits that he started his company by lying about having a company. They each put money into Blue Ribbon, and Knight got his investment from his dad. Products Shoe Dog, Phil Knight's memoir about creating Nike, is a refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really looks like. Then the factory workers paychecks bounce. And, of course, it also played a big part in Blue Ribbons success! 2. Along the way, well offer perspectives from other entrepreneurs on success and overcoming obstacles. So Knight was shocked when Bowerman said he not only liked the shoes, but he also wanted to be a part of the business. This decision led to the birth of Blue Ribbon Sports, and his partnership with track and field coach, Bill Bowerman. In 1964 Knight began selling Onitsuka shoes in earnest throughout the West Coast. Please share these important lessons by pinning this post to Pinterest. Blue Ribbons first salesman, Johnson has a personality quirk he sends Phil mountains of letters, detailing his every development, every sale and notable customer. The author talks about his life and the early days of Nike, respectively Blue Ribbon Sports, as the company was called at the beginning. Inspirational Quotes He observed that none of the great leaders of history micromanaged their teams. Phil was a big fan of Japanese footwear and he was especially interested in a sneaker brand called Tiger that was made by Japanese company Onitsuka. After completing undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon and business school at Stanford, Knight returned to his parents home in Portland, Oregon, in 1962, where he received a loan from his father to travel around the world. It also highlights certain parts of Phil Knight's life. The years in between are comprised of the struggles and challenges Knight faced as he worked to build the company that would ultimately be known worldwide as Nike. #8 Never Give Up Knight knows that this piece of advice is overstated, but he himself struggled quite a lot early on and felt that keeping a business alive was very, almost impossibly, hard. The litmus test of a true BHAG is how it answers the following questions: does it stimulate forward progress? 4. When youre launching a new business, finding the right employees is critical. Kitami travels to Blue Ribbons Los Angeles store to inspect. During World War II, it shifted . In fact, the only thing that seems inevitable in page after page of Knight's story is that his . Its a messy, perilous, and chaotic journey, riddled with mistakes, endless struggles, and sacrifice. In this guide, well discuss the events that led to the creation of Nike (including Knights Crazy Idea, his first shoe company, and the challenges he faced) and Nike itself. Please take a moment to pin this post to Pinterest. They wanted new companies to get profitable quickly and to never let sales exceed their cash balance. For one, banks didnt want companies to grow too quickly. Shoe Dog - Part 1, 1964 - 1966 Summary & Analysis Phil Knight This Study Guide consists of approximately 39 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Shoe Dog. After later graduating college, Phil entered Stanford Graduate School of Business. His vision for the company was to give runners the best running shoe on the market. And over the course of this summary, well learn more about Phil Knight, his vision, and how he found the courage to just do it. Shoe Dog Release Date: When is the film coming out? But through his passion and enthusiasm, he was able to set up . In his last days on campus, he meets an artist, Carolyn Davidson, who complains about not being able to find work. The History of Shoes Timeline Below is a breakdown of the styles and dates: 7000BC Rock Sandals 3500BC Oldest Leather Shoe 1200BC Egyptian Sandals 1000BC Greek Shoes 27BC Roman Gladiator Sandals 800 Viking Leather Shoes 1200 The Sabot and Clogs 1620 Cavalier Boots 'Pirate Boots' 1700 Aristocat Heels 1770 Colonial shoe 1870 Cowboy Boots Phil feels its finally safe to pay himself a salary ($18,000 a year), and he quits Portland State to go full time at Blue Ribbon. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. He recommends that everyone with the means to do so should also spend time in other countries absorbing knowledge and experience before settling down into their primary career. Phil Knight, the man behind Nike, has written a fascinating book called "Shoe Dog" that you should read. Do they find it stimulating, exciting, adventurous? Here are 414 short inspirational quotes . More books from this author: Phil Knight . #2 The Goal Was Always Quality Possibly one of the biggest ways in which Nike beat the rest of the competition was the constant focus on quality and innovation. The two main streets are named after Bowerman and Hayes. Along the way, he wants to see and feel the world, for how can you change the world without seeing it? This record of the early years (1962-1980) of the shoe empire takes us on a journey of the ups and downs of one of the most. #13 Understand Your Audience Regardless of what product you are selling or your marketing campaign, you need to understand your audience to be successful. Knight was inspired by the fact that his shoes would be Japanese-made. Buck also gave Johnson a sales target of 3250 pairs of shoes and, if he sold that number, would be allowed to open a new store. In the years that followed, Nike faced $1 million payments to creditors, dirty tricks played by competitors, the death of Prefontaine (a beloved Oregonian distance runner and Nike celebrity-employee), and many other challenges. 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