Shoe Dog

I was so engrossed when reading Shoe Dog by Phil Knight over my flights to and from China last September that I barely slept during these two 12 hour flights! But it was well worth it. Shoe Dog is a memoir by Phil Knight, the founder of Nike. This book had a little bit of everything – I laughed, I cried, I learned. (Granted, I am a pretty emotional person, but I think the best books make you feel something. I might not remember 100% of the content, but I will remember how I felt about it).

One character in the memoir that really inspired me was Woodell – he was a former runner and paraplegic, but did not let this get him down or stop him from achieving his other goals in life. Another character I enjoyed reading about was Jeff Johnson. I was very impressed with his passion and commitment to Blue Ribbon (Nike’s name before it was Nike). And although Knight didn’t always read all of Johnson’s letters and emails or listen to all of his ideas, Johnson remained persistent and passionate, and was one of the main movers that caused Nike to grow and flourish.

Lastly, I learned a bit about the art of doing business with another culture. And, how relationships are so key to success. A few poorly chosen words can hurt your chances in a lawsuit, but a friendly business relationship can save you when you are most in need. 

Overall, Knight’s prose makes the reader feel very connected to him. He shows how he is authentically human, and makes you feel like you could achieve greatness, too. With an insider’s view on his self doubt, you notice that he’s no different than you and I in many ways. But the difference in what he was able to achieve is simply the pursuit of it, and a little luck along the way.