Phil Knight's One Word for Millennials: Lesson from "Shoe Dog"
I just finished reading Phil Knight's autobiography "Shoe Dog." In the last five pages, he shares what I believe to be the most inspiring words of the 380 page book. It is aimed for Millennials specifically. After finishing the book, I sent that advice on to my 20-something sons.
But I don't believe his thinking is reserved for Millennials only. In fact, it makes no difference whether you're a Boomer, Gen Xer, Millennial or Gen Yer, because you will find a spark from the Nike titan's narrative that might guide your life for the rest of your days.
“I’d tell young people not to settle for a job or a professional or even a career. Seek a calling. Even if you don’t know what that means seek it. If you’re following your calling, the fatigue will be easier to bear, the disappointments will be fuel, the highs will be like nothing you’ve ever felt.”
- Phil Knight, Nike Founder ”
To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.
How an Evolved Organization Bares Its Soul To the World
You know your organization stands for something special in the world.
But do your stakeholders?
Do they know about your plan for a better product and better world? Can they feel the passion that fuels your fire which is making the planet a better place to live?
If you're uncertain about that, I have one word for you:
You know your organization stands for something special in the world.
But do your stakeholders?
Do they know about your plan for a better product and better world? Can they feel the passion that fuels your fire which is making the planet a better place to live?
If you're uncertain about that, I have one word for you: manifesto.
Conscientious Leaders know that a brand manifesto differs from your mission statement. Their intentions may be the same. But their language is not. While the mission statement is very left-brain and logical, the manifesto is right-brain and emotional. Well-crafted manifestos can last for decades if not centuries.
Think Martin Luther King, Junior's "I Have a Dream Speech," the Declaration of Independence and the Ten Commandments. A manifesto is your bold plan for a better world, a moral compass that will guide and define your brand to both external and internal audiences.
Is a manifesto right for your organization? To answer that, consider the following criteria we believe must be a part of one:
1. Communicate Deep Emotional Principles. What is your organization's reason for existence?
2. State Your Core Values. What is it your organization stands for? Protecting the environment? Embracing equity? Promoting justice?
3. Speak the Truth. Are you authentic? Does your language and ideas reflect that?
4. Relate to Your Audience. Are you using emotion to touch your audience's core?
5. Differentiate. How does your organization differ from others appealing to your audience?
The manifestos we admire and that resonate with us all share some things in common. These elements include:
1. Speaking in the Collective Voice.
2. Speaking in the Active Voice.
3. Looking to Change the Status Quo.
4. Serving as Compass for Future Decisions.
For contemporary examples of well-crafted manifestos, we happen to be particularly fond of Albertina Kerr's "Army of Angels" here in our hometown of Portland, OR. And if we may toot our own horn, we also like our own HCollaborative manifesto here.
If you feel the time is right in your organization for a manifesto with 2017 just around the corner and you need some guidance, let us know. We'll show you the next steps.
To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" FREE, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.
The One Powerful Trait Every Conscientious Leader Possesses
If you asked me to define a Conscientious Leader in one word, I look to Steve Prefontaine. While the great American distance runner from the University of Oregon left this world over four decades ago, he lived and breathed the most important trait of what we see in today's evolved leaders.
In a word: grit.
It was the heart and soul of Pre.
If you asked me to define a Conscientious Leader in one word, I look to Steve Prefontaine. While the great American distance runner from the University of Oregon left this world over four decades ago, he lived and breathed the most important trait of what we see in today's evolved leaders.
In a word: grit.
It was the heart and soul of Pre.
I was fortunate enough to see the majority of his incredibly inspiring races in Eugene. At 5' 9" and 139 pounds, he would always leave everything on the track. "Somebody may beat me but they are going to have to bleed to do it," he said in one of his more famous quotes.
No matter what event he ran, no matter who he competed against, he always raced the same way. Pre led from the starter's gun and rarely ever looked at another singlet in front of him as he ground the field's legs into rubber by increasing his speed lap after punishing lap.
Now this thing grit is something my business partner and I see regularly in the inspiring and conscientious leaders we've met with over the past 9 months. People dealing with equity issues, social challenges and global environmental impact problems. They most definitely display a powerful combination of passion and perseverance.
In spite of the hurdles facing them, in spite of budget challenges, in spite of dwindling government support, these incredible women and men pursue their goals of "changing the world" with talent for sure.
But what separates the Conscientious Leader from others is what author Angela Duckworth concludes in her book "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" after studying high achievers in business, sports and entertainment. "Talent is not enough. It is grit that matters most if you want to achieve something spectacular."
In other words, there is simply no slowing down, no quit, no finish line in them. They continue to grind down the challenges they face as they practice day in and day out Benjamin Disraeli's belief that the secret to success is the constancy to purpose.
Just as Pre did around that oval track at historic Hayward Field.
To get our book, "25 Building Blocks To Create a Conscientious Organization" free, go to HCollaborative.com for an instant download.