Shoe Dog – Phil Knight (B2 Level)

Shoe Dog is the memoir of Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, one of the most famous sports brands in the world. In this book, Knight shares his personal journey — from a young man with no clear path to the leader of a billion-dollar company. It's not just a story about building a business, but a story about passion, risk, failure, resilience, and purpose.

🧠 Key Ideas:

• After finishing business school, Phil Knight had what he called a “crazy idea” — to import high-quality, low-cost running shoes from Japan and sell them in the U.S.

• In 1964, with only $50 borrowed from his father, he created Blue Ribbon Sports, the company that would eventually become Nike.

• The early days were hard. He sold shoes from the trunk of his car, worked a full-time job to support himself, and had no experience running a company.

• Knight didn’t do it alone. He built a team of passionate and often unconventional people. They didn’t always have clear strategies, but they had belief in the mission.

• The journey was filled with obstacles — cash flow problems, legal battles, mistakes, and doubts. But Knight always kept moving forward.

• Eventually, through determination and innovation, Nike grew into a powerful global brand. It was a long and often painful process, but also deeply rewarding.

💬 Motivational Phrases from the Book:

🗣️ “Don’t tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with the results.”
🗣️ “The cowards never started. The weak died along the way. That leaves us.”
🗣️ “Life is growth. You grow or you die.”
🗣️ “There comes a time in every life when the past recedes and the future opens. It’s that moment when you turn to face the unknown.”

🧭 Lessons from Shoe Dog:

• You don’t need to have everything figured out to start — action beats perfection.

• Being afraid is normal — do it anyway.

• Surround yourself with people who believe in your mission.

• Success isn’t easy. It takes years of trial, error, and faith.

• Sometimes, the best things in life come from taking risks and staying true to your vision, even when others don’t see it.

🌟 Final Thoughts:

Phil Knight’s story reminds us that every success story begins with uncertainty and doubt. Shoe Dog isn’t just about business — it’s about finding your path and running with it, even when the road gets tough.

💪 “Just keep going. Don’t stop. Stay on the path.”