Running with Purpose: How Brooks Outpaced Goliath Competitors to Lead the Pack
- Downloads：9264
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-04-30 10:21:37
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：James Weber
- ISBN：140023168X
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
Discover how Brooks Running Company CEO Jim Weber transformed a failing business into a billion-dollar brand in the ultracompetitive global running market。
Running with Purpose is a leadership memoir with insights， inspirational stories， and tangible takeaways for current and aspiring leaders， entrepreneurs， and the 150+ million runners worldwide and those in the broader running community who continually invest in themselves。
This leadership memoir starts with Jim Weber's seventh-grade dream to run a successful company that delivered something people passionately valued。 Fast forward to 2001， Jim became the CEO of Brooks and， as the struggling brand's fourth CEO in two years， he faced strong headwinds。 A lifelong competitor， Jim devised a one-page strategy that he believed would not only save the company but would also lay the foundation for Brooks to become a leading brand in the athletic， fitness， and outdoor categories。 To succeed， he had to get his team to first believe it was possible and then employ the conviction， fortitude， and constancy of purpose to outperform larger brands。 Brooks' success was validated when Warren Buffett made it a standalone Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary in 2012。 In the pages of Running with Purpose， you will find:
Brooks’ bold strategy and unique brand positioning that fueled its move from the back of the pack to lead。
The key to building a purpose-driven brand that is oriented around customer obsession， building trust， competing with heart， and having fun along the way。
The six clear leadership lessons Jim has learned along his path and applies at Brooks to develop staff into authentic leaders。
How Berkshire Hathaway's support and influence provided a tailwind for Brooks' business and brand to surge。
An inside look at the ups and downs of Jim's personal journey， which led to his conviction that life is too short not to enjoy what you do and the people by your side。
Running with Purpose is a leadership memoir with insights， inspirational stories， and tangible takeaways for current and aspiring leaders， entrepreneurs， and the 150+ million runners worldwide and those in the broader running community who continually invest in themselves。
This leadership memoir starts with Jim Weber's seventh-grade dream to run a successful company that delivered something people passionately valued。 Fast forward to 2001， Jim became the CEO of Brooks and， as the struggling brand's fourth CEO in two years， he faced strong headwinds。 A lifelong competitor， Jim devised a one-page strategy that he believed would not only save the company but would also lay the foundation for Brooks to become a leading brand in the athletic， fitness， and outdoor categories。 To succeed， he had to get his team to first believe it was possible and then employ the conviction， fortitude， and constancy of purpose to outperform larger brands。 Brooks' success was validated when Warren Buffett made it a standalone Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary in 2012。 In the pages of Running with Purpose， you will find:
Brooks’ bold strategy and unique brand positioning that fueled its move from the back of the pack to lead。
The key to building a purpose-driven brand that is oriented around customer obsession， building trust， competing with heart， and having fun along the way。
The six clear leadership lessons Jim has learned along his path and applies at Brooks to develop staff into authentic leaders。
How Berkshire Hathaway's support and influence provided a tailwind for Brooks' business and brand to surge。
An inside look at the ups and downs of Jim's personal journey， which led to his conviction that life is too short not to enjoy what you do and the people by your side。
Reviews
Wendy
，
As a member of Brooks' Run Happy Team， I received a complementary copy of Running with Purpose in exchange for my unbiased review。In Running with Purpose， Weber not only shares a lot of his personal journey but also the journey of Brooks Running。 He kept the motto “Run Happy”， using it as a call to action for runners， much like Nike's "Just Do it"。 He defines Run Happy as “the emotional core of the running experience “。 He was determined to have Brooks be taken seriously by runners and defined t As a member of Brooks' Run Happy Team， I received a complementary copy of Running with Purpose in exchange for my unbiased review。In Running with Purpose， Weber not only shares a lot of his personal journey but also the journey of Brooks Running。 He kept the motto “Run Happy”， using it as a call to action for runners， much like Nike's "Just Do it"。 He defines Run Happy as “the emotional core of the running experience “。 He was determined to have Brooks be taken seriously by runners and defined the company's singular purpose: to inspire everyone to run and be active" by creating the best running gear， tools， and experiences to move runners。 The company continues to grow and is now the number 2 shoe for runners。 Brooks even posted record sales during the pandemic， betting on more people wanting to run and get outside during the lockdown。Socially and environmentally conscious， Brooks has developed a shoe， the Ghost， that is carbon neutral and has signed a climate pledge to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2040。 They are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace as well as partnerships that support underserved communities。 The Brooks Booster Club is a need-based grant program that invests cash and gear in underserved high school running programs。This was such an interesting read。 In a world of conglomerates and big businesses， it’s really heartening to read about a company that cares about its demographic， as well as the world around us。 Weber set out to be an authentic leader and was rewarded with a loyal， committed team of employees。 Four years ago， Weber was diagnosed with esophageal cancer。 Throughout his cancer treatment， Weber continued to lead his company and still does to this day。 While he can no longer run， he walks and his focus on his mission for Brooks hasn't changed。 Clearly， Brooks is the company it is because of his vision and leadership。 He would tell you that it is due to his team。 I hope that this focus on runners prevails as Brooks continues to grow。 I really enjoyed this peek into the mind of such a great leader。 He offers so much wisdom and insight！ While some runners might be put off by Weber's worldview， I personally love that Brooks is philosophically aligned with my personal views。 Some of the passages on business were a little dry for this non-business thinking runner。 But it helped me to understand the journey both Weber and Brooks have been on。 Weber is clearly proud of Brooks and what he’s accomplished while sticking to his principles 。。。more
Jeff
，
Cilantro Rub On A Perfectly Cooked Filet Mignon。 Yes， the title of this review is an allusion to a particular meeting covered in this book， wherein Warren Buffett once invited James Weber to enjoy a steak with him in Omaha - and yet also describes this book to a T。 Part memoir and part business leadership book， this is the story of James Weber pre-Brooks， and Brooks with James Weber at its head。 And when the book is in either of these modes， it is truly tremendous。 And I don't just say this as a Cilantro Rub On A Perfectly Cooked Filet Mignon。 Yes， the title of this review is an allusion to a particular meeting covered in this book， wherein Warren Buffett once invited James Weber to enjoy a steak with him in Omaha - and yet also describes this book to a T。 Part memoir and part business leadership book， this is the story of James Weber pre-Brooks， and Brooks with James Weber at its head。 And when the book is in either of these modes， it is truly tremendous。 And I don't just say this as a Millenial former runner （who needs to get back into that） who *loves* his Brooks Ravenna line shoes。 I also note this as someone who has read and reviewed over 800 books in just the last 3 years alone across a wider range than most any other reader out there。 Weber's tale is remarkable， and his business insights and leadership principles are sound - and seem like they would be great guiding principles for those starting out or even those （like myself） in mid-career。 The cilantro rub comes when Weber starts diving into political issues near the end of the text - though he *is* careful to come back to his own story and Brooks' story after， in a classic sh*t sandwich layering approach。 Why is there a cilantro rub on this great filet mignon？ Well， like cilantro， the political discussion is going to be one you either love or you hate - there likely isn't going to be any middle ground there， and there likely won't be any convincing of those on the other side that they should change sides。 So if you agree with the somewhere-left-of-center politics he describes。。。 yay！ You're one of the ones that likes this cilantro！ If not。。。 read the book anyway。 There really is a lot to be learned here。 Very much recommended。 。。。more
Monica
，
This book makes me want to buy some Brooks and go for a long run。 This was such an inspiring read that's great even if you've never had a runner's high。 Motivating words that's great for current， new and future leaders。 This book makes me want to buy some Brooks and go for a long run。 This was such an inspiring read that's great even if you've never had a runner's high。 Motivating words that's great for current， new and future leaders。 。。。more
Holly G
，
I really enjoyed hearing the leadership style and cultural process of a brand that I personally enjoy。 To learn that Brooks has been a brand with consistent integrity is really exciting to read about。 The book is very well structured and reads like a lot of successful business memoirs。 The discussion of the investment process， Berkshire Hathaway's desires， and other logistical concepts cause the book to bog down into something that reads like an annual report to the board。 As a reader， I do not I really enjoyed hearing the leadership style and cultural process of a brand that I personally enjoy。 To learn that Brooks has been a brand with consistent integrity is really exciting to read about。 The book is very well structured and reads like a lot of successful business memoirs。 The discussion of the investment process， Berkshire Hathaway's desires， and other logistical concepts cause the book to bog down into something that reads like an annual report to the board。 As a reader， I do not want to be sold on the brand as a commodity as much as I want to learn how to grow safe connection between people and a message。 Other than that， I do not have any notes about the book。 It was an enjoyable read with a lot of leadership wisdom I will surely share。 。。。more
Lucy Martin
，