CH53 - Phil Knight

"Alright, alright!"

"Container number 8 first! No, no, not 7, 8 first. Yes! Yes! That one!"

The port had now taken shape to a considerable extent.

With over 20 caissons covering the deck lined up in the sea, the LST no longer needed to lift its hull onto the sandbar.

Containers were unloaded with cranes at the breakwater-cum-docking area, and trucks swiftly carried them to land.

"Mr. Jin Dalrae, is the port construction going well?"

"Don't worry. The speed is increasing day by day."

It's only natural.

The beginning is difficult, but since this is repetitive work, it becomes smooth once you get the hang of it.

Moreover, our employees are working as fast as they can while in Vietnam.

I've repeatedly told them that we'll be returning to Korea after just a year.

"Hey~ Silver!"

"Hey!"

I waved to Silver on the roof in the distance. He was constantly giving instructions through the radio, probably because the ship had arrived.

Since his promotion to master, he's been working even harder.

"Haha, thank you for welcoming me."

"Huh?"

I was waving at Silver, but someone else approached me with a smile.

It was a blond Caucasian man.

His bowl-cut hair looked a bit funny.

"Are you Sajangnim Woo? I'm Phil Knight from Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS)."

"Ah, BRS Sajangnim."

My heart was racing like crazy.

I wondered what kind of company BRS was, and it turned out to be the predecessor of Nike.

The name Nike was derived from Phil Knight's surname.

As expected! There were specialized sportswear manufacturers even in the '60s. Or rather, there were marketing companies.

I had struck gold among marketing companies.

"Wow, it's really hot here. I feel like jumping into the sea for a swim."

"Come on, Phil. Let's have a cool cola in the shade."

I led Phil Knight to the B-zone beach, pretending to be indifferent.

Though less luxurious than the A-zone beach, it had an amazing view.

With a large work tent providing ample shade, it was quite comfortable.

Gulp. Gulp.

"Ah, this is great. Really refreshing."

"A hamburger would be perfect right now."

"Have you traveled to America?"

I did quite a lot in my past life.

Whether it was accompanying my boss on business trips or entertaining buyers on trips.

I still can't forget the shock I felt when I first went on a business trip to San Francisco in the '90s and had dinner near the Golden Gate Bridge.

Despite joining Daese Group, known for sending employees on overseas trips, it was only after becoming a manager that I finally managed to secure a business trip.

Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, which I had only seen on postcards, unfold before my eyes was truly a work of art.

After working so hard, it felt quite rewarding to be in America on a business trip paid for by the company.

While enjoying the sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge in a pleasant mood, I noticed a white couple dining with their children at the next table.

It was undoubtedly a peaceful scene, but I felt a sudden sense of melancholy and weariness.

It felt like a reality check.

I envied the seemingly ordinary Americans living so well in such a beautiful place.

'Why am I so moved by a scene that's just a regular outing for Americans? Why does the air in my neighbourhood smell like car exhaust, and why is my home just an 18-pyeong rented apartment?'

The reward for working non-stop until my mid-thirties was merely mimicking a postcard scene at a restaurant in America.

It finally dawned on me that some people earn billions just by painting a pop-art ad on a bus stop in San Francisco.

It felt unfair.

Why should the value of effort differ just because of where one was born?

The moment that thought struck me, the previously awe-inspiring sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge turned into a mundane crimson sky, and the once luxurious and heavenly-tasting crab dish in San Francisco became tasteless.

That might have been the moment I instinctively realized my previous life was doomed.

Even though I tried to ignore it, perhaps I had sensed that Daese Group was shaking.

I should have realized it sooner or never realized it at all.

"Sajangnim Woo?"

Phil Knight snapped me out of my thoughts.

I resurfaced from my deep reverie back to reality.

I resolved never to recall that moment from my past life again.

"Oh, yes. I've travelled all over America. Through postcards, that is."

"Hahaha! I see."

"You mentioned you wanted a partnership?"

"Yes, I felt it as soon as I saw your jungle boots. Daese Industrial is the only company that can bring my special ideas to life."

Phil Knight placed his worn jungle boots in front of me.

"A special idea?"

"Yes, though I'm a businessman now, I used to run track in college. I always wondered how I could run faster or enjoy running more. That's when a brilliant idea struck me."

Phil Knight had a unique background, having been a track athlete who earned an MBA.

He often appeared in Daese Group's marketing education programs, so I knew him well.

In fact, I was more surprised to learn that BRS was the predecessor of Nike.

"Are you suggesting making spikes with rubber instead of metal? Something like that?"

"... Oh my... Sajangnim Woo... How did you..."

Phil Knight couldn't close his mouth in surprise.

Don't be shocked. I've been educated on how you succeeded.

Even Daese Construction employees had to attend marketing training just because they were part of the group, despite it being irrelevant to construction.

Back then, the repetitive Nike marketing materials felt tedious and absurd, but now I'm truly grateful.

Thank you, Daese Training Center staff.

Thank you for copying and pasting similar Nike marketing materials as training content.

"Isn't that something anyone could think of? We constantly research boot sole patterns. Why wouldn't track athletes do the same?"

"But rubber spikes..."

"Shock absorption and propulsion are basic elements of all shoes. It's not limited to sports shoes."

I feigned indifference.

"If you had such an idea, why haven't you released such a product yet?"

"Why should we? Our resources are limited. Why release unmarketable athlete shoes when there's a bigger market?"

"Unmarketable? Sell them at a high price."

"If possible, we'd sell them both expensively and in large quantities."

"You can sell a lot. Gain popularity with athletes first, then remove the spikes and sell them as regular shoes."

Phil Knight was busy adjusting his approach to my words.

He seemed desperate.

Given that this was Nike's early days, it was only natural.

Though Nike would eventually become a market leader, Phil Knight didn't know that yet.

Seeing Nike beg manufacturers for cooperation and then grow steadily shows his marketing prowess.

Their weakness in patented technology was later addressed by acquiring it from a Japanese company.

In its early stages, Nike commissioned Japanese companies to make shoes. As business grew, they used the U.S. patent office to secure patents, leaving the Japanese out.

Despite showing early samples created in collaboration with Nike, the U.S. court ruled in favour of Nike, saying it was merely an implementation of Nike's idea.

Our country was no different.

Companies were used as manufacturing bases and then left with empty patents when contracts were terminated.

"The telex from your head office mentioned a partnership, but are you seriously asking us to develop these?"

"I can provide more amazing ideas besides rubber spikes."

"You're offering ideas, expecting us to fund, manufacture, handle claims, and even bear the inventory?"

"..."

"Talking about developing spring-like soles, halving the weight of shoes, or creating self-tying shoelaces with a finger gesture... I can come up with those ideas too. Give me a million dollars, and I'll develop such products for you."

"... How can I make such products?"

"Wasn't that what you intended to present as new product ideas?"

Marketing-centric companies operate that way.

They avoid hard work but take the fruits by claiming to have thought of the ideas first.

Legally, they exploit capital.

I won't fall for such scams.

"..."

Knight was nervously drinking cola.

"You were really planning that. That's too much."

"Let's do 50-50. Just entering the American market is significant for a Korean company."

He was right.

That's why I didn't chase him away.

He knew that's why I was still talking despite my sarcasm.

"Let's do 8-2."

"If that's the case..."

"That's a lot of concession. In return, I'll implement all your ideas. Rubber spikes, spring soles, feather-light shoes, even self-tying shoelaces."

"!!!!"

"Of course, not immediately. Besides rubber spikes, other items will take about 2-3 years."

It requires polyurethane-based materials.

It needs to be developed back at Daese Chemicals.

"Is that really possible?"

"Is it possible? Did you suggest it without even believing in it?"

"Let's partner, even if it's 8-2."

How funny. Who said we'd partner?

Bending now to gather capital for a future equity battle?

I want a complete submission, Phil Knight.

"Knight, this isn't a simple 8-2 deal. We need trust."

"Trust?"

"The trust that we won't betray each other. I want you to convince me with your contract. Make it so compelling that partnership is the only option."

I genuinely want to partner with you.

I need your marketing prowess, which doesn't mind abandoning pride or honour for money, embracing all kinds of marketing noise, and even lobbying to change Olympic regulations for marketing.

It's a skill I desperately lack.

"Ah! Not just shoes. Let's do sportswear too."

"Sportswear?"

"With my technology and your marketing, sportswear will become fashionable. Imagine clothes that don't show sweat stains no matter how much you sweat."

"!! That's amazing technology."

"Remember, Daese can do anything. We've been waiting for a marketer like you to enter the U.S. market."

Phil Knight looked dazed.

The sunset hung over the sea.

In the tropical sea, the sunset painted the world red.

The colour of greed.

I told the B-zone store clerk to bring me a Jack Coke and left the seat.

Chances are, Phil Knight will bring a contract I'll agree to.

He's excellent at seizing opportunities.

Eventually, he'll seek mutual prosperity with me.

That's how dreams are pursued.

Phil Knight, consider yourself lucky.

For having a partner like me.

***

"Hey, CS. Where are you going?"

Mark called out to me as I headed to the site.

He seemed quite happy as if something good had happened.

"Where else? To the runway. The first quadrant will be completed soon."

It was like completing 1/4 of a diamond shape.

Even that much would connect An Khe and Quyen, allowing bombers to take off and land.

Colonel Godell was meticulously overseeing it, so there could be no mistakes.

"Well, that's the priority. But there's also good news, so you should know."

"Good news?"

"I knew Koreans were smart, but this result is truly surprising. Six people passed."

"Oh, they've already obtained the certification?"

"Yeah. Here's the list of passers."

Mark handed me the list.

"War Reserve Materiel Supply and Maintenance Certification"

"Yeon Gukhwan, Shin Jungdo, Joo Young-gil, Yoo Yeokgeon, Seon Bongseok, Kang Cheolsan, total of 6."

Oh, Professor Joo ranked third.

It seems he worked hard at the repair base.

Anyway, six people are perfect.

We can place one each in needed overseas branches like New York and Singapore.

Won't Knight bring a contract soon?

It should only take a few days, right?

He's already racking his brain on the beach writing the contract.

Let's send the passers to the U.S. with Knight.

They'll do well.

If they pass the written exam and the one-on-one practical test with U.S. military mechanics, their language skills and diligence are outstanding.

Selecting such gems among the talents sent by the president is truly rewarding.

Let's fly higher and further together.