Ancient Origins

Journey to Knighthood: The Hidden Steps of Becoming a Medieval Knight

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The knight is arguably one of the most iconic figures of the Middle Ages. Knights were essentially mounted warriors, and in the hierarchy of medieval society , were considered to be part of the lower nobility. Nevertheless, knights could rise to the ranks of the higher nobility as well by acquiring land and becoming landlords.

While the role of the knight remained more or less the same throughout the Middle Ages , the perception of this social class evolved as time went by. It was only during the High Middle Ages (from around 1000 to 1300) that the image of the knight we are so familiar with today emerged. Additionally, what we know about the process of becoming a knight is drawn from this period.

Knights were originally professional cavalry warriors. While this may not be reflected in the English word, it is so in the French ‘chevalier’, and the Spanish ‘caballero’. These words trace their origin to the Latin ‘caballus’, which means ‘horse’. Incidentally, the English ‘knight’ (‘cniht’ in Old English) has West Germanic roots and is related to the Dutch and German ‘knecht’. Rather than denoting a cavalryman , however, these words mean ‘servant’, which is also a role performed by this social class, especially during their training.

The Knights of the Early Middle Ages and Medieval Period

During the Early Middle Ages , which lasted from around 500 to 1000, knights were considered to be violent brutes by most people. In exchange for their military service, the knights were given land or allowed to plunder the villages where they did battle. It was due to the latter that the knights of this period gained such infamy, as they looted, raped, and burned as they pleased.

Things began to change, however, during the 11 th century. Around the time of the Norman conquest of England in 1066, the knight began to take on the form we are familiar with today, i.e. heavily armored, mounted warrior from a noble background. In addition, it was also around this time that the famous chivalry , came into existence.

Before chivalry came into existence knights were considered violent brutes and were allowed to plunder

Before chivalry came into existence knights were considered violent brutes and were allowed to plunder. (Rama / Public Domain )

Basically, chivalry was the professional code of conduct that the Medieval knights adhered to. While the contents of this code differed from one commander to another, some of the most common elements include courage in battle and loyalty to one’s feudal or military superiors and comrades. These were values that were practical from a military point of view.

Nevertheless, the code of chivalry developed further to include such values as piety, generosity to the poor, and mercy for defeated foes. These were values endorsed by the Church and found their way into the romantic literature of that era, which was targeted at the young men who were training to be knights.

During the Early Medieval period, knights did not necessarily have to hail from the nobility. As long as a warrior could maintain the cost of his horse and arms, he could be a knight. During the succeeding High Medieval period, however, nobility and knighthood gradually merged, and knighthood became a hereditary privilege of the nobility. Therefore, the first step to becoming a knight during this period was to be born into a noble family.

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Knighthood changed with the code of chivalry and became a privilege of nobility

Knighthood changed with the code of chivalry and became a privilege of nobility. ( grape_vein / Adobe)

In general, it was the sons of knights and lords who were eligible to become knights. Interestingly, while the majority of Medieval knights were men, there were exceptions to the rule. The Knights Templars and the Knights Hospitallers , the two foremost military orders during the Crusades , are said to have had warrior nuns in their ranks.

Training for Knighthood

The training to become a knight began as early as the age of seven. Up till then, the child selected to become a knight would be cared for by a foster mother in his father’s castle. Once the child was seven years old, he would be sent to the castle of another knight or lord. These were often relatives of the family, or lords to whom the boy’s father owed allegiance. The boy would serve as a page in the household of his lord. They would begin their service as assistants to squires and would be instructed in various aspects of knighthood.

Physical fitness, combat training , and care for a horse were essential aspects of a page’s training. Of course, these boys would not have fought with real weapons, but with wooden ones. In any case, these lessons were aimed at preparing them for life as a mounted warrior. Apart from that, pages were also instructed in falconry, hunting, dancing, and music, activities that befitted a nobleman. Moreover, the pages received lessons in religion, and were taught reading, writing, and arithmetic. The training of the pages shows that by this time, knights were expected to not only be warriors, but also cultured men of high society.

A page’s training on the way to knighthood included practicing with a wooden sword

A page’s training on the way to knighthood included practicing with a wooden sword. ( bokan / Adobe)

The training of a page continued until he reached puberty, about the age of 14. By this time, he was no longer considered to be a child, but a young man. A page would be formally promoted to a squire during a religious ceremony. A bishop or a priest would give a consecrated sword to the new squire, who would then swear to use it for honorable purposes or for the defense of the faith.

The training of a squire places much greater emphasis on martial prowess, as they are now mentally and physically prepared for it. This training included combat practice with real weapons, horsemanship, and skills that may come in handy when besieging another castle, including climbing, swimming, and athletics.

The word ‘squire’ is derived from the Old French ‘esquier’ and literally mean ‘shield carrier’. Indeed, one of the jobs of the Medieval squire was to maintain his lord’s weapons and armor, and to ensure that they were in good order. Other tasks performed by squires related to combat included tending to the horses, assisting his lord when he put on his armor, and accompanying his lord to the field of battle in times of war.

Martial training and service, however, was only one aspect of a squire’s life. The squire was not only a warrior-in-training, but also a nobleman, and therefore would have been taught to be one. The squire received lessons in music and dancing, court etiquette, and jousting. In addition, a squire was required to learn the code of chivalry, as well as the rules of heraldry.

Squires also learned to play some popular court games, such as chess, checkers, and backgammon. These games served not only as entertainment, but also as a means to develop strategic thinking.

On top of all this, a squire was also expected to serve in his master’s household, which would have prepared him to manage his own squires should he one day become a lord in his own right.

