Nike

 

“…MY SALES STRATEGY was simple, and I thought rather brilliant.

After being rejected by a couple of sporting goods stores ("Kid, what this world does not need is another track shoe!"), I drove all over the Pacific Northwest, to various track meets. Between races I'd chat up the coaches, the runners, the fans, and show them my wares. The response was always the same. I couldn't write orders fast enough.

Driving back to Portland I'd puzzle over my sudden success at selling. I'd been unable to sell encyclopedias, and I'd despised it to boot. I'd been slightly better at selling mutual funds, but I'd felt dead inside.

So why was selling shoes so different?

Because, I realized, it wasn't selling. I believed in running. I believed that if people got out and ran a few miles every day, the world would be a better place, and I believed these shoes were better to run in.

People, sensing my belief, wanted some of that belief for themselves.

Belief, I decided. Belief is irresistible.”

*𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑵𝒊𝒌𝒆, 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍 𝑲𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