The Real Key to Power? Play by the Rules

The Real Key to Power? Play by the Rules

We’re taught that in order to be powerful and innovative, we need to break the rules. But while some rules are made to be broken, many principles became rules because they were effective. More often than not, it pays to play by the rules, especially if your goal is power. Below, discover the top 15 rules for power. We’ll cover how these rules of power came from the aristocratic court system and how we can still play by the rules today to gain power in the modern world.

Nike’s Waffle Shoes: The Surprising History

Nike’s Waffle Shoes: The Surprising History

At Nike, one of Phil’s key partners was Bill Bowerman, a star Olympic track coach and Phil’s former running coach from college. Bowerman was the mad scientist of the group, experimenting with new shoe designs and rubber formulations to produce a better running shoe. In one landmark experiment, he squeezed rubber in his wife’s waffle iron, producing the waffle sole. Learn about the history of Nike’s waffle shoes here.

Jeff Johnson and Nike: A Key Early Employee

Jeff Johnson and Nike: A Key Early Employee

In 1965, Nike founder Phil Knight hires his first full-time employee, a fellow Stanford runner named Jeff Johnson who will sell shoes in Los Angeles. Jeff Johnson has a messianic view on running—believing running done right is akin to enlightenment—and Phil hasn’t met anyone with his passion for running. This is the story of Jeff Johnson and Nike, from Phil Knight’s book Shoe Dog.