Notes by Krishna Binzani

a memoir by the creator of Nike

Author: Phil Knight

• On running:

• I had an aching sense that our time is short, shorter than we ever know, short as a morning run, and I wanted mine to be meaningful, purposeful, creative and important. Above all… different.
• Pep talk: You are capable. You are confident. You can do this. You can DO this.

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” — The Analects of Confucius

• Belief is irresistible:

  

  

• The cowards never started and the weak died along the way.

• Let everyone else call your idea crazy . . . just keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t even think about stopping until you get there, and don’t give much thought to where “there” is. Whatever comes, just don’t stop.

“You are remembered for the rules you break.” — General MacArthur

• Life is growth. You grow or you die.
• We were the kind of people who simply couldn’t put up with corporate nonsense. We were the kind of people who wanted our work to be play. But meaningful play. We were trying to slay Goliath.
  • Making work be fun is not what you think it is. People who consider their work to be fun are still describing it just as (or more) painful, stressful, annoying and horrible than everyone else. The difference seems to be not in enjoying the work when it's good per se, but not wanting to quit it when it's at its worst. When your job is at its worst do you feel:
    • I can't do this anymore, all I want to do is quit → your work is work
    • I could never quit, this only is driving me harder → your work is play
• I’d tell men and women in their midtwenties not to settle for a job or a profession or even a career. Seek a calling. Even if you don’t know what that means, seek it. If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you’ve ever felt.

“Happiness is a ‘how’, not a ‘what’. A talent, not an object.” — Hermann Hesse

“Don't tell people how to do things, Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” — General Patton