Book 1 Post #2

 One of my main takeaways from Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight, is the importance of teamwork and trust. This is especially important in business; however, this also applies to all other relationships whether it may be friends, co-workers, classmates, etc. Like every entrepreneur ever, Knight and his team faced many difficult challenges - most notably when they lost their main supplier from overseas. Throughout the many hardships, Knight was able to prevail due to the intense camaraderie that he and his team possessed. They shared the same mentality - us against the world. This is a lesson that I want to apply to my life in order to be more successful when working with others - in life and in business. 

In business, it is not always about who has the best product. There are many companies in the world that create amazing products, but many of these companies never got off the ground or never became successful. Us as consumers oftentimes don't choose the best option but the option that is most familiar to us when buying. This shows how brand image and recognition speaks volumes when it comes to influencing purchasing decisions. Jeff Johnson, one of Nike's first employees, was shocked when customers were willing to pre-order shoes that had not yet passed testing. Knight explains that it was not only about the product but rather the trust his customers had in Nike. This is a very important lesson - sometimes, in business, the person, brand, or perception is more important than the actual product.

I am almost done reading this book - about 80% of the way done. I am very excited to finish and as this is one of the few books I have actually read from cover to cover in the last couple years. Not only was the book interesting and an easy read, there were many lessons learned that I can start applying to my life right now. I greatly admire Knight's tenacity, creativity, and drive. Knight was a person that was willing to everything besides quit when it came to his business. As a business owner myself, I want to follow in his footsteps - not only his success but the way he approached life.