Mates Rates with Bres

Guest Book Review - Sean Bresnan: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

 

…Well, I did not expect one of these to be coming out so early in our existence – in fact I was skeptical whether we were going to have any at all – but here we are: the first guest review of the PFA.

Let me start by introducing our guest reviewer, Sean Bresnan (call sign: Bres, D-man, Seany). Where on earth do I start? A stand-alone article could be written about this young gent. This is a man who epitomized what it meant to be a D2 hoops glue guy. Gritty, grimy, and never afraid to get stuck into a bit of shithousery. The guy every team needs but only a few can find. Also, perhaps the most inconsistent three-point shooter I’ve seen. One day, the bloke couldn’t miss; the next, he was lucky to hit the rim. Basketball aside, he is an extremely accomplished booze hound, known on many occasions to turn a quiet one into an all-out bender. Socially, the man is magnetic, with a level of charm and affability that allows him to connect to any and all that he encounters. His ability to be a social chameleon undoubtedly comes from his unconventional chapters in his life thus far. This pale freckly Irishman (well sort of…we won’t go into that here though), a product of Yonkers, NY (for those unaware of the YO I implore you to do a quick google search…let’s just say it’s "characterful") has gone from being the only Caucasian (more affectionately called a “bogey”) on outdoor courts, to a fancy prep school for a year, to the wilderness of the New Hampshire woods, and now onto the bright lights of Midtown Manhattan. These stops along the way have forged a big city wanker from what was once a lanky whiteboy with a lineup and fade. He now finds himself scurrying on the hamster wheel of corporate America at the highest level. Wealth management in the heart of the world’s most iconic city was not something many would have predicted for him. Yet, that’s where you’ll find him, brushing shoulders with the ambitious elite, applying that same dogged glue guy mentality to his spreadsheets. In all seriousness though, you will struggle to find a harder worker, better friend, and all-round top bloke.

His book choice is certainly reflective of his current standing. Sean finds himself among the most driven and wildly successful people in the world. A genuine curiosity into how these types of individuals came to their fortune ultimately led him to give Shoe Dog a shot. A chance to peek behind the curtain of one of modern society’s premier companies is a reason as good as any to pick up this memoir.

That’s it then, your guest author for the week. A little longer introduction than I had intended, and I’m not sure much of it was exactly pertinent to the ensuing review. However, I felt obliged to inform you of the man whose writing you are about to read. I also can’t promise that any future guest reviewers – if we get any – will receive such a glowing report. Some of you are genuine bottom-feeders, and I have very little in the way of good things to share.

Without further ado, here is Bres’ review…

I picked up this book, knowing very little about Phil Knight and the origin story of Nike. Trying to imagine a world without the international juggernaut in it seems impossible; it’s a behemoth that is a given in modern culture. Phil Knight places you in his shoes instantaneously, reeling you in and dropping you into the mind of a 24-year-old who didn’t know what on earth he wanted to do. For someone who finds themselves in that same place, it was incredibly comforting. I think anyone who wants to build something of their own or chase a passion needs to pick up this book.

Phil Knight brings you on this rollercoaster of building a multinational conglomerate from scratch. From pitching his business idea to classmates, where he couldn't even hold the attention of his teacher grading him, to touring the world with iconic athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Knight brings us along this journey of ups and downs - many more downs than ups - and I loved every minute of it. The stories of how the famous swoosh was created by a part-time college art student, or how the name “Nike” itself was chosen only 30 seconds before the first product was ordered, were just some of the incredible happenings in Nike’s ascension.

This story is full of serendipitous foreshadowing — so much so that you’d almost think some of it was made up. I struggled with that part of the book the most. On one hand, this journey sounds so out of this world that it’s hard to believe, yet it also makes complete sense. It feels almost as if Phil Knight was put on Earth to create Nike, and I think that's what captivated me the most. You hear about stories of founders and outlandishly successful people every day, and most of the time, I tend to roll my eyes. I instantly wonder who they knew, who their parents were that helped with a ‘small investment’ of multiple millions, or who they stepped on to get to where they are, but this one was different. A 24-year-old kid who flew to Japan, faked a business during his meeting, and dared to figure it all out.

One of my favorite relationships in the book was between Phil and his first-ever employee at “Blue Ribbon Sports” (what Nike was originally called), Jeff Johnson. Johnson and Knight's relationship was something I truly admired. Jeff wanted Nike to succeed even more than Phil, and like a loyal foot soldier, he would do anything for him. If Phil said jump, Johnson would ask how high. He’d walk right into the face of battle without blinking for his company and leader. I think people like Johnson are the real reason why others can be the recipients of such huge success. You need a team of devoted loyalists who are just as passionate about their goal as the leader is, if not more so. Shoe Dog was just an absolute ride of a book - all about drive, determination, and perseverance.

“Grow or die, that’s what I believed, no matter the situation.” - Phil Knight

4.5/5