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In the video, How Nike Founder Phil Knight Created A Sportswear Dynasty l CNBC Make It, the narrator explains how Phil Knight had many partners to get to his success, and explains how without them Nike would not be where it is today. Bowerman, Phil's coach, was very big on shoes, which really helped inspire and motivate Phil Knight to also develop the same love for shoes, as Bowerman did. Phil wanted to feel very connected to his clients and wanted to win the athlete's heart, and also their feat. He wanted a quality source for shoes that's not in Germany, but in the USA. Nike spent almost 2-3 years because they really wanted their shoes to be very high quality and impress the people of the public. They were worried that their show might be a bust, when they first launched it. All of these ideas show that Phil Knight was not alone during his creation of Nike.

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How Nike Founder Phil Knight Created A Sportswear Dynasty l CNBC Make It.

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In the article,The Extraordinary Career of Nike Founder Phil Knight - Biography, the author explains how getting to the top of the shoe world was not easy for him, and examines how he had to go through many struggles to get to where he is today.Phil knight was not alone in the process of making Nike, he had a collage student design his logo and he split all of the costs and custody of the business with a very wise man named William Bowerman. Phil had to do lots of convincing and persuading to help him achieve success, to where he is today.One of the biggest things that helped Nike grow as a company was the athletes who wore Nike shoes . In 1972, Olympic track and field trials were held in Eugene, Oregon. Many of the top finishers had Nike's on which really helped Nike grow to the billion dollar company it is today. They also signed Michael Jordan for a shoe called Air Jordan. These shoes were a huge hit as they made 3.1 billion dollars in 2019 alone.Phil knight had to face many problems to get to where he is today, He has been accused of many things like, Between 1986 and 1987, Nike sales dropped 18 percent, while Nike technology appealed to sports professionals, other consumers might rank appearance over function.Knight has also been accused of exploiting factory workers in Asia, some of whom are paid less than $2 per day by the subcontractors who manufacture Nike's. But despite this negative publicity, Nike sales have remained strong. All of these show the long and hard journey Knight had to take to get to the top of the shoe world. This connects to my book because I am just starting to read about how he's making Nike and about how Counsin Houser is trying to stop Knight from selling shoes. This connects because Knight is going to have to find a way out of this problem using his problem solving skills, and perseverance.

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Philip H. Knight
Co-founder of Nike Inc.
Founded: 1972

" Play by the rules. But be ferocious."-Philip H. Knight

In 1993, the man whom The Sporting News voted "the most powerful person in sports" wasn't an athlete, a manager or a team owner. He was Philip H. Knight, the dynamic iconoclast who for nearly 30 years has shod the feet of sports legends and "weekend warriors" alike. In less than a decade, his marketing savvy and uncompromising competitiveness had transformed the athletic-shoe industry and made Nike one of the most successful and widely recognized brand names in the world.

Knight first came up with the blueprint for what would become the world's No. 1 athletic-shoe company while working on his master's degree at Stanford University. Assigned to write a term paper on starting a small business in an area he knew well, the former University of Oregon track star naturally chose running. He outlined a plan for breaking the stranglehold Adidas had on the running-shoe market by using cheap Japanese labor to manufacture a cheaper, better-quality running shoe.

Shortly after graduating in 1962, Knight decided to put his plan into action. He flew to Japan to visit Onitsuka Tiger Co., manufacturer of an Adidas knockoff sold in Japan. Introducing himself as the head of Blue Ribbon Sports, a company which existed only in his mind, Knight told Tiger executives that his firm was the ideal choice to import their shoes into the United States. He convinced Tiger to send him some samples, promising to place an order after his "partners" examined them.

