Running with Purpose
How Brooks Outpaced Goliath Competitors to Lead the Pack
Published on 9. June 2022
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-1-4002-3168-3 (ISBN)
Description
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 / Votes
'Running with Purpose is a master class in focus, tenacity, team building, innovation, and culture. While I have known Jim Weber for many years, I can only now understand the depth of the struggles he faced on his way to being one of the great leaders of a generation and creating a brand that has motivated millions of runners to Run Happy. I can say with certainty that all managers and leaders will find helpful tools in this book to build their businesses for success.' * Robin Thurston - CEO, Outside, Inc. * 'Running with Purpose is as inspirational, insightful, and educational as the company it features and the leader who wrote it. The story of how Brooks rose from the ashes to become a force in running is full of important lessons on both formulating and executing strategy. Read it to learn how performance brands and great teams are built, and how successful leadership requires not just vision but courage and discipline.' * Kusum Ailawadi - Professor, Tuck School of Business, and Co-author of Getting Multichannel Distribution Right * 'As a long-time Brooks athlete, it's been easy to draft off the brand's approach of reaching for the biggest goals regardless of being labeled the underdog. Jim Weber goes beyond the goal and gives readers the hows and whys behind the company's success. This book will motivate and guide those looking to have a breakthrough performance and solidifies my belief that Weber is one of the greatest leaders in business.' * Des Linden - Boston Marathon Champion * 'I regard Jim as a miracle worker. The institution is the length and shadow of this man.' * Charlie Munger - Vice Chairman, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. * 'Jim Weber beautifully demonstrates the power and joy of leading with purpose and authenticity and how it can create stunning business results while being a force for good. A wonderful book that is both inspiring and very practical.' * Hubert Joly - Former Chair & CEO, Best Buy Co., Inc., and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of The Heart of Business * 'Jim Weber is one of the great brand leaders of today. He has carefully shaped the Brooks experience to honor the legacy of running and Brooks customers. This is a definitive story of what can happen when you zero in on the essence of your customers' beliefs and then build a brand and culture of passion around that.' * Tod Leiweke - CEO, Seattle Kraken * 'Jim Weber's remarkable new book chronicles his amazing success story with Brooks Running, inspired by his authentic leadership and his crucible in overcoming a life-threatening bout with cancer. His openness and insights make Running with Purpose a must-read book for everyone.' * Bill George - Senior Fellow, Harvard Business School, former Chair & CEO, Medtronic, and author of Discover Your True North * 'Jim's message will resonate with anyone, whether you run or not. His judgment, focus on sustainability and responsible sourcing, and efforts to foster a culture of fun in the workplace have led to some of the most impressive business results around. There is much to learn from this engaging read.' * Sri Zaheer - Dean, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, and Board Chair, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis * 'Over the last twenty years as a Brooks athlete, I've watched Jim Weber turn a gasping business into a champion in the industry by not just being a CEO who wants to win the race, but one who leads from the front and brings out the best in everyone. His captivating career path proves that passion + precision elevates performance every time.' * Scott Jurek - Ultramarathon Champion and New York Times Bestselling Author of Eat & Run and NORTH * 'Whether you are an entrepreneur setting out with your first brick-and-mortar or running a global corporation, the learnings from Jim Weber's fascinating story will help any leader frame their strategy for success. Jim's tale of how he built Brooks to become the market leader among giants is an inspiring reminder that when you lead with heart and remain steadfast to even a lofty vision, there are no limits to what you can accomplish.' * Kathy Dalby - CEO/Owner, Pacers Running, and Industry Leader *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Focus
Product notice
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
450 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4002-3168-3 (9781400231683)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
04/2022
HarperCollins
€13.99
Available for download
Person
Jim Weber joined Brooks Running Company as CEO in 2001 and is credited for the Seattle-based company's aggressive turnaround, focusing the team solely on delivering personally inspiring products and experiences that keep people running. The business and brand success caught the attention of Warren Buffett, who declared Brooks a standalone subsidiary company of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in 2012.
Weber's professional journey includes leadership roles for several consumer product brands such as chairman and CEO of Sims Sports, president of O'Brien International, vice president of The Coleman Company, and various roles with The Pillsbury Company. Weber also spent several years in banking as managing director of U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Seattle Investment Banking practice and as a commercial banking officer at Norwest Bank Minneapolis (now Wells Fargo).
Weber received a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management and a Master of Business Administration degree with high distinction from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He currently serves on the boards of directors for Brooks and the Tuck School.
Weber's professional journey includes leadership roles for several consumer product brands such as chairman and CEO of Sims Sports, president of O'Brien International, vice president of The Coleman Company, and various roles with The Pillsbury Company. Weber also spent several years in banking as managing director of U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Seattle Investment Banking practice and as a commercial banking officer at Norwest Bank Minneapolis (now Wells Fargo).
Weber received a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management and a Master of Business Administration degree with high distinction from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He currently serves on the boards of directors for Brooks and the Tuck School.