Inspiring advice to entrepreneurs from Phil Knight, Nike’s co-founder

Have I mentioned how much I enjoyed Phil Knight’s book, Shoe Dog? I freaking loved it. It is the story of Nike from the very beginning until they went public in 1980. I HIGHLY recommend it for any one-day or current entrepreneurs.

And yes, I loved it even though I’m a hugely loyal Mizuno guy :)

In the last chapter, he writes the below passage that I just had to share. 

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God, how I wish I could relive the whole thing. Short of that, I’d like to share the experience, the ups and downs, so that some young man or woman, somewhere, going through the same trials and ordeals, might be inspired or comforted. Or warned. Some young entrepreneur, maybe, some athlete or painter or novelist, might press on.

It’s all the same drive. The same dream.

It would be nice to help them avoid the typical discouragements. I’d tell them to hit pause, think long and hard about how they want to spend their time, and with whom they want to spend it for the next forty years. I’d tell men and women in their mid twenties 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.

I’d like to warn the best of them, the iconoclasts, the innovators, the rebels, that they will always have a bulls-eye on their backs. The better they get, the bigger the bull’s-eye. It’s not one man’s opinion; its a law of nature.

And those who urge entrepreneurs to never give up? Charlatans. Sometimes you have to give up. Sometimes knowing when to give up, when to try something else, is genius. Giving up doesn’t mean stopping. 

Don’t ever stop.