Showing results by author "Donald Katz" in All Categories

The protagonist of Just Do It is Phil Knight, a reclusive billionaire who started a two-man operation importing Japanese running shoes and built it into a $4 billion company. Irreverent, unpredictable, and leery of the sports establishment, Knight created the most muscular jock culture in business, a place where employees routinely took two hours at lunch to work out and then strategized late into the night in their holy war against competitors Reebok and Adidas.

In 1972, Sears, Roebuck, and Co. was America's greatest store, accounting for over 1 percent of the gross national product. Suddenly, profits plummeted and the stock price collapsed. Sears was at civil war and in need of a new leader. In 1978, Edward R. Telling became the Sears chairman, and by 1984 Sears was back on top, bigger than ever. Telling turned things around so dramatically it seemed like a miracle. But the resurrection of Sears as a great American merchant was no miracle, but the result of the power, vision, and will of strong leadership.  

Days before they left Newark, New Jersey, to begin their two and half month trek to the summit of Mount Everest, climbers Joe Hughes and Liz Pace sat down to talk with Audible founder and CEO Don Katz. In this conversation, Joe and Liz talk about why they are attempting to climb the world's tallest and most dangerous peak, how they've been preparing mentally and physically for the journey, and why they have dedicated much of this amazing adventure to children.

Don Katz discusses the history and marketing strategies of Nike as detailed in his book Just Do It: The Nike Spirit in the Corporate World.