There were many tasks in a lord’s household that squires could perform. As mentioned earlier, one of the squire’s jobs was the care of his lord’s weapons and armor. This was an important job, as a knight’s equipment was expensive, and proper maintenance was necessary so that it could be used efficiently on the battlefield. Another important task was attending to the lord’s horses, as these mounts were as important to a knight as his armor and weapons.

A squire cleaning armor, training for knighthood

A squire cleaning armor, training for knighthood. (FA2010 / Public Domain )

Other chores were more domestic in nature, for instance, managing the wine cellar, carving meat at meals, waiting tables during banquets, assisting a lord during feasts and other ceremonies, and attending to the rooms of the castle. Through such acts of service, a squire was expected to cultivate humility, an important virtue in the code chivalry. Moreover, these tasks gave squires first-hand experience of navigating the intricacies of the Medieval upper class.

A knight-to-be often served as a squire for about seven years, until he reached the age of 21. In some cases, a squire may be made a knight at an earlier age, as a reward for displaying exceptional courage on the battlefield. There was no guarantee, however, that a squire would be made a knight. Before a squire could be made a knight , he had to acquire his own armor and weapons.

In some cases, the equipment may be given to a squire by his lord, looted on the battlefield, or won in a tournament. More often, however, these items had to be purchased. The quality of weapons and armor on sale varied, ranging from high quality ones custom-made by imperial workshops, and by famous German and Italian armorers, to second-hand and outdated pieces that could be readily bought at markets and shops. Be that as it may, even the equipment of lower quality cost a considerable amount of money, and not all squires could afford it.

Squires who could not meet these expenses, or were too old to be knighted, became known as ‘arma patrina’. Although these men had not undergone the ceremony of knighthood, they were allowed to carry a lance and a shield, which were privileges restricted to the knights.

The Knighthood Ceremony

The ceremony of knighthood usually took place during one of the great feasts, for instance Christmas or Easter. The ceremony may also be conducted on other special occasions, such as the wedding of a noble or monarch. The knighthood may be conferred onto a squire by a king, nobles, the clergy, or even the squire’s father (if he were a knight himself).

The ceremony of knighthood usually took place during a great feast

The ceremony of knighthood usually took place during a great feast. ( 9parusnikov / Adobe)

On the eve of the ceremony, the squire would take a ritual bath, and be dressed in a piece of white clothing, symbolizing purity. The squire wore over this a red robe, a sign of his nobility. The squire’s attire was completed by a pair of black shoes, symbolizing death. The squire would then spend the rest of the night in silent prayer in the chapel of the castle or a church.

The accolade (known also as dubbing or adoubement), took place on the following morning. This was the ceremony during which the knighthood was conferred onto the squire. The ceremony began with Mass, during which the priest would typically give a sermon about the duties and responsibilities of a knight.

A sword and shield which had been blessed by a priest would then be brought forward by the squire’s sponsor and given to the lord conducting the ceremony. After being presented to the lord, the squire took his vows, and swore allegiance to his lord.

The vows taken by the would-be knight reflected the code of chivalry. Among other things, he swore to be loyal to his lord, to be devoted to the Church, to defend the weak, to show generosity to the poor, and to always speak the truth. To break this oath would be to commit a crime against God, and any knight who did so would face divine retribution and eternal damnation.

Vows taken in knighthood included devotion to the Church

Vows taken in knighthood included devotion to the Church. ( aitorserra / Adobe)

The final part of this solemn ceremony was the dubbing, after which the squire officially became a knight. The dubbing may be conducted by a fellow knight, a noble of higher rank, or even a king. With the exception of queens, the dubbing was rarely done by women.

The knight / lord who conducted the ceremony presented the squire with the sword and shield, after which he would strike him on the shoulder with the flat of the hand or the side of a sword, while saying ‘I dub thee Sir Knight’. The new knight was then dressed in his armor , had his sword girded, and given his spurs.

Once the formal ceremony was over the celebrations could begin. Music was played to greet the new knight and a feast awaited the attendants of the ceremony, where there would be eating, drinking, and dancing. On the following day, a tournament or martial games would be arranged, providing the new knight with the opportunity to show off his skills as a warrior.

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After the squire’s transition into knighthood there would be a tournament

After the squire’s transition into knighthood there would be a tournament. ( Clarence Alford / Adobe)

Lastly, a knight enjoyed many privileges, including the right to own land, to bear arms inside a church (since they were supposed to be the defender of God and Christianity), and to sit at the high table with other nobles and kings during banquets. It was the knight’s right to own land that formed the basis of Medieval feudalism.

A lord would grant a fief (normally a piece of land with peasants) to a knight in exchange for his military service. The enfeoffed knight (known also as vassal) served his lord for a period of time (normally 40 days a year) and could become a lord himself by enfeoffing other knights.

At times, a scutage (also called shield money), instead of military service, was paid to the lord. This form of payment became increasingly popular during the 12 th and 13 th centuries due to several factors including the expansion of the monetary economy in Europe, the increased reliance on mercenaries to fight wars, and the decline in the importance of cavalry.

Top image: Boy went through 14 years of training on the journey to knighthood. Source: Fxquadro / Adobe .

Updated on December 30, 2020.

