SHOE DOG by Phil Knight

This read will be particularly enjoyed by all the business founders out there.

Phil Knight’s journey of creating Nike was mostly filled with mistakes, struggles and sacrifices. It’s definitely a page turner in the sense that at any point in his early years of Nike, the company could have ended in failure.

It might be hard to imagine that now given the massive success Nike has, but it’s only reinforcing the idea that there’s no such thing as an overnight success story.

I was surprised to find out that the name of the company came around accidentally and it wasn’t even Knight’s favourite choice but partners pushed him to choose it. Also, the Nike logo was designed by an art student for $35, “It’ll have to do” he said at the time.

I would have liked to find out more about the actual manufacture of the athletic shoe, what makes it lighter and better than any other? In any case, the memoir is filled with details about doing business internationally and what are the potential hurdles of it such as trademarks, competition and lawsuits.

It’s an amazingly real and honest story which, despite all the hardships he’d experienced, Knight wishes he could relive the whole thing again.

“I’d tell men and women in their midtwenties not to settle for a job or a profession or even a career. Seek a calling. Even if you don’t know what that means, seek it. If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you’ve ever felt.”