17 hours of running and the first 40 years of Nike. Perhaps one of the best books about business and definitely the best about the history of the company.
1. Not so much a story of victories as a story of failures, crises, “this could kill us,” “where can we get so much money?” and “how do we deal with this.” A lot of fear, a lot of alcohol, a lot of adventurism and very little sport for such a book.
2. Rarely about myself and almost always about others. Understanding your weaknesses and the ability to compensate for the strengths of your colleagues. The ability to beat them and hold them.
3. The cross-cutting thought is “business is never “just business.” If it is “just business,” that is, just money, then there is no business anymore. "I was thinking about the phrase, 'It's just business.' It's never just business. And there never will be. If it really becomes just a business, it will mean that the business is very bad."
4. Sincerity, frankness and accuracy in the story of his dead son: “His search often seemed so familiar, although Matthew lacked my luck or my ability to focus. And my feelings of uncertainty, insecurity. Perhaps if he had more uncertainty, insecurity..."
Overall: pure rock and roll.
