Reading Reflection No. 1

13A – Reading Reflection No. 1

1) You read about an entrepreneur:

·      What surprised you the most?

I was surprised to find out that Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike first started his business selling tiger shoes under the business name Blue Ribbon. 

·      What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?

Phil Knight faced many obstacles while trying to run what would become one of the top athletic brands in the World. No matter what difficulties and obstacles that were put in his path he never stopped working toward his goal of a successful business.

·      What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?

In the book Phil talks about having trouble with Onitsuka, the owner of Tiger shoes. Phil found out that Onitsuka was looking to find another partner to sell his shoes in America in the course of a meeting Onitsuka stepped out to use the restroom and Phil took a folder out of his briefcase that had a list of potential businesses that could be used to sell Tiger shoes. 

·      Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?

Phil faced adversity when Onitsuka tried to go behind Phil’s back and find another business to sell the shoes. He also had to fight for his company when Onitshuka wanted to sue for breaching contract. Then again when Phil competitors reported him to the US Government and accused him of under paying duties on His imports.

2) What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? 

He was able to read people and know if they were going to be a good fit for this company or not. He was also a good listeners, because he would always listen to his partner and employees had to say about the business.

3) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

I still don’t understand why Phil felt the need to take Onitshuka’s folder out of his briefcase. He went against his moral code to confirm something that he already knew was true because he had been told about it from his inside man with Onitshuka.

4) If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?

I would like to ask Phil if he would still make the exact same choices that he did leading up to Nike’s inception. I know that he did mention in the book that he couldn’t believe some of things he did, so I’d like to know if he would do them again if given the opportunity. I would also like to ask Phil if there was a time in the beginning where he thought about giving up. I don’t remember him ever mentioning it, but I do know that his father wasn’t always in his corner when it can to selling shoes for a living. 

5) For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?

Phil Knight was definitely not afraid of hard work. He went to Japan on his own to get a business agreement with Onitshuka and Tiger Shoes. I agree that hard work is sometimes necessary to accomplish your goals