SHOE DOG 6
Running Head: SHOE DOG 1
Read Shoe Dog by Phil Knight Write a Paper Connecting 4events in Book
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Shoe dog is an autobiography written by Phil Knight who is the founder of Nike’s company. In this book, the author decided to share the story about how he founded a company with world-changing brands globally. The author starts by explaining how after earning his MBA didn’t know what to do in life. He travelled for eighteen years looking for fortune but eventually never had any financial uncertainty. In 1960, he thought to be an entrepreneur, and that’s when he started his career of selling Japanese shoes in united states before starting manufacturing his own. On his journey to sell Japanese shoes, the Japanese company forced him to find Nike. If they had a good relationship with Onitsuka, they could work together in partnership, but this did not happen. On this, he surrounded himself with good trustable friends whom he trusted that they would perform in the company. On the shortcomings, Phil rarely believed in the positive feedbacks because he was insecure about the decisions he made. They started the company with just eight thousand dollars in the sales which they made in the first year. This is a book which gives a refreshing a reminder of how the path of business looks like(Knight,2016).
Events in the book
The book starts in 1962 when the author explains how he borrows some money which he used to import shoes from Japan. On his mission, he distributes them to the sports stores, but unfortunately, most of them had enough on their shelves. After this, he decides to sell them to local track meetings, but this takes time for them to like the brand he was selling. After two years, when he decides to start his own company with an old coach called Bower man. The company grew slowly but in 1972 when the brand got widespread recognition. The author gave his account that “there was no need for a quick win for the company to get rich and then retire early. This is because the author also started his experience in the early 20s indicating that he was willing to learn and explore in the business he started. He was also determined because before he found fortune in selling the shoes, he travelled to many countries like the Philippines, India, Egypt, England and many other countries across the world. All this traveling he made was not in vain because he learned most economic lessons which he applied in his life. His goal was to push growth by not taking huge risks”. This was one of the events which explained that it takes time to build.
Another event is that the author has been a runner all his life, in his life, he could talk to the enthusiasts, involve coaches, runners. He also believed in what he did because being a runner in his college life and a leader in the athlete team; he was always focused on winning the race. Hence in his business, he believed the sports shoe the company made would be helpful to the athlete because he has experience with them. Moreover, when he was traveling around the world, he had organized to meet the executives from Onitsuka, and they all attended the meeting which he addressed. He didn’t have a company by then, but he addressed the executives like the CEO of the company, and these people trusted him. This means that he had a vision that one day he could own a company. He consulted the co-founder of the bower man company in 1969 and 1972. He also talked to enthusiasts, drove to track competitions, meetings, and schools to know more about business. Being encouraged that most of the coaches improved their runner’s shoes at home, the author was encouraged that his new shoe company would grow despite the initial problems. According to him, he believed that going to the people who care and know; you’re able to learn from them by talking to them.
Moreover, he also believed that having trustworthy partners will help the job grow. Phil Knight in his early life built a good relationship with executives from other companies and also had few employers who helped him and advised him on how to run the company. With the help of his former athlete from the college, his former coach and other friends and lawyers they helped him move an extra mile. Having good relationship with this people helped him to get help from one of the first employees who offered to support the company with his savings when the company was in much need of the cash. That family did so because of the relationship they had with the owner of the company. This is another event in that in a business it requires enthusiasm and authenticity to build trust.
On the book, knight defines his views on management. On the company, he never took his role as a manager but more of a leader. On this, he quotes “that you should not tell people how to do things but tell them what to do; hence they will surprise you with their results.” That’s when he appreciates his management style which was based on empowering people in every step they made in the company. On his management, he always had a plan B in that he learned the importance of working with other distributors. In that, before he started his company knight worked in partnership with Onitsuka and other united states distributors. When he learned the tactics from these suppliers that when he decided to have a plan B of filling his store, Knight explains that good management styles make the employers to be dedicated to their purpose. Thus he kept control of his own business by selling several shares to the public so that the company can grow. The public allowed the company to get dividends; hence this allowed the company to reach new shareholders. Though the company had new stakeholders, he kept control of his company as a good manager. Hence he believed the brand the company produced made running better hence enabling them to make important decisions. As a good leader, he lifted the spirit of his employees by offering them a good working place, allowed them to be optimistic every time, and this allowed them to have self-confidence in the company. This event explained that the knight doesn’t manage them; he enables them.
Another event explains that they didn’t know where they were going because knight narrates how it happened since the start. The author wasn’t set to build an empire, nor didn’t he want to overturn the shoe markets but his main goal was to improve better running and improve runner’s health. On his journey to this, he struggles and eventually, the company earns one forty million dollars in the sales they make. On his journey to make it on the business, he admits to being an absent father, was involved in making bad decisions and eventually, the company thrived. The book advises the entrepreneurs to do good work today and work on the things that you can control. And also don’t try to predict the future. In conclusion, the shoe dog is a remarkable book which explains the development of a given company depends on circumstance and luck and also involving the right people so that the right decisions can be made.
References
Knight, P. H. (2016). Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike. Scribner.