Leadership Library
Founder Grit

Shoe Dog

Phil Knight · 2016

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About

Nike founder Phil Knight's raw memoir on building an iconic company against the odds.

SK's perspective

The most honest founder memoir on grit, cash-crunches and belief.

Key learnings

  • Have faith in your crazy idea — and outlast the doubt.
  • Cash flow can kill even a winning company.
  • Hire believers, not résumés.
  • Let the mission recruit for you.
  • Keep going — you're closer than it feels.

Make it a ritual

Grit is built by finishing — make 'one more day' a standing rule.

Professional life

  • Watch cash weekly, not monthly; know your runway to the day.
  • When you want to quit a hard project, commit to one more week first.

Personal life

  • Keep a 'wins log' for the days doubt is loud.
  • Move your body daily; grit lives partly in the body.

Buy the book (Amazon) · curated talks on YouTube. — © Phil Knight. Summary is our own.

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