Start the Process
Whenever you see the Nike logo, what comes to mind?
Does that lovely swoosh known to represent one of the biggest brands in the world paint the picture of well-built athletes in trendy sport wears? Or does it remind you of the inspiring slogan “Just Do It”?
The Nike brand is known the world over for its sleek designs, high-profile endorsements and PR campaigns that have shaped pop-culture for decades. No doubt, its biggest and most recognized PR stunt is the JUST DO IT Campaign!
The campaign whose tag line was inspired by the last words of Gary Gilmore – “Let’s Do It” – was originally developed to stage a marketing comeback for the Nike brand to address the issues of obesity and procrastination prevalent in the USA in the late 1980s. Since its launch in 1988, the tagline has motivated millions of people around the world to quit procrastination and take action. Whether it was to take up a new fitness habit, or make critical career moves or even start a new project, great feats have been accomplished by the motivation provided by those three words. The “Just Do It” philosophy though not yet coined as a catchphrase epitomizes the drive that founded the Nike company at its inception. In 1968, It’s co-founders Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight didn’t wait for perfect conditions but started out selling imported running shoes made by a Japanese company from a car trunk. In the words of former Nike’s Vice President and CFO, Don W. Blair while giving a talk at the Wharton University of Pennsylvania; “‘Just Do It’ is a corporate attitude too”. This attitude has driven the company to the top. Today, Nike is positioned as the leading athletic and fitness company worldwide with 1,152 stores in over 45 countries outside the USA employing over 44,000 people worldwide.
Have you been thinking about starting a project? Are you waiting for all the variables to be perfect before taking the bold step? I want to challenge you to “Just do it” and here are 3 reasons why you should take action.
- That opportunity/idea is not exclusive to you
Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe said “No one has the monopoly of ideas” and that’s true! Someone somewhere is nursing that same idea you are thinking about now and might be more determined to execute it. We recall the story of the first man-driven plane. Both Glenn Curtis and the Wright brothers thought and worked towards making history. The story would have been different if the Wright brothers decided to wait one more month before the flight. Friend, the earlier you start working on your ideas, the better for you.
- The Destinies of Others Are Tied to That Idea
What we do impacts on our immediate community, the world and generations to come. For example, The Dream Martin Luther King Jr fought for passionately that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the colour of their skin created a chain effect that is still impacting our world today. You see, you will be failing so many people, whose destinies are linked to yours if you don’t live your dreams now. So, Just Do It.
- Great Potential will be Unleashed When You Take That First Step
Today, we are fascinated by the Marvel Superhero characters. Numerous movies have been produced to entertain the world and a multi-million dollar industry has evolved from these characters. The Avengers are unarguably the world’s favourite superheroes. The series which comprises 23 movies to date is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time with a total earning of over $22.5 billion at the global box office. This includes Avengers: Endgame, the highest-grossing film of all time.
Most of these characters were created by the Legendary cartoonist, the late Stan Lee. I can imagine the challenge the young Stan Lee would have faced trying to convince his family and friends of his dream to be a cartoonist while he scribbled his sketches! Come on, this was in the 1930s! Those sketches have become a multi-million-dollar franchise today. Do you get my point? However small you think your idea is, I encourage you to “Just Do It” and watch it flourish.
A word of caution however; When I say Just Do It, I’m not referring to illegal activities, I’m saying engage in ventures that are legal. When you do illegal things, they catch up with you eventually.
Remember, You Have Only One Life to Live, MAKE IT COUNT.
