My Learnings from the Past -Inspired by Phil Knight and the Nike Legacy."

This review is long overdue. I have recently taken a keen interest in reading business biographies, and it's been a great learning curve for me—first as part of a startup (my husband runs a catering outfit, and I am an unpaid staff) but mostly as an intrapreneur. Here are a few of my thoughts after reading:

• The importance of liquidity and equity
• Having a clear idea of your purpose is not an option; it is crucial.
• As you go along your career journey, plans change, but it pays to stay consistent. He took several detours in the beginning, tried his hands at working and exploring, but the dream was the dream—it haunted him into action!
• Feedback is feedback; it is a gift that can help you grow. But be sure not to let anyone tell you who you are or who you are not. Ultimately, have a clear picture of your purpose, improve as you grow, but stick with doing “you”. (Imagine if Phil Knight had taken the feedback about having a future as a sale knight; he might have been an MD, but then no Nike).
• A metaphor is nothing like reality; it can only take you so far. Pep talks and interesting rhymes from your favorite motivational speaker won't get you through. When it's all said, it's time to take action, show up, take a step; reality is reality, face it as it comes; start with one task, it clears the mind.
• You must forget your limits, your doubts, pains, and past. And when it's not possible to forget, you must negotiate with it.
• Some spontaneous decisions can hurt you big in the future. Even then, don't beat yourself; learn from them and move on. You only get wiser.
• Tell the truth; the consumers know.
• Be consistent with your company's values; always hire to fit.

Lastly, people are important. I have this conscious belief that I'm here only to make someone else's life a bit better. I have often heard the most experienced people say it's just business, your colleagues are not your friends, etc. I have never completely agreed. While I understand the logic behind these, in my little experience, I have understood the power of relationships and keeping the balance. Taking a chance on people was what Phil Knight built Nike on. Beneath all of his actions and lack of it was a lot of love and loyalty to the people who worked with him. So, in his own words: It's never just business. If everything comes down to just business, that will mean that business must be bad!