According to Wikipedia, Nike’s Just Do It™ slogan was born in an advertising agency meeting in 1988.
For Nike, these words helped propel the company from $877 million in revenue in 1988 to $9.2 billion by 1998. In 2013, Nike’s revenue was $25.3 billion.
Three simple words.
Of course, it isn’t the words alone. It’s the call to action implied in these words:
- Want to run a marathon? Just do it!
- Want to run a triathlon? Just do it!
- Want to play tennis? Just do it!
- Want to learn to oil paint? Just do it!
- Want to write? Just do it!
- Want to race motorcycles? Just do it!
- Want to develop an iPhone app? Just do it!
- Want to explore the world? How about China (where I am this week)? Just do it!
- Want to hike the Appalachian Trail? Just do it!
- Want to own your own business? Just do it!
- Want to try living in New York City (in the winter!)? Just do it!
- Want to start a charity to help wounded veterans? Just do it!
- Want to build your own house? How about a tree house? Just do it!
Three simple words.
Not to be outdone, and to inspire not only Apple employees, but customers they didn’t yet have, Apple came up with a two-word slogan in 1997: Think Different™.
Two words, grammar error notwithstanding. Again, it isn’t the words, but the call to action. If you want to create a new and interesting future, Think Different today.
Think Different. Just Do It.
To these, I’d add two more words:
Start Anywhere!
Think Different. Just Do It. Start Anywhere!
How about two more: Start today!
Encouragement is Personal 