Reading Reflection #1

For this assignment I decided to read the biography of Phil Knight, the man who started Nike. I chose to read this simply because of the name recognition as well as the fact that I am very interested in the world of sports and Nike in particular.
What surprised me the most: I went into this reading experience with a preconceived notion that these people like Phil Knight who are so successful in the businesses they have started, that they did so with ease because they are geniuses with genius ideas and were destined to start this company. What I learned and what surprised me the most was just how difficult it was for Phil Knight and it wasn't an overnight success.
What do I most admire: This one is easy to me. Phil Knight throughout his life has displayed a persistence, perseverance, and an ingenuity that is unmatched. One thing I am learning is that in order to want to be successful like Phil Knight, you have to be willing to work for it, and he was. He overcame obstacles and came out on the other side with one of the worlds most recognizable brands.
What did I least admire: I can't particularly say there was something about Phil Knight that I didn't admire. Like I mentioned, he contains traits that I admire and strive to have myself.
Did he encounter adversity/failure: I touched on this a little bit before, but yes, Phil Knight came across many challenges and failures on his rise to the top. Instead of letting these defeat him and give up, he decided to learn from these and adapt and change to the his ever-changing environment.

As an entrepreneur, it is essential to display a certain set of competencies in order to one day be successful. Phil Knight displayed resilience, adaptation, and forward-thinking, on top of the other skills and strengths I had previously mentioned. As far as something that was confusing to me in the reading, I didn't really come across anything that had be confused. The biography was very clear and touched on many aspects of Phil Knights life. If I ever had the chance of meeting Phil Knight and had the opportunity to ask him two questions, I would simply ask him, "what is your advice to someone like me, or anyone who is looking to kick start their career in any particular industry?" I would also ask him "what is one regret you have, if any, during your career?"