Breiding, D. H. 2004. Arms and Armor—Common Misconceptions and Frequently Asked Questions. [Online] Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/aams/hd_aams.htm

Freudenrich, C. 2008. How Knights Work: Becoming a Knight. [Online] Available at: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/knight2.htm

Freudenrich, C. 2008. How Knights Work: The Knighting Ceremony. [Online] Available at: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/knight3.htm

Gershon, L. 2019. Chivalry Was Established to Keep Thuggish, Medieval Knights in Check. [Online] Available at: https://www.history.com/news/chivalry-knights-middle-ages

HowStuffWorks.com. 2008. Knight: Training For Knighthood. [Online] Available at: https://history.howstuffworks.com/european-history/knights1.htm

Kalif Publishing. 2018. How a boy became a Knight in Medieval times. [Online] Available at: http://medievalcastles.stormthecastle.com/essays/how-a-boy-became-a-knight-in-medieval-times.htm

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1998. Knight service. [Online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/knight-service

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1998. Page. [Online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/page-rank

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2018. Knight. [Online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/knight-cavalryman

Velde, F. 2002. Knighthood and Chivalry. [Online] Available at: https://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/knights.htm

www.medieval-life-and-times.info . 2019. Becoming a Knight. [Online] Available at: http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-knights/becoming-a-knight.htm

www.medieval-life-and-times.info . 2019. Knighthood Ceremony. [Online] Available at: http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-knights/knighthood-ceremony.htm

www.medieval-life-and-times.info . 2019. Medieval Knights. [Online] Available at: http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-knights/

www.medieval-life-and-times.info . 2019. Medieval Squires. [Online] Available at: http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-knights/medieval-squires.htm

We need something like that today.  Modern schooling is a dismal failure for boys, if not girls too, but seemingly by design.

Nobody gets paid to tell the truth.

This is an excellent article now I understand a few stories about The Knights I've been able to read so far and this Guide into how someone became A Knight is quite informative.

There are a 3 Subjects brought up in this here article but, I'll address them some other time and so Have a Happy New Year; Everybody an until Next Time Everyone, Goodbye!

I agree wholeheartedly

I noticed you author many articles here, and each one I've read so far is just great.

I really admire your effort and also ability to produce media this fast.

I hope you continue to write, and I'll be looking out for your first book :)

Best to you

Great article and so very informative!! :-)

dhwty's picture

Wu Mingren (‘Dhwty’) has a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History and Archaeology. Although his primary interest is in the ancient civilizations of the Near East, he is also interested in other geographical regions, as well as other time periods.... Read More

Knight's journey NYT Crossword Clue

Knight's journey NYT Crossword Clue

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A knight’s plate armor consisted of riveted sections, which offered greater freedom of movement than rigid armor.

  • HISTORY MAGAZINE

These medieval knights were the 'superheroes' of their time

Epic tales, poems of praise, and fantastic legends swirled around famous knights in the Middle Ages. Their bravery in battle and tournament victories inspired incredible accounts of both fact and fiction.

Knights are among the most iconic characters from the Middle Ages. Their origins harken back to the fall of the Roman Empire in western Europe whose last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was toppled by a Germanic warlord in A.D. 476. The vacuum left by Rome’s destruction was partially filled by the Roman Catholic Church, and also by relationships between the church and the dominant local lords.  

The church supported the lords, in part by anointing kings and lords as God’s chosen rulers, but also controlled them through fear of cutting off God’s approval through interdict and excommunication. The alliances between the papacy and the king of the Franks lasted 500 years. Over time, this was replicated across Europe and both led to and supported the rise of feudalism, a system dependent on knights to support the realm and the church, and a way for society to recruit them.

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Pictured is the arms of Edward III of England, the warrior king whose reign was marked by the culture of chivalry.

The feudal system was based on a complex web of rights and obligations among rulers, nobles, serfs, peasants, and freemen. With little or no commerce, land and its produce were the only forms of wealth and, with it, power. Each feudal lord held sway over his land grant and its people. Over time, feudalism was built on the uniformity that had been previously imposed by the Roman Empire.  

Due to a preexisting warrior culture, knights became exalted superstars. They were the product of long training in both military skills and spiritual and societal matters. What bound knights together as a social group was a detailed code of values, behavior, and accomplishments, including courtesy, refinement, honesty, largesse, and gallantry. Becoming a knight certainly meant developing skills of combat and the use of arms, but it also entailed hunting, learning to read, and playing games like chess.  

Knights of Camelot

A young Sir Galahad is presented to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in a 14th-century miniature housed at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris.

Knightly ideals can be grouped into three strands: noble birth, Christian values, and military prowess. Literature about knights, such as those of the legendary King Arthur and his court, became popular and would have a profound influence on the origins of the European novel. The importance of chivalric culture in storytelling persists today through its extensive use in fantasy fiction and fandom, gaming, animation, television shows, and movies.

One way to truly understand the nature of knighthood in this period is to meet some of the knights themselves, whether historical figures like Richard the Lionheart, or literary ones. In fact, the line between historical record and literary invention is often blurred. Literary models influenced the behavior of real knights, while real knights offered abundant material for writers of literary accounts.

The Codex Manesse

Count Kraft von Toggenburg III is depicted approaching his lady in a tower.

The 'Swan Knight'

One of the earliest and most representative examples of a chivalrous knight was Godfrey of Bouillon (circa 1060-1100). After the 14th century, he was included among the so-called Nine Worthies: nine men through the ages (some historical, others legendary) deemed to have embodied the ideals of chivalry.

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Godfrey was the son of Count Eustace II of Boulogne and Ida of Lorraine, and together with his brothers helped lead the First Crusade in 1096. Godfrey’s fame and prestige among the diverse group of barons commanding the Crusade grew so that, when the crusaders succeeded in reclaiming Jerusalem from Islamic rule in 1099, they offered Godfrey the throne of the new kingdom of Jerusalem. Godfrey, in a gesture that ticked all the chivalric boxes, refused and piously argued that no one should wear a golden crown in the city where Christ had worn the crown of thorns. Instead, he agreed to be called the Defender of the Holy Sepulcher.

Role models

Painted in the 15th century, this fresco depicts the Nine Worthies and can be found in the Castello della Manta in Saluzzo, Italy.

Godfrey was such an exemplary knight that he became legendary. Embellished tales were written about his journey to the Holy Land and established his noble lineage. The best known of these stories is the legend of the Knight of the Swan; originally, it was the tale of an anonymous knight who appears in a boat drawn by a swan to rescue a damsel in distress. By the end of the 12th century, popular tellings identified the protagonist with the Bouillon dynasty and claimed that the mysterious Knight of the Swan was none other than Godfrey’s grandfather. It was a story that wove together fact and fiction around the figure of one of the most recognized knights of Christendom. This mixture of literary evocation, embellishment of reality, and celebration of chivalric values developed over a long period in medieval Europe, and especially in the Anglo-French world.

Character development

This 16th-century Flemish tapestry depicts several scenes from a French version of the Swan Knight tale. The knight’s mother, Beatrice, is shown at the center.

The 'Tourney Master'

One knight who was well known in both France and England was William Marshal (circa 1146- 1219). He served as royal adviser to four English kings: Henry II, Richard I (popularly known as the Lionheart), John, and Henry III. Even members of the French court grudgingly acknowledged that he was the best knight in the world. William guided these four kings wisely through numerous crises and dangers, making his name synonymous with the model of the chivalric virtues of his time.

The details of Marshal’s life have been preserved in a literary account commissioned by one of his sons, L’histoire de Guillaume le Maréchal , written in Old French verse. Its lines chart Marshal’s meteoric career, from leaving his father’s house to train as a knight (as a second son, this path was expected) to the final hours of his life. Although Marshal was no ordinary knight, the account does offer much insight into what life was like for knights in general at the time. There is a description of Marshal’s training in the house of the powerful Norman nobleman Guillaume de Tancarville, who was his mother’s uncle; his investiture as a knight in 1166; and his first military campaign.

Soon, young Marshal would find an activity that would shape his life and become a true passion: the tournament. These contests were far more brutal than the folk pageant versions celebrated today: more like battles than games. Young knights took part, either individually or in teams, hoping for a chance to demonstrate their fighting prowess and perhaps win themselves fame and fortune.  

During the late 1100s, tournaments were enjoying their heyday, and Marshal excelled at the jousts. For more than a decade, he was said to have unhorsed and captured more than 500 combatants as he went from tournament to tournament. Defeated knights would have to pay a ransom. Together with the spoils from seizing harnesses and saddles, Marshal could enjoy a highly valued chivalric practice: largesse. Generosity in distributing the bounty from his wins allowed him to forge valuable loyalties.

As well as excelling on the tournament field, Marshal acted as master of arms and confidant to Prince Henry, son of Henry II of England and heir to the throne. The young prince died before he could wear the crown, and William fulfilled the promise he had made to him to travel to the Holy Land, where he fought for two years alongside the Templars. When Marshal returned, the king offered him the hand of Isabel de Clare, Countess of Pembroke, one of the wealthiest heiresses in the kingdom. The union raised Marshal to the highest ranks of the nobility. His days as a knight-errant were over.

Winner takes it all

A recumbent statue has been possibly identified as William Marshal, in London’s Temple Church, where he was buried in 1219.

Marshal would continue to shine on the battlefields. When Richard the Lionheart was away on the Third Crusade, William protected his throne against the maneuvering of John Lackland, the king’s brother and regent. After Richard’s death, when the same John’s right to the throne was in dispute, Marshal was one of the few great nobles to remain on John’s side during the First Barons’ War, in which the nobility rebelled and forced King John to issue the charter of rights known as Magna Carta.

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This uncompromising loyalty to the crown sealed William Marshal’s reputation as the greatest knight of his time. He died shortly after his last great military victory, the Battle of Lincoln, in 1217, where he succeeded in driving the French army out of England, and forcing the French king to give up his claim to the English throne.

This fort was erected in the early 1200s by William Marshal in the Irish county of Wexford, one of his domains as Earl of Pembroke.

The 'Literary Knight'

While some knights became immortalized through the poems of heroic deeds written about them, others crafted those poems themselves. A rich tradition of literature and illustration developed around the chivalric way of life. The most notable case is perhaps that of Ulrich von Liechtenstein (1200-1278), a knight from Styria (today in Austria), who was known not only for his military exploits but also for his role as a Minnesänger , or troubadour.  

He was knighted in 1223 by Leopold VI, the Duke of Austria, one of the most prominent politicians and patrons of his time. Leopold promoted chivalric pursuits at his court and soon chose Ulrich from among the Styrian nobility. Ulrich was granted the important positions of seneschal and marshal, but it was for his writing that he has been remembered.

Two of Ulrich’s works survive. In the Frauenbuch , or Book of Ladies , he laments that courting ladies, which he considers a cornerstone of chivalry, is in decline. The other, the Frauendienst, or Service of Ladies, is a poetry collection (apparently autobiographical) in which Ulrich reflects on conventions of courtly love and chivalric pursuits.  

Ulrich von Liechtenstein is depicted wearing a helmet with an effigy of the goddess Venus.

He frames these reflections through two adventures in honor of his lady. In the first, the knight travels disguised as the goddess Venus and competes in jousts and tournaments from Venice to Vienna. During his journey, he faces and defeats several hundred knights. In the second adventure, this time disguised as King Arthur, he sets out with the intention of testing himself against every knight who crosses his path, to bring honor to his lady.

A miniature of Ulrich von Liechtenstein is among 137 such illustrations included in the Codex Manesse. The codex brings together ballads and poems in High Middle German by some 140 Minnesänger and was compiled in the early 1300s. Ulrich appears in the image wearing a suit of chain mail and galloping on a large horse. In his right hand he holds a blunted jousting lance, and in his left, a shield. The poems and illustrations in the Codex Manesse offer some of the best surviving sources for understanding chivalric life at the time.

The 'Last Knight'?

Later in the 14th century, the chivalric ideals of heroes on horseback were increasingly at odds with the military reality in which soldiers engaged on foot. As a result of this change in military strategy, the cavalry of knights on horseback lost the essential role it had played for 200 years. By the time the 15th century got under way, it was reduced to more of a court spectacle. As knights moved away from the battlefield and to tournaments, the ceremonial forms of combat became increasingly elaborate. In this transition, memorable figures emerged, including Jean II le Meingre (1366-1421), also known as Boucicaut.

Jean inherited his moniker from his father (Boucicaut either means “fish basket,” associated with slyness and greed, or—more flatteringly—“cautious ox,” associated with prudence and strength). Like his father, he also succeeded to the office of marshal of France, a position of great power.  

As a child, he was a court page and rode in his first military expedition when he was just 12. He left accounts of his grueling training schedule to build strength. Boucicaut ran great distances, perfected jumping from the ground into his horse’s saddle, and learned to climb ladders using his arms alone. At age 16, he was knighted and took part in the Battle of Roosebeke, Flanders, in which the French won a major victory. For two decades, he was the hero of the European battlefields.

A 15th-century Flemish miniature of a jousting scene appears in an edition of Jean Froissart’s Chronicles, written during the previous century.

And the battles continued. In 1384 Boucicaut fought alongside the Teutonic order in their crusade against the Lithuanians in the Baltic. He then went to Spain, where he fought for John I of Castile against the English invader John of Gaunt. In the Balkans, he backed the Byzantine emperor against the Turks. In what is now Lebanon, he attacked and sacked cities including Tripoli, Sidon, and Beirut. With one military success after another, Boucicaut’s career took off and, in 1391, he was invested marshal of France, as his father had been before him. For a brief period, he was also governor of Genoa.

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In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, Boucicaut became involved in setting up chivalric orders. Together with 12 other knights, he founded the White Lady of the Green Shield to protect the female relatives of knights away in battle, on crusades, or who had died. This order would attract the praise of court writer Christine de Pisan, who was outspoken about the rights of women.

The perilous life of a knight often entailed suffering, and Boucicaut did endure two major defeats. First, he was among the band of Christian knights routed by the Ottoman Turks at Nicopolis in 1396. His second and definitive defeat came at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. The English captured Boucicaut and took him to England, where he died in 1421.

'Upon St. Crispin's Day': Boucicaut's final defeat

French knight and military leader Boucicaut prays with his wife in this 15th- century miniature housed at the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris.

End of chivalry

The English longbows and trained archers combined to bring victory at Agincourt, along with the tactics of sneak-attack cavalry charges and defensive maneuvers of massed, unknighted foot soldiers. Longbows and new tactics led to killing an enemy at a distance. Black powder firearms—long-barreled arquebuses, muskets, and pistols—came on the scene in the late 1400s, further changing combat. Knights had fought face-to-face with their foes for so long and considered doing so a mark of honor, but these changes made their suits of armor and methods of combat seem outdated.

Systemic changes also hastened the decline of knights. Monarchs grew stronger and were able to develop more modern institutions to collect taxes, create courts of law, and fund standing armies. Distance grew between the church and the state as both competed for power and influence across western Europe .

The knightly world created by feudalism, with its articulated values of nobility, an ingrained social and religious order, and a courtly code of conduct, was shaken to its foundation by these developments. The new world order, centered on a powerful monarchy and its administrators, radically altered their support system, livelihood, beliefs, and the very society that had created them. The age of chivalry was over, but the lives and legends of these medieval men would endure for centuries.

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Knight's Journey

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Achieve, Motivate and Inspire

Contemporary solutions to continual improvement.

Change is inevitable. However, controlling and maintaining change is the challenge.   Avenues of facilitating change include focusing on continual progress, individual wellness and positive psychology.  There are many paths toward individual, group, and organizational change. I assess the objectives, motivation and willingness to change and then suggest the component methods to achieve change and to continually improve.

Combining the arts, humanities and  social sciences to address continual progress for the individual, group and organization.

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41 Years in the Making: Examining the Rollercoaster WWE Career of LA Knight

Let's look at how LA Knight propelled himself into the main event of Crown Jewel 2023 against Roman Reigns!

LA Knight points his finger while speaking in the ring

Soon, Roman Reigns' historic Undisputed WWE Universal Title reign could be over, and the WWE Universe could be looking at a new champion in LA Knight .

How to Watch

Watch Monday Night RAW every Monday evening at 8/7c on USA Network. Stream more exciting WWE series on Peacock .

If everything goes according to plan, LA Knight will do the impossible on November 4 in Saudi Arabia at WWE Crown Jewel . But LA Knight, who is celebrating his 41st birthday days before the main event, knows better than anyone that  his  plans historically don't usually work out how he'd like them to. As the WWE Universe finds itself just a few days away from the colossal Crown Jewel event, we thought it was the perfect time to examine how LA Knight got to the position he's in. After all, it wasn't easy for the 41-year-old Superstar to break through in WWE.

On November 4, we may witness the coronation of LA Knight. Here's the story of how LA Knight got to this point – from harnessing his craft on the independent wrestling scene to standing toe-to-toe with  The Tribal Chief .

2003: LA Knight's Journey Begins

LA Knight lifts his arms above his head while he stands on the ropes of the ring

Breaking into the wrestling business at age 20,  LA Knight  began performing in various Cincinnati, Ohio-based promotions as he officially started his in-ring training. However, success was a long way away for the youngster. After achieving a modicum of success in the early 2000s competing for NWA Championship Wrestling From Hollywood, he found himself on WWE's radar. He was signed to NXT in 2013 and began competing under the name of Slate Randall.

However, after competing in a series of untelevised matches, he was unceremoniously released from his WWE contract in 2014. 

Undeterred, Knight focused on making a name for himself on his own. He returned to the independent scene as Eli Drake, a loud-mouthed, cocky, over-the-top wrestler that, in hindsight, was a prototype of the LA Knight character that the WWE Universe has grown to love. After winning a handful of championships around the United States, he attracted attention from Impact Wrestling, where he found himself in memorable feuds with WWE alums  Kurt Angle , Bobby Lashley, and  Drew McIntyre . Arguably the most talented wrestler on Impact's roster, conventional wisdom made it seem that the brash star would be headed back to WWE – but the future LA Knight still had one stop left to go.

RELATED:  From "Legend Killer" to Legend: A Look at the WWE Career of Randy Orton

After signing with the National Wrestling Alliance in early 2020, he achieved the highest success possible as Eli Drake, capturing the illustrious NWA Tag Team Titles. At that point, there was nowhere else to go – he accomplished all he could in the world of wrestling (short of traveling to Japan), and his fans were buzzing with rumors that WWE had recently signed him after nearly 20 years of toiling on the independent circuit. 

March 4, 2021: A Highly Anticipated NXT Debut

LA Knight speaks to the crowd during RAW

After months of speculation, the hottest free agent in professional wrestling made a surprise debut on NXT. With the microphone in hand, the WWE Universe was treated to a work-in-progress beta version of the LA Knight character that would eventually be perfected in 2023. Nevertheless, it was a tantalizing glimpse into the future. 

Although he was unparalleled on the microphone, Knight proved he was more than capable of competing in the harsh NXT environment, quickly picking up victories over established names  like Cameron Grimes . Still, he couldn't seem to get over that hump. Knight's time in NXT was marked by repeated failure to win the top championships for the brand. Maybe Knight was in over his head, perhaps in the wrong place at the wrong time? Or was he just acclimating himself to performing under the WWE banner for the first time in his career? LA Knight came up short against some of the biggest Superstars in NXT at the time, suffering defeat at the hands of Dolph Ziggler,  Bron Breakker , and  Gunther . While still being a fan-favorite, Knight was still honing his craft. His talent in the ring was undisputed – and the WWE Universe quietly pegged him to be one of the next NXT Superstars to be promoted to either Raw or SmackDown.

A little more than a year after his NXT debut, LA Knight got the call. He was joining the  Friday Night SmackDown  roster.

But then things got complicated.

May 20, 2022: Max Dupri is Introduced to the WWE Universe

LA Knight lifts his arms above his head while he stands on the ropes of the ring

In WWE, sometimes you're at the mercy of the creative team – and in LA Knight's case, he wasn't just at the mercy of the creative team. He was given the kiss of death: A managerial role under a new name. In May 2022, the WWE Universe was shocked to see the man who lit up NXT as LA Knight be introduced to the main roster audience as… Max Dupri?

As the mastermind behind the faction known as the Maximum Male Models, Max Dupri was meant to provide the vocal firepower for two young WWE Superstars, Mace and Mansoor. Fans were puzzled; they couldn't believe someone as talented as LA Knight would be reduced to a managerial role when he could  captivate the crowd  like few Superstars before him. For months, Max Dupri dutifully performed – and, in all cases, exceeded expectations. Still, there was no reason to think there was a place on the roster for Dupri to actually compete in the ring – until the end of July 2022.

Things move quickly in WWE, and this was never more apparent than when  Triple H took over  as Head of Creative. The former multi-time WWE Champion promised a new way of doing business, and one of Triple H's first duties as Head of Creative was to correct a mistake that had been bugging him for months.

September 20, 2022: The Rebirth of LA Knight

John Cena attempts to shake LA Knight's hand

It was time for Max Dupri to be put to rest. Wasting no time, Max Dupri made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with the Maximum Male Models anymore, much to the chagrin of his former friends. 

One week later, he re-christened himself as LA Knight and strapped the proverbial rocket to his back. The rest, as they say, is history. From that point forward, LA Knight pushed himself further and further up the WWE ranks, riding a wave of fan support that had been swelling for the better part of two decades. In early 2023, he had the honor of being the last person to  compete against Bray Wyatt  before the legendary Superstar's untimely death. 

LA Knight Brushes Off Accusations He's a Ripoff of The Rock and Steve Austin

Armed with crowd-pleasing  catchphrases and mannerisms  that harken back to the glory days of WWE's Attitude Era, LA Knight became a worldwide phenomenon. Even the most casual fan can't help but be blown away by the live crowd's reaction to everything LA Knight says and does. It's this unbridled support from the WWE Universe that has propelled Knight into a dream scenario at Crown Jewel.

On November 4, 20 years of hard work will come to a head as LA Knight challenges  Roman Reigns  for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. He's come a long way in those 20 years – but even his time spent as Max Dupri seems like ages ago. For the first time in his career, LA Knight is a fully realized, larger-than-life WWE Superstar. At age 41, he reached the summit of the wrestling industry later than others, but to LA Knight, age is just a number. 

In fact, at  Crown Jewel , there are only three numbers LA Knight cares about: One, two, three.

You can tune in to  Peacock  to watch WWE's Crown Jewel on November 4 and Survivor Series on November 25. In the meantime, catch up on all things WWE Universe on  Peacock .

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Unleashing Greatness: Phil Knight’s Journey of Visionary Leadership

Phil Knight Leadership

Trailblazing Leadership: Unveiling Phil Knight’s Unforgettable Legacy

In the annals of leadership and entrepreneurship, there are few figures as iconic and influential as Phil Knight. With a career spanning over four decades, Knight revolutionized the world of business and sports, leaving an indelible mark on the global landscape. As the co-founder and former CEO of Nike, Knight’s leadership prowess and relentless pursuit of greatness propelled the company from humble beginnings to a multi-billion-dollar powerhouse.

Knight’s journey is one of audacity, vision, and unwavering determination. From his modest upbringing in Portland, Oregon, to the creation of one of the most recognizable brands in the world, his story is a testament to the power of leadership and the transformative effect it can have on individuals, organizations, and society as a whole.

Nike’s genesis was not without its challenges. In the early years, Knight faced numerous obstacles, including financial constraints, fierce competition, and skepticism from industry giants. Yet, it was Knight’s visionary leadership that would steer Nike towards unparalleled success. With a burning desire to disrupt the status quo and redefine the athletic footwear industry, he set out to create a company that would embody the spirit of innovation, performance, and empowerment.

At the heart of Knight’s leadership philosophy was the ability to articulate a compelling vision. He possessed an uncanny ability to inspire and motivate others, effectively communicating his passion for sports, quality, and pushing boundaries. Through his vision, Nike became more than a mere brand; it became a symbol of aspiration, athleticism, and achievement. Knight understood that a shared purpose was vital in galvanizing a team, fostering a culture of excellence, and propelling the organization forward.

However, Knight’s leadership prowess extended beyond vision alone. He was a master of assembling and nurturing winning teams. Recognizing that success was a collective effort, he surrounded himself with individuals who complemented his own skills and brought diverse perspectives to the table. Through meticulous hiring and a commitment to cultivating a culture of collaboration and trust, Knight fostered an environment where innovation thrived and exceptional results were achieved.

Central to Knight’s leadership style was his willingness to take calculated risks. He embraced the notion that with great risk comes great reward. Knight understood that progress and breakthroughs are born from pushing boundaries, embracing uncertainty, and challenging conventional wisdom. Throughout Nike’s history, Knight made bold decisions that catapulted the company into new territories, including groundbreaking marketing campaigns, endorsement deals with athletes, and strategic partnerships. These calculated risks, though not without their share of setbacks, propelled Nike to unprecedented heights and solidified its status as a global leader.

Yet, Knight’s journey was not without its moments of adversity and failure. The ability to bounce back, learn from mistakes, and persevere in the face of challenges became defining characteristics of his leadership. Knight understood that setbacks were not an indication of defeat but rather stepping stones on the path to success. His unwavering resilience and unyielding persistence served as beacons of inspiration, not only within Nike but also for aspiring leaders worldwide.

Beyond his achievements in business, Knight’s legacy extends to his philanthropic endeavors. He recognized the importance of giving back and making a positive impact on society. Through his charitable initiatives, including contributions to education, healthcare, and environmental conservation, Knight demonstrated that leadership goes beyond financial success. It encompasses a responsibility to use one’s influence for the betterment of others.

As we delve into the leadership lessons and stories of Phil Knight, we embark on a journey of discovery and inspiration. Through his extraordinary experiences, we uncover valuable insights that can transform our own approach to leadership. Knight’s ability to forge a powerful vision, build exceptional teams, embrace risk, overcome adversity, and leave a lasting legacy serves as a guiding light for leaders across industries and generations.

Join us as we delve into the depths of Phil Knight’s leadership legacy, exploring the triumphs, challenges, and enduring lessons that define his remarkable career. In this comprehensive exploration of Knight’s leadership journey, we aim to uncover the principles and wisdom that can empower leaders to unleash their full potential and shape the future of their organizations.

Background and Early Years:

Phil knight’s upbringing and formative experiences.

Phil Knight was born on February 24, 1938, in Portland, Oregon, into a middle-class family. Growing up, Knight developed a passion for sports, particularly running. Athletics became an integral part of his life, instilling in him the values of discipline, perseverance, and teamwork.

Knight’s academic journey led him to Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and a Master’s degree in business administration. It was during his time at Stanford that he wrote a pivotal paper outlining his vision for a sports shoe company that would import high-quality footwear from Japan, thus revolutionizing the athletic shoe industry. This paper laid the groundwork for the birth of Nike.

The inception of Nike and the challenges faced during its early years

In 1964, fresh out of Stanford, Knight embarked on a journey to bring his vision to life. He formed a partnership with his former track coach, Bill Bowerman, and together they founded Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS). Initially operating as a distributor for Japanese athletic shoe brand Onitsuka Tiger (now ASICS), BRS faced considerable challenges in its early years.

Financial constraints posed a significant hurdle for Knight and Bowerman, forcing them to bootstrap their operations. They sold shoes out of the trunk of Knight’s car, traveling to track meets and athletic events to connect with potential customers. This hands-on approach allowed Knight to understand the needs and preferences of athletes firsthand, providing invaluable insights for future product development.

However, their relationship with Onitsuka Tiger became strained, leading Knight to take a bold step in 1971. He decided to part ways with Onitsuka Tiger and rebrand their own line of shoes under the name Nike, inspired by the Greek goddess of victory. This pivotal decision marked the birth of a global phenomenon.

Key traits and qualities exhibited by Knight during this phase

Knight’s leadership during Nike’s formative years showcased several key traits and qualities that would define his approach to business and shape the company’s culture. Here are some notable characteristics:

Visionary mindset: Knight possessed a visionary mindset from the outset. His early paper outlining the concept of importing high-quality Japanese athletic shoes foreshadowed the disruptive path Nike would take. He envisioned a future where Nike would empower athletes to unleash their full potential and transcend the limitations of traditional footwear.

