How Phil Knight's 'Crazy Idea' - Nike - Revolutionized an Industry | Book Insights on Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Book Insights Podcast

Jun 7 2023 • 35 mins

*In Shoe Dog, the famously reticent founder of Nike opens up to tell the story of how he transformed a $50 loan into a multibillion-dollar business.

*Opening with Knight on a brisk morning run, aged 24, we’re treated to a description of the almost divine manner in which the idea for starting a shoe company first strikes.

*Yet the actual making of the future megabrand was founded on Knight’s own athletic prowess and business acumen, not to mention his dogged determination.

*While his college friends secured “proper jobs” and his father scolded him for “jackassing around” with sports shoes, Knight persevered. By selling shoes from the boot of his car, he managed to turnover $8,000 in his first year.

*At the heart of his burgeoning business was a desire to capture the thrill of competition, to do work that didn’t feel like working.

*As well as providing insights into the highs and lows of running a newly formed company, Shoe Dog shows what happens when you stop playing by society’s rules and decide to follow your heart.

Theme 1: Knight’s Crazy Idea - 0:29

Theme 2: Knight’s Entrepreneurial Journey & Purpose -11:55

Theme 3: The Buttfaces - 26:06

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HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEWS MENTIONED IN TODAYS' EPISODE HERE:

Archive, Investors. “Billionaire Phil Knight: Starting Nike, Life and Shoes (2017).” YouTube, YouTube, 12 Sept. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQvhAkLF7t0.

Bloomberg Markets and Finance, Bloomberg Markets and. “The David Rubenstein Show: Phil Knight.” YouTube, YouTube, 28 June 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=brkdw_5umYY.

Carmichael, Evan. “Chris Guillebeau's Top 10 Rules For Success (@Chrisguillebeau).” YouTube, YouTube, 26 May 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDEksMt3S9s.

Chapters, Indigo |. “In Conversation: Phil Knight and Indigo CEO Heather Reisman.” YouTube, YouTube, 24 May 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EhX62tPsGw.

Institute of Passion. “Steve Jobs Talking about Passion in Work at D5 Conference 2007.” YouTube, YouTube, 6 Jan. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_SKFUHlW9Y.

Morning, CBS Sunday. “How Phil Knight's ‘Crazy Idea’ Conquers the Sporting World.” YouTube, YouTube, 24 Apr. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxWJTo-0eyk.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. “Phil Knight Made A Pair Of Nikes Just For Stephen.” YouTube, YouTube, 29 Apr. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTQMi-CBcMg.

Full Title: Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creating of Nike

Year of Publication: 2016

Book Author: Phil Knight

To purchase the complete edition of this book click here: https://a.co/d/1g3gx0K

Book Insight Writer: Joe Barnes

Editor: Tom Butler-Bowden

Producer: Daniel Gonzalez

Production Manager: Karin Richey

Curator: Tom Butler-Bowden

Narrator: Robin Gabrielli