1) Learning how unpopular Nike was at first surprised me. Not all brands started off being popular or even liked by the general public. It is surprising to hear though, since now it is such a household name. I was also surprised to find out the origin of Nike and how it was started by a legitimate family. Large companies don't normally base their culture off of "family values" so it was nice to read that Phil Knight surrounded himself with family, family friends, and other athletes. I admired the persistence Knight showed when he was designing his shoes and manufacturing efforts. Knight made it clear in his book that he faced adversity and failure pretty often. I also admired how he depended on his Research and Development team to find answers.
2) Leadership was a trait Knight displayed very well, which contributed to Nike's success. His knowledge of the athletic world, more specifically the unmet needs in it, allowed him and the company to reach peak success. His passion for this industry was unparalleled and that gave him the competitive edge to excel with his company.
3) For the most part, I wasn't confused by anything in this book. I enjoyed reading it and I would recommend to a friend.
4) I would ask Knight: Were you ever worried about causing issues due to hiring your family and/or friends? What were your longterm goals for the future of Nike? Did you predict that it would become as successful as it has become?
5) Knight's athleticism is something I can relate to from my experience of playing various sports. I think he and I would both agree that in order to succeed, you need to put in the work. In life, and in sports, nothing comes easily without putting in hard work.
3) For the most part, I wasn't confused by anything in this book. I enjoyed reading it and I would recommend to a friend.
4) I would ask Knight: Were you ever worried about causing issues due to hiring your family and/or friends? What were your longterm goals for the future of Nike? Did you predict that it would become as successful as it has become?
5) Knight's athleticism is something I can relate to from my experience of playing various sports. I think he and I would both agree that in order to succeed, you need to put in the work. In life, and in sports, nothing comes easily without putting in hard work.
Hey Meredith,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very intriguing and cool book that I would seriously considering reading in the future. Considering that Nike is one of the largest companies in the world, the fact it wasn't popular at one point in its existence surprises me as well. Nike is a huge company and a international brand. Its logo is known all over the world and has created a huge loyalty following.
Meredith,
ReplyDeleteUpon reading another students review of this book, I ended up reading it along with a few of the other books on the list. I found it extremely interesting. I agree that leadership is definitely a key attribute of knights success. I also liked the questions you came up with. I personally found this book extremely interesting because I love the product.
Hi Meredith,
ReplyDeleteI find it very humble that Phil Knight began Nike as a family-centered business. I am not sure how those initial relationships have changed and evolved throughout the years, but typically when a small family business grows into a huge, global company, those relationships grow even stronger, or can turn into a nasty fight for more ownership/money. It would be interesting to know whether or not the same people that began the company are still involved to the same degree they used to be in the beginning.