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What Happened to the $8,000 Loan When Nike Went Public? · Founders

Founders

#418 Phil Knight: Founder of Nike

What I learned from rereading Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike for the 3rd or 4th time. Made possible by: Ramp:⁠ https://ramp.com⁠ Axon by Applovin: ⁠https://axon.ai/founders⁠ Vanta: ⁠https://vanta.com/founders

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Notes

  1. Why Did Phil Knight Ignore His Father's Advice? at 7:39

    David Senra says Phil Knight ignored his father's advice to stop selling shoes, and Senra calls that one of the most important decisions Knight ever made. Full answer

  2. How Did Phil Knight Start Nike? at 11:11

    David Senra says Nike started when one Japanese company sent Phil Knight 12 pairs of running shoes to sell in Oregon. About a year later, the shoes arrived. Full answer

  3. How Long Did Phil Knight Keep His Day Job? at 20:43

    David Senra says it takes like seven years for underfunded Blue Ribbon to afford Phil Knight quitting his day job, and he thinks Knight spent like 14 hours a… Full answer

  4. How Did Bill Bowerman's Jogging Book Grow Nike? at 29:44

    David Senra says Bill Bowerman's book Jogging sold millions of copies and grew the market for Nike by celebrating running, at a time when people did not go… Full answer

  5. What Was the First Nike Store Like? at 32:55

    David Senra says the first Nike store was a sanctuary for runners. Full answer

  6. Why Did Phil Knight Teach at Portland State? at 35:58

    David Senra says Phil Knight taught at Portland State because Blue Ribbon could not pay its co-founder a salary. Full answer

  7. What Happened to the $8,000 Loan When Nike Went Public? at 39:58

    David Senra says Phil Knight converted an $8,000 loan from an employee's parents into Nike stock worth $1.6 million. Full answer

  8. What Happened When Onitsuka Found Out About Nike? at 45:32

    David Senra reads Phil Knight's account of the day Onitsuka found out about Nike and cut the company off earlier than he was ready. Full answer

  9. Why Did Phil Knight Feel Guilty as a Father? at 55:50

    David Senra says Phil Knight felt the guilt was palpable, because every minute spent on Nike came at the cost of his family. Full answer

  10. Should I Settle for a Career in My Mid-20s? at 1:01:26

    David Senra, reading the close of Phil Knight's Shoe Dog, says men and women in their mid-20s should not settle for a job, a profession, or even a career. Full answer

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