Back in the United States, Knight borrowed money from his father to pay for the samples, and he sent a few pairs to his former University of Oregon coach, Bill Bowerman, who quickly became his partner. Putting up $500 each, Bowerman and Knight officially formed Blue Ribbon Sports and purchased 200 pairs of Tigers, which Knight began selling from his car at high school track meets throughout the Pacific Northwest.
RELATED: A Nike Executive Had a Vision No One Else Saw. Now He's Being Portrayed on the Big Screen by Matt Damon in 'Air'
By the early 1970s, sales had reached $3 million, and Knight decided it was time for Blue Ribbon to break with Tiger and start designing its own shoes. In 1972, Blue Ribbon launched its Nike line, named after the Greek goddess of victory. Emblazoned with a "swoosh" logo Knight paid a Portland State art student $35 to design, the shoes featured a unique "waffle sole"-created by Bowerman-that offered better traction with less weight.

Knight's marketing strategy was simple. Rather than rely on advertising (which he admittedly loathed), he would get top athletes to endorse his shoes, and then let his sales force sell the product. His strategy and the timing of the launch couldn't have been better. That summer, the Olympic track and field trials were held in Eugene, Oregon, with none other than Bill Bowerman as coach of the American Olympic team. Knight took full advantage of the opportunity, putting Nikes on the feet of several top finishers. When they made national television, so did the shoes they were wearing. One of the most visible runners to wear Nikes was American record-holder Steve Prefontaine. A cocky, anti-establishment type, Prefontaine became the first of a team of edgy athletes Knight recruited to endorse his shoes.

As Knight had planned, athlete endorsements played a major role in boosting Nike sales throughout the 1970s. For instance, after tennis "bad boy" John McEnroe hurt his ankle and began wearing Nike three-quarter-top shoes, sales of that style leapt from 10,000 pairs to over 1 million. And the sudden popularity of jogging combined with Nike's canny marketing created a demand where none existed before. No longer would any old pair of shoes do for that jog around the block; people wanted to wear what the best in the world were wearing, and that was Nike (as Blue Ribbon was re-christened in 1978).

Nike experienced continued success throughout the early 1980s, thanks mostly to the tremendous sales of its Air Jordan line. Commercials glorifying Michael Jordan's high-flying, slam-dunking antics made the gaudy black and red sneakers a hot item, selling more than $100 million worth in the first year alone. By 1986, total sales hit $1 billion, and Nike surpassed Adidas to become the No. 1 shoe manufacturer worldwide. (Despite Michael Jordan's retirement from playing professional basketball in 2003, the Jordan Brand is stronger than ever, raking in $3.1 billion in revenue in 2019.)

Amazingly, Knight stumbled only once in his stellar career. In the late 1980s, Nike's strategy of focusing on hard-edged, hard-core athletes ignored the growing market for aerobics shoes. When British shoe manufacturer Reebok pitched their leather shoes as a fashion item for the trendy aerobic workout crowd, they quickly overtook Nike in the top spot.
RELATED: Nike Cuts Ties With Controversial Nets Guard Kyrie Irving
Between 1986 and 1987, Nike sales dropped 18 percent. Knight was forced to face the fact that while Nike technology appealed to sports professionals, other consumers might rank appearance over function. In response, Nike came up with Nike Air-a multipurpose shoe with an air cushion in the sole. The commercial produced to unveil the new line featured the Beatles' song "Revolution." (The rights to which cost Nike $250,000.) Nike Air may or may not have been a revolution in footwear, but it certainly revived sales. Nike regained the lead from Reebok in 1990 and has remained there ever since.

But as Nike has grown into a huge multinational enterprise, it has become a magnet for controversy. In 1990, it came under fire from Jesse Jackson, who maintained that while African-Americans accounted for a large percentage of Nike's sales, Nike had no black vice presidents or board members. Jackson launched a boycott that led to the appointment of Nike's first black board member. That same year, stories of teenagers being killed for their Air Jordan's sparked outrage at what was perceived as Nike's overzealous promotion of its shoes. More recently, Knight has been accused of exploiting factory workers in Asia, some of whom are paid less than $2 per day by the subcontractors who manufacture Nikes. But despite this negative publicity, Nike sales have remained strong.

Phil Knight, now 85 years old, has come to be viewed as one of the master marketers of the 20th and 21st centuries. Knight continues to recruit the greatest athletes in the world to endorse his product, including Tiger Woods, Mike Trout, Kylian Mbappe, Russell Wilson, and Russell Westbrook. When asked by a reporter how he achieved such great wealth and fame, in a veiled reference to the Reebok torpedo that forced him to rethink his marketing strategy, Knight replied, "How did John Kennedy become a war hero? They sunk his boat."

Sole Man
Although Philip H. Knight was certainly the marketing genius behind Nike Inc.'s success, he wouldn't have had much to market without Bill Bowerman. It was Bowerman's design innovations that kept Nike on the leading edge of athletic-shoe technology. Bowerman constantly fiddled with running shoes, searching for ways to improve them. He would slice them up, take a toe from one, stitch it to the heel of another and then attach both to an upper with duct tape and rubber cement. His methods were admittedly unorthodox. And so was the way he came up with Nike's heralded "waffle sole." As Bowerman often tells the story, "I was looking at my wife's waffle iron, and I thought it looked like a pretty good traction device." So he grabbed a bottle of liquid urethane, poured it on the iron, and the waffle sole was born.

The Knight Stuff
The culture Philip H. Knight fostered at Nike Inc. during its early days was anything but corporate. Executive conferences were referred to as "buttface meetings," because direct confrontations and yelling were encouraged. Tequila fountains irrigated sales conferences. During a company golf tournament, a sales rep distributed marijuana paraphernalia from his golf cart. And when tattoos became the rage, scores of Nike workers had themselves branded with the famous Nike "swoosh."

Some viewed Knight's encouragement of such antics as mere childishness. But it would prove to be a stroke of motivational genius. As one veteran Nike employee put it, "It was a holy mission, you know, to "swoosh" the world. We were Knight's crusaders. We would have died on the cross."

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Phil Knight Biography: Details About the Nike Founder | Entrepreneur

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Who is Nike founder Philip H. Knight? See details about the entrepreneur and more on his career, here.

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This video talks about the struggles Phil knight had to go through, and how getting on top of the show world was not very easy for him . It explains how determined he was and shows the amount of perseverance Phil had, as he started Nike in the trunk of his car, and went all the way to one of the most successful companies in the world selling millions of shoes every year. A central Idea I developed is: This video examines how making a 100 million dollar company is not easy and explains you have to be very dedicated to do so.

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Phil Knight - How I Built NIKE Into A Billion Dollar Brand

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this resource teaches you about Phil Knight and some background Information. This helps me understand the book better because the video talks about how he hired 40 employees, and they keep the company successful and that is what is happening in the book. This resource was used towards the beginning of the book.

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In the article “Entrepreneurship Defined: What It Means to Be an Entrepreneur,” the author, Max Freedman, explores how entrepreneurs can have many different strategies and/or motivations. Entrepreneurs can work in many different ways. Some find specific issues they want to solve with a new business. Some create multiple businesses and sell them to turn a profit. They use a business marketing plan to do this. Many entrepreneurs also seek financing from ways other than a bank, such as angel investors. Many entrepreneurs have many different motivations. One of these motivations is to have the freedom of being their own boss and not have to work under someone else. Another is purpose. Some entrepreneurs believe that by starting their business they are filling a void in the world. Another reason is to have the flexibility of your own schedule. They also can be motivated by potential profit and legacy.

There are different ways to become an entrepreneur. A big part of this is finding the right idea to pursue, so you stay passionate about your work. You can also develop a business plan. By planning out your business you can figure out what you want to do and how. Another way is to determine your clientele, helping you sell more to those interested. Two other good ways to start are by working with others in your field and selling your idea to people. So, in the end, if you choose to be an entrepreneur, there are many different strategies and ways to go about this. There is not one clear path, there are many.

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In the article "12 Common Management Challenges and How to Overcome Them", the author examines multiple challenges that entrepreneurs and business owners can face and the ways you can overcome these challenges

One of the more important challenges in business handling and management that the author talks about is overseeing teams is ensuring effective communication. Because every team member has a different personality, there is a chance for miscommunication from time to time. The author talks about how many companies had to restart to get better sales or success in general because of miscommunication. A solution to fix miscommunication is increasing the frequency of communication to ensure employees know exactly what you expect of them and when you need them to complete it.

Another of the more important challenges in business handling and management that the author talks about is a decrease in performance levels. The article says things such as "Employees may experience periods of time where they are not as productive as usual." and "A decrease in productivity can sometimes affect other team members and overall goals, making it important to help employees feel motivated." A solution the author talks about is managers who consistently review processes and procedures within the company can increase efficiency. Perform a workflow analysis to review your current systems and restructure weak areas.

One last important challenge the author talks about is being understaffed both company and client-wise. The author talks about how managers must recognize when it's time to hire another team member to help fulfill responsibilities within their department. The author also explains that this is time-consuming and it is helpful to get assistance from other managers.

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Managers who oversee teams commonly face several challenges related to productivity and communication. Knowing how to recognize these challenges and address them helps increase a manager's confidence and ability to lead a team. In this article, we discuss the most common challenges of managing employees and ways to overcome these challenges.

12 common management challenges

Here are some of the most common challenges managers face and how to overcome them:

1. Decreased performance levels

Employees may experience periods of time where they are not as productive as usual. A decrease in productivity can sometimes affect other team members and overall goals, making it important to help employees feel motivated.

Managers who consistently review processes and procedures within the company can increase efficiency. Perform a workflow analysis to review your current systems and restructure weak areas. Another way to address this challenge is by asking questions and offering solutions to their problems. One-on-one meetings provide a great opportunity for managers to reestablish work hours and expectations regarding work productivity.

Related: 7 Challenges of Working Remotely and How to Overcome Them

2. Being understaffed

Managers must recognize when it's time to hire another team member to help fulfill responsibilities within their department. Because the hiring process is time-consuming, it's helpful to get assistance from other managers and human resources professionals when pursuing a new candidate.

If needed, ask for help when creating a job description, interviewing applicants and selecting the right person for the desired role. Consider having applicants complete a sample work test to help you determine the best fit for your team.

3. Lack of communication

Another challenge managers face when overseeing teams is ensuring effective communication. Because every team member has a different personality, there is a chance for miscommunication from time to time.

Increase the frequency of communication to ensure employees know exactly what you expect of them and when you need them to complete it. Redefine standards that reinforce your team's goals and purposes. Consider implementing a messaging platform for the workplace that allows everyone to communicate quickly. Let them know if you prefer one form of contact over another.

4. Poor teamwork

Sometimes, employees may lose focus on collaboration when they spend a lot of time completing individual tasks. To re-establish teamwork, managers should revisit the purpose of a project. Managers who take the time to acknowledge their team's efforts and clarify the purpose of their work commonly see increased levels of motivation.

Consider dividing your team members into partners so they have a chance to work with someone for a specific project. Team-building exercises are another great way to help everyone learn how to work better together. Base the content of your exercises around the challenges your team faces. For example, if they need to get to know each other better, focus on relationship building.

5. Pressure to perform

Some managers, especially new managers, to feel like they are under pressure to achieve greatness from the very start of their role. If you frequently feel stressed about your leadership position, take time to revisit the reasons why you were hired for the job. Recognize that leaders learn from experience and mistakes. While planning helps, you will likely face unexpected situations. The way that you choose to resolve conflicts and react to challenges reflects your ability to lead.

6. Absence of structure

A common challenge that managers face in the workplace is the absence of structure, especially when overseeing a new team. Depending on the work environment, some teams may need to be supervised more closely than others in order to maintain productivity levels.

Take time to develop an organizational structure that helps employees know what you expect of them. In addition, show your team respect to encourage loyalty.

7. Time management

Because managers are responsible for overseeing the members of their team and communicating with other department heads, they typically struggle with balancing their own tasks. One way to prioritize your own work responsibilities is by scheduling time throughout the day to do specific work. Let your team know the times you'll be available to them and the times you plan to focus on your work. Regularly update your calendar, and share it with team members so they know when they can reach you.

Related: 10 Ways to Improve Your Time-Management Skills

8. Inadequate support

Managers sometimes need approval from the executive team of a company or the business owner before moving ahead with a project. When the decision-making process takes longer than expected, it may slow down their team's progress overall. The most important thing to do in this situation is to be honest with your team members. Let them know that you are waiting for information from the executive team, and if possible, allow them to work on other projects. Try to arrange for a one-on-one with the decision-maker to expedite progress.

9. Skepticism

Teams often question the transparency of management when they feel distanced from their supervisors, especially if certain employees feel like they are doing more work than others. When people feel they are not part of the plan, their level of trust becomes compromised. Clear communication and honest interactions help resolve skepticism in most instances because it builds trust between an employee and manager. When you delegate tasks, explain why you assigned it and how it contributes to the overall goal.

10. Difficult employees

Sometimes, managers oversee employees who cause tension in the workplace. Knowing how to properly address any issues before they become major problems is one common challenge managers face. To address specific concerns, request feedback from your team members to learn about any issues they may have with completing work or communicating with team members.

Implement any feasible suggestions to show you're listening to your team. Take time to listen to their concerns and find out what you can about the situation. If you're unsure of what to do next, consider enlisting the support of an HR professional in your company. Their training supports conflict resolution and other aspects of employee relations.

Related: How to Communicate Effectively with a Difficult Team

11. Transition from coworker to manager

People who get promoted at work often find themselves managing old coworkers. This situation may feel awkward at first, but with time and the right leadership, it may become less of an issue. Ensure team members that you're there to support their efforts and ensure they have everything they need to accomplish their goals. It may help to have a meeting shortly after the transition where you address the change in roles and allow your team members to ask any questions.

12. Weak workplace culture

When teams feel like they're not connected with the rest of the workplace, they could experience a decrease in motivation. Teams that feel they are part of a larger group, experience more confidence and trust. One way to promote a strong work culture is by planning lunch outings and rewarding employees who exceed expectations.

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12 Common Management Challenges and How to Overcome Them

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Managers who oversee teams commonly face several challenges related to productivity and communication. Knowing how to recognize these challenges and address them helps increase a manager's confidence and ability to lead a team. In this article, we discuss the most common challenges of managing employees and ways to overcome these challenges.

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In conclusion, we can see that in this article, the author talks about many challenges that entrepreneurs and business owners face in day-to-day work, and he also explains how to fix them. Some of the more important ones are being understaffed, decrease in performance levels, and ensuring effective and safe communication. This helps us understand the book Shoe Dog because some challenges Phil Knight had along the way are miscommunication with his wife and his co-workers, he was understaffed at the beginning of Nike, (when he was selling the Tigers) and his co-workers also had some less productivity throughout the book (examples include the Onitsuka, early co-workers, etc.). This resource can be used to understand the whole book because the whole book has business challenges that Knight faces.

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In the book, Phil uses some of these strategies on his path to becoming an entrepreneur. We already know that he followed his passion, but now we can also see that he is motivated by his purpose to change the running shoe industry and he works with others like Bowerman. This helps helps us understand Phil’s path to eventual success. This resource should be used around the middle of the book when Phil is working hard to keep Blue Ribbon alive through it's first few years.

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This resource teaches you about Phil Knight and his determined and hardworking personality, and all of this things Phil had to go through to become the king shoes. This resource helps you understand the book because Phil Knight is the main character of the book, so getting to know who he is is very important to understanding the book. this should be used at the start of the book, so you can know who Phil Knight is throughout the whole book.

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This resource teaches me that Phil Knight had to go through so many troubles to get to where he is today. It helped me understand my book better because it showed me that Phil Knight wasn't just given Nike, he had to work hard towards it. This resource should be used around the beginning of the book. Phil Knight went to Japan for business, and he faced a lot of hardships there. He is trying his best to learn how to work with the Japanese.