Shoe Dog

In his candid and compelling memoir, Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight unveils the untold story of the company's inception and its transformation into a global powerhouse. The narrative begins in 1962 when, fresh out of business school, Knight borrowed $50 to pursue his vision: importing high-quality, low-cost athletic shoes from Japan. Starting with humble sales from the trunk of his car, Knight's audacious venture evolved into the iconic brand we know today, with annual sales exceeding $30 billion. Knight's memoir delves into the risks, setbacks, and triumphs he encountered on his unconventional journey, highlighting the pivotal relationships with early partners and employees who became a close-knit family. The memoir, characterized by its candor, humility, and humor, peels back the layers on the enigmatic man behind the Nike swoosh, providing readers with a riveting tale of entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and the transformative power of a shared mission. Phil Knight's narrative, both gutsy and wry, offers an insider's perspective on the creation of one of the world's most recognizable brands, making "Shoe Dog" a must-read for anyone intrigued by the dynamic world of startups and the evolution of a cultural icon.

From the Back Cover

'This beautiful, startling, intimate book ... Candid, funny, suspenseful, literary.'

fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and created a company with a simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost athletic shoes from Japan. Selling the shoes from the boot of his Plymouth, Knight grossed $8000 in his first year. Today, Nike's annual sales top $30 billion. In an age of start-ups, Nike is the ne plus ultra of all start-ups, and the swoosh has become a revolutionary, globe-spanning icon, one of the most ubiquitous and recognisable symbols in the world today.
 
But Knight, the man behind the swoosh, has always remained a mystery. Now, for the first time, he tells his story. Candid, humble, wry and gutsy, he begins with his crossroads moment when at 24 he decided to start his own business. He details the many risks and daunting setbacks that stood between him and his dream - along with his early triumphs. Above all, he recalls how his first band of partners and employees soon became a tight-knit band of brothers. Together, harnessing the transcendent power of a shared mission, and a deep belief in the spirit of sport, they built a brand that changed everything.  

 'The book everyone is reading in Tech City ... Inspiring.'

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