
He details the many risks and daunting setbacks that stood between him and his dream - along with his early triumphs. Candid, humble, wry and gutsy, he begins with his crossroads moment when at 24 he decided to start his own business. Now, for the first time, he tells his story. In an age of start-ups, Nike is the ne plus ultra of all start-ups, and the swoosh has become a revolutionary, globe-spanning icon, one of the most ubiquitous and recognisable symbols in the world today.īut Knight, the man behind the swoosh, has always remained a mystery. Today, Nike's annual sales top $30 billion.


Selling the shoes from the boot of his Plymouth, Knight grossed $8000 in his first year. In 1962, fresh out of business school, Phil Knight borrowed $50 from his father and created a company with a simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost athletic shoes from Japan.
