Often times sporting brands don’t just represent products supplied to athletes but more so reflect the attitude athletes bring to their sport. Shoe Dog, a memoir of the founder of Nike, is a walk through of how the running spirit was centered in every step on the journey of the making of the now multimillion dollar sporting goods brand. Every chapter I found myself routing for the man who would go on to create such an iconic company.
Whether you’re interested in business or running this book will capture your attention from the first page. Phil tells his story year by year in an engaging way, which is easy given the many interesting journeys he went on in the making of his company. He has many unexpected and creative solutions to the seemingly endless issues that faces the company in its early years. It is fascinating to get a walk through of the challenges faced by the companies from supply chain messes, to international negotiations, to potential lawsuits. I found myself surprised to learn there was so much that could take down an operation that seems to be doing something simple on the surface, selling shoes.
I greatly appreciate the Phil’s attitude about business and company culture. Much of the book focuses on his resolve to keep from becoming too corporate. He paints the picture of a work place centered in purpose and creativity. I find the same kind of spirit at Charm City Run, it’s more than a business-it’s a thriving community. All the people I’ve met in my time at run clubs and coaching have illustrated to me how a business with passion can be so transformative. You can feel it in every store, the love of running, and the openness to sharing that passion with anyone who wants it. I loved learning that same energy can be found in the origins of a worldwide business.
If you’re looking for more insight on the transformative power of a simple goal this book is for you. This story reflects the true power of running-it’s a visceral example of how much you can do if you set your mind to it. Each run starts with one small step as do all journeys we take in life, including Phil’s journey to starting Nike. One day a boy decided to go on a run, which leads him to do track and field, which leads him to have a crazy idea of starting a running shoe company, and the rest is history. This book will leave you wondering what can running lead to for you? What could you do with a crazy idea?
Next month: How Bad Do You Want It? By Matt Fitzgerald