Running with Purpose

How Brooks Outpaced Goliath Competitors to Lead the Pack

De: Jim Weber, Warren Buffett - foreword

Narrado por: James Weber

Read by the author.

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’s success was validated when Warren Buffett made it a standalone Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary in 2012. In Running with Purpose, you will find:

• Brooks’s 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’s 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.

Photos and graphics are included in the audiobook companion PDF download.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Jim Weber, Warren Buffett (P)2022 HarperCollins Leadership

Loved every word

From home town boy, to CEO, Jim narrates his own journey to the top. The struggles are poignant and his insights transcend the running industry. A great read!

Great read for runners and leaders

Jim is an inspiration to runners and leaders alike. His insights into leadership in the modern age stand as a light house in a sea of turmoutlous change. His personal story is an insightful look into how to be authentic in all facets of life. The book is well written to constantly incorporate both.

Hang in for the last chapters....

the last chapters are where you will feel inspired by the road Brooks takes and feel their stance on running being for all.

Solid success story, stumbling presentation

Learning the story of Brooks- how they analyze shifting market futures, formulate successful strategies, and adjust to stay on course with the company vision- was fascinating. The company President and author does a great narration which adds to the impact. The storytelling can be hard to follow as the timeline of events as told is quite disjointed, jumping frequently across years and events, and the editing of the recording is sloppy with several instances of repeated sentences.

It went from a business story to a lecture on liberal ideas

Meh…. It was a basic story of a great and innovative brand. But then it was a diatribe of liberal ideas. The book would have been better with more stories of Brooks history, and less about Jim’s political soapbox.

absolutely inspiring

This book was crafted out of love and authenticity. As someone who spent 12 years working in the run speciality industry, knowing Jim Weber, is a true honor. Brooks has proven its worth and product by creating phenomenal shoes and apparel all while creating an excellent culture within the channel. This book is inspiring, with or without history in running. Keep it up Jim and the entire Brooks team!! With Love, Maggie

Amazing human, story and company

If more companies were led by people like Jim Weber, the world would be a much better place. Thank you for sharing your story, Jim. And the story of an amazing business transformation. You and your team have a lot to be proud of.

Meh…

I’ve listened to a number of excellent biographies of late, so the bar is pretty high. It seemed to me that the book was more a “I did this,” “I accomplished that” kind of book. I was bored, so I skipped to two later chapters and skimmed them. I really hope this book can encourage others, as it’s clear Jim Weber has a passion for what he does. I run in Brooks shoes, and I recommend the shoes, but not the book.

Best business I've read a long time!

Jim Weber lead a troubled company into a truly admired Great Company! And he tells you exactly how they did it. With business basics, creative thinking, integrity, and focused purpose. A highly recommended read!

Brooks

So thought this book was about how to run love the Brooks sneakers. Glad he’s doing better from his cancer surgery but very disappointed in book nothing about running and had to get political.