On that morning in 1962, I declared to myself:
“Don’t worry if people in the world say you’re crazy.
It keeps going without stopping.
Don't even think about stopping until you get there.
And let's not even think too deeply about where that is.
“No matter what happens, let’s not stop.” --- p.11

The art of competition is the art of forgetting.
I learned this fact through track and field.
We must forget our limitations.
We must shake off the doubts we have harbored.
We must forget our pain and our past.
We must ignore the inner cry, the plea, “Enough is enough.”
If we cannot forget, shake off, or ignore these things, we will have to compromise with the world.
During track and field competitions, when what my mind wants and what my body wants don't align, I tell my body this:
'Yeah, that's a really good idea.
But let's keep running anyway.' --- p.95

When you run on the track, you become passionate about numbers.
Because the numbers you write down say everything about you.
There are many reasons for poor performance, including injury, fatigue, and disappointment.
But no one cares about this.
People ultimately only remember the numbers you write down.
I lived in this reality.
--- p.125

President Onitsuka told Coach Bowerman that the inspiration for Tiger's unique sole came to him while eating sushi.
He looked at a large wooden plate and an octopus leg and wondered what would happen if similar suction cups were applied to the soles of shoes worn by runners.
Coach Bowerman learned that inspiration can come from the commonplace.
Inspiration can come from what we eat or from what we have lying around the house.
--- p.131

I went to Pricewaterhouse six days a week and worked at Blue Ribbon early in the morning, late at night, on weekends, and on vacation.
I didn't meet any friends, I didn't exercise, I didn't socialize at all. I was completely content with this lifestyle.
My life was definitely not balanced.
But I didn't care at all.
I wanted a much more extreme imbalance.
I wanted to focus solely on my business and not do anything else.
--- p.174

“We will no longer sell other companies’ brands.
Now we have to face the situation.
We need to have our own way, our own ideas, our own brand to be successful.
We had $2 million in sales last year.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Onitsuka had no contribution to these achievements.
This is a result of our creativity and hard work.
I see today's work as a liberation, not a crisis.
Let us consider today as the day of our independence.” --- p.301

I've also wondered if the secret to Prefontaine's success in capturing the public's heart lies in his passion.
He literally gave his all and crossed the finish line.
In order to get first place, I was not afraid even of death.
This can sometimes be an unproductive strategy, foolish, or even suicidal.
But the audience was excited to see this.
Whether it's sports or human behavior, truly giving your best wins people's hearts.
--- p.305

We (Nike) are people who cannot tolerate unconventional companies.
We are people who enjoy our work.
What we do must have meaning.
We are trying to catch Goliath.
We are trying to create a culture, not just a brand.
We reject obedience, banality, and monotony.
We are trying to sell not only the product, but also the idea, the spirit.
--- p.360

Don't let the fear of failure paralyze you.
I'm not saying this because I think we won't fail.
Anyone can fail.
When you fail, it is important to quickly shake it off, get back up, learn from your failures, and grow.
--- p.364

Some people believe that the purpose of business is to pursue profit.
However, we believe that just as the purpose of human life is not only to make blood, the purpose of business is not only to make money.
--- p.503

Business is sometimes called war without bullets, and in fact, business is a great defense against war.
Trade is the path to coexistence and cooperation.
Peace feeds on prosperity.
This is precisely why, even though I was still haunted by the Vietnam War, I vowed to one day establish a Nike factory in or near Saigon.
--- p.534

I want to tell young people to take a moment to pause and think deeply about how they want to spend the next 40 years and who they want to spend it with.
I would like to advise young people in their mid-20s not to settle for a job.
Find your calling.
Even if you don't know what it is, keep trying to find it.
When you find your calling, you can endure hardships and quickly shake off discouragement.
When you achieve success, you will feel a completely different feeling than you have ever felt before.
--- p.544

Some people say that entrepreneurs should never give up.
In a word, they are scammers.
Entrepreneurs must know how to give up sometimes.
Sometimes it takes wisdom to know when to give up and when to pursue something else.
Giving up doesn't mean stopping.
An entrepreneur should never stop.
--- p.545

Luck also plays a big role in success.
Yes, that's right.
I openly acknowledge the power of luck.
Athletes, poets, and entrepreneurs need luck.
It's important to work hard, meet good people and build a great team, be smart, and be decisive.
But luck can also determine the outcome.
Some people do not call it luck, but the Way, Logos, Jnana, Dharma, spirit, God.
In other words, the harder you work, the better your Tao becomes.
Since no one has defined this Tao precisely, I now try to cultivate it regularly.
I want to tell people this.
Have faith in yourself.
Have faith in this belief too.
Faith should be defined by you, not by others.
Belief itself is defined in your mind.

--- p.545