Last week was very busy and hectic. I faced with some self-searching questions about ShimBi Labs and next 5 years. Needed something profound to fuel my spirit and bounce me back. So I just picked up this book to read.

This book "Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE" is about Phil Knight, founder of Nike. Phil Knight, fresh out of business school, borrowed $50 from his father and created a company with a simple mission: import high-quality, low-cost athletic shoes from Japan. Selling the shoes from the boot of his Plymouth, Knight grossed $8000 in his first year. Today, Nike's annual sales top $30 billion.

“So that morning in 1962 I told myself: 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.” 
― Phil Knight, Shoe Dog

His candid story really worked on me, Monday morning when I got up I was full of spirit and positive energy.  He started his business when he was 24, in his story, he details the many risks and daunting setbacks that stood between him and his dream along with his early triumphs.

One think strike me is how similar it was in 1962 and even today "Doing business with Japan." Even he faces the same thing, which I face even today is - no response or selective response to mails and ignoring rest even if it is important to another partner!

His hard-won wisdom narrated in this book makes it must read for all wannabe startups and existing startup founders.

Motivated and energized, I am back on my mission to build simple, powerful, yet affordable products for small business at ShimBi Labs.