Title: Shoe Dog
Autobiography by Phil Knight
Author: Phil Knight
Date: June 3, 2024
One of the guys a few cells over asked if I wanted to read this book so I jumped at the opportunity. I actually read it years ago when it first came out, and I remembered how good a read it was, so thought a refresher would be helpful.
The book is not about Phil Knight’s entire career, it’s focused between high school, college, and then career until 1980 or so. His recollection of his journey is quite remarkable, as I certainly don’t remember all that detail from my 20’s and even 30’s. In his early days through his 20’s, his thirst for history and knowledge and leadership impressively shines through the book. After college and his MBA, Phil traveled the world exploring for culture and knowledge, with the purpose to also get to Japan to find a shoe manufacturing partner for his business plan/idea, Blue Ribbon Sports.
His early business career was an interesting combination of starting a shoe business, combined with working full time at Price Waterhouse and also being a professor at Portland State University. Meanwhile, always balancing salary income with cash to build his business which eventually was renamed NIKE. A good portion of the book is of course about NIKE, and the ups and downs of growing the business between 1965-1980. Certainly more challenges than one would expect for such a successful business, but not unexpected I guess. What is impactful is his emphasis on culture and finding good people to be part of his core team, foibles and all. He had a clear intention around these areas, and it shines throughout the book.
Knight does a nice job sharing his feelings and emotions throughout the book as well. Whether its the early ups and downs, near death experiences for the company with Kitami(shoe supplier) or his banks, the reader gets a real sense of what he was going through and the related emotions from stress. He also is very effective at sharing many of his personal relationships he built with athletes as well as early day executives.
Like many startup founders, I thought he shared the struggle between spending time on the business vs. time with his wife, 2 little boys and the ongoing guilt he has about not enough time with the family. By the time one finishes the book, the reader can’t help but learn what it takes to be an effective leader, and I believe that will be a big part of his legacy. Start up CEO’s that run their business for 40+ years are few and far between!
My personal takeaway is really about the need for one’s continual commitment to business partners and friends to lift each other up, work hard, have fun, and keep your eye on the prize!! Clearly Phil Knight did a great job here on all those, and I hope we get to see the next version for 1908-2010 at some point!