Entrepreneurial spirit: Knight embodied the spirit of entrepreneurship. He took risks, embraced uncertainty, and remained undeterred in the face of challenges. His relentless drive to innovate and disrupt the market propelled Nike forward, establishing it as a trailblazer in the industry.

Passion for excellence: Knight’s passion for excellence permeated every aspect of Nike’s operations. He had an unwavering commitment to delivering top-quality products that met the rigorous demands of athletes. This uncompromising pursuit of excellence became a cornerstone of Nike’s brand identity and its commitment to athletic performance.

Relationship-building skills: Knight excelled in building relationships and forging strategic partnerships. From his partnership with Bill Bowerman to securing endorsement deals with world-class athletes, Knight understood the power of collaboration and the influence of strong alliances in driving business success.

Knight’s background, early experiences, and the challenges he encountered in Nike’s formative years laid a solid foundation for the leadership lessons he would later impart. These experiences shaped his mindset, fostered resilience, and ignited his passion to transform Nike into a global powerhouse.

Visionary Leadership:

Articulating a compelling vision.

One of the defining aspects of Phil Knight’s leadership was his ability to articulate a compelling vision that resonated with employees, customers, and stakeholders. Knight possessed a remarkable clarity of purpose and effectively communicated his vision for Nike as more than just a shoe company. He saw Nike as a catalyst for inspiring athletes worldwide, empowering them to push beyond their limits and achieve greatness. This vision created a sense of purpose and direction, rallying the entire organization around a shared goal.

Knight’s vision went beyond mere words; it manifested in Nike’s products, marketing campaigns, and company culture. Every shoe, apparel line, and brand initiative was a tangible representation of his vision to innovate, inspire, and enhance athletic performance. By aligning the organization around this compelling vision, Knight created a sense of purpose that ignited passion and fostered a collective drive for excellence.

Inspiring a shared purpose

Knight understood that to achieve extraordinary results, he needed to inspire a shared purpose among his employees. He cultivated a culture that celebrated individual talents, fostered collaboration, and encouraged everyone to contribute to the company’s mission. By embracing diversity of thought and empowering his team members, Knight created an environment where innovation thrived.

Furthermore, Knight’s leadership style was characterized by accessibility and approachability. He believed in open communication, actively listening to ideas, and encouraging constructive dialogue. Knight understood that great ideas could come from anyone within the organization, and he made a concerted effort to create an inclusive culture that embraced diverse perspectives.

By inspiring a shared purpose, Knight nurtured a sense of ownership and commitment within his team. Employees felt a deep connection to the company’s mission, driving them to go above and beyond in their efforts. This shared purpose not only propelled Nike’s growth but also cultivated a strong sense of loyalty among employees and fostered a vibrant, passionate work culture.

Fostering innovation

Knight’s leadership was synonymous with innovation. He recognized that to stay ahead in a highly competitive industry, Nike had to constantly push the boundaries of technology, design, and performance. Knight fostered a culture that encouraged risk-taking, experimentation, and embracing failure as a catalyst for growth.

Knight was not afraid to challenge conventions and disrupt traditional approaches. Nike’s iconic “Just Do It” campaign, for instance, epitomized this mindset. It redefined how a sports brand connected with consumers, emphasizing the values of determination, perseverance, and personal achievement. The campaign became a cultural phenomenon, capturing the essence of Nike’s brand and resonating with people worldwide.

By fostering innovation, Knight encouraged his team to think creatively, explore new possibilities, and anticipate the evolving needs of athletes and consumers. Nike’s relentless focus on research and development, technological advancements, and design breakthroughs propelled the company to the forefront of the industry. Knight’s visionary leadership provided the framework for continuous innovation, ensuring Nike’s relevance and market leadership.

In summary, Phil Knight’s visionary leadership laid the foundation for Nike’s enduring success. Through the power of a compelling vision, he united the organization, fueled passion, and inspired greatness. By fostering a shared purpose and embracing innovation, Knight created an environment that propelled Nike’s growth and cemented its position as a global leader in the athletic footwear and apparel industry.

Building a Winning Team:

The role of team building in knight’s success.

Phil Knight understood that building a winning team was crucial to achieving sustainable success. He recognized that the collective efforts of talented individuals who shared a common vision could propel Nike to new heights. Knight’s ability to assemble and nurture a high-performing team became instrumental in the company’s growth and innovation.

Building a winning team started with Knight’s emphasis on hiring individuals who not only possessed the necessary skills and expertise but also aligned with Nike’s values and culture. He sought out passionate individuals who shared his dedication to excellence, innovation, and the pursuit of greatness. This deliberate approach to hiring ensured that each team member brought a unique perspective and contributed to the overall strength of the organization.

Hiring and retaining top talent

Knight’s leadership was characterized by his keen eye for talent. He had an innate ability to identify individuals who had the potential to make a significant impact. Whether it was hiring skilled designers, innovative marketers, or visionary leaders, Knight understood the importance of surrounding himself with the best in the industry.

To attract and retain top talent, Knight fostered an environment that offered opportunities for growth, personal development, and career advancement. He provided resources for training and skill enhancement, empowering employees to continually expand their capabilities. Additionally, Knight encouraged a culture of mentorship and learning, where experienced team members mentored and guided new recruits, fostering a sense of camaraderie and knowledge sharing.

Knight also recognized the importance of diversity within the team. He understood that a diverse workforce brought varied perspectives and enhanced creativity, leading to better decision-making and innovation. By actively promoting diversity and inclusion, Knight ensured that Nike’s talent pool was reflective of the diverse communities it served.

Nurturing a culture of collaboration, trust, and diversity: Knight fostered a culture that emphasized collaboration, trust, and