Sports is like rock 'n' roll. Both are dominant cultural forces, both speak an international language, and both are all about emotions.

I still get real nervous when I go in front of more than two people.

Perception can be changed

We used to think that everything started in the lab. Now we realize that everything spins off the consumer.

Now we understand that the most important thing we do is market the product. We've come around to saying that Nike is a marketing-oriented company, and the product is our most important marketing tool.

A brand is something that has a clear-cut identity among consumers, which a company creates by sending out a clear, consistent message over a period of years until it achieves a critical mass of marketing.

There is an immutable conflict at work in life and in business, a constant battle between peace and chaos. Neither can be mastered, but both can be influenced. How you go about that is the key to success.