Just prior to his execution, he was asked if he had any last
words.
“Let’s Do It,” he said.
A decade later, advertising guru Dan Wieden was sitting in
on creative meeting, brainstorming ideas for one of his clients. For reasons
only known to Wieden, Gilmore’s famous last words came to mind. Though being
the creative type, he just had to tweak the wording a tad, to “Just Do It.”
“Just Do It,” not only became the legendary new slogan for
sports clothing giant Nike, but also increased the brand’s popularity so much,
it’s footprint in the American domestic shoe business jumped from $877 million
to $9.2 billion in just under a decade.
Ever since, the popular catch phrase has been popularized by
entrepreneurs, executives and business leaders to inspire and invigorate
action.
Either we live in very interesting times, or most don’t know
that the catch phrase they love to quote originated from a convicted criminal’s
mind, just prior to his execution.
Playboy billionaire Richard Branson has used the phrase “Let’s
Do It,” when faced with a potential business opportunity.
And just about every entrepreneur has either read or heard
the spine-chilling last words of a killer ringing in their heads, as “Just Do
It,” has become the ultimate idea every business textbook, how-to be an
entrepreneur self-help book, business professor, business coach, business mentor
and successful entrepreneur attempts to plant in those seeking out information
about starting their own business.
Eerie. Creepy. Spooky.
“Just Do It.”
Originally, a macho mantra instructing the firing squad to just
get it over with, has become the inspiration igniting the fires of those sitting
at their desks with amazing ideas, to “Just Do It” and start their business.
Ironic, how the famous last words of a murder, have come to
stand for so much to so many.
“Just Do It,” symbolizes the mental madness that
entrepreneurs face so well. Most entrepreneurs are perfectionists, we want to
get everything just right.
We plan, we mind map, we do GAP analysis, we conduct market
and customer research. Then we plan some more.
The hardest thing – the one thing really – that separates
entrepreneurs from those just with a great idea – is action.
Inaction keeps many people from becoming entrepreneurs,
because they just want everything to be perfect. They get stuck in the planning
phase, and never “Just Do It.”
“Just Do It,” has become the mental kick in the pants that
moves wantrapraneurs to entrepreneurs. It’s what separates the entrepreneurs,
from everyone else.
Because to “Just Do It,” you have to take a leap of faith.
You have to be bold.
You have to be brave.
You have to “Just Do It,” otherwise all you’ll ever have is
just a great idea.
And great ideas don’t make money.
Taking action does.
So, to paraphrase a convicted criminal: “Just Do It.”
