“What remains, however, is this one comforting certainty, this one anchoring truth that will never go away. At twenty-four I did have a Crazy Idea, and somehow, despite being dizzy with existential angst, and fears about the future, and doubts about myself, as all young men and women in their midtwenties are, I did decide that the world is made up of crazy ideas. History is one long processional of crazy ideas. The things I loved most—books, sports, democracy, free enterprise—started as crazy ideas.
For that matter, few ideas are as crazy as my favorite thing, running. It’s hard. It’s painful. It’s risky. The rewards are few and far from guaranteed. When you run around an oval track, or down an empty road, you have no real destination. At least, none that can fully justify the effort. The act itself becomes the destination. It’s not just that there’s no finish line; it’s that you define the finish line. Whatever pleasure or gains you derive from the act of running, you must find them within. It’s all in how you frame it, how you sell it to yourself.”
~ Phil Knight from Shoe Dog
Phil Knight created Nike.
This book is a *phenomenally* well-written, funny, tear-jerking, inspiring look at how he and his eclectic team of misfit geniuses made Nike one of the most iconic brands in the world.
If you’re into sports, business and hero’s journeys, you’ll love it. I highly recommend it. (Get a copy here.)
Memoirs and biographies—although not self-help per se—often provide the most valuable and authentically human (and entertaining) perspectives on how we can optimize and actualize. This one certainly does.
It’s packed with inspiring wisdom and Big Ideas. I’m excited to share some of my favorites so let’s jump straight in!
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