As a runner, all Phil wanted to do was to import good quality shoes from Japan and sell it in the US. He borrowed some money from his dad and started his business. It took a lot of blood, sweat, energy, time and truck load of money to make Nike what it is now.
Before it became Nike, it was called Blue Ribbon. He was also an accountant and an professor. This was his question, “Can Japanese Sports Shoes Do to German Sports Shoes What Japanese Cameras Did to German Cameras?” and that was the start of his business, in 1963.
The way in which is book is written by Phil, who is 78 now, by the way, is amazingly raw but interestingly funny. He brings out the facts in every detail but ensures you do not fall asleep reading and keeps a funny punches ready for the end.
The description of his Japanese encounters are really funny but intriguing. How he managed to convince his partners and initial employees to work for the company for zero or no pay will leave you will mixed feelings. His style of communication as he describes his story is worth every word you will read in the book.
Interesting fact: The name NIKE was coined by a lady who was commissioned for a brand name and she was paid a mere $35!! She was later given a five hundred shares. Which she has never sold. Valued at millions now.
The way Phil ran the business is a bible for anyone willing to get into entrepreneurship. There is no cake walk. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is no sight of getting rich just because you have an StartUp idea. There is failure after failure. After you do everything right, there is more failure. You just have to keep doing what is right and that right thing is to putting your head down and work!
You lose your money, your family and friends money and there is no guarantee that you will every be able to pay them back. That will show the trust these people have in you who invest in you! Many such amazing stories of trust you will see in this book ‘Shoe Dog’.
He not only went thru professional turmoil he also went thru a very personal disaster. He lost his young son in 2004 while he was scuba diving. He was only 34.
The book takes you thru his life year on year until 1980 from where things kick off and as they rest is history.
Highly recommended. Buy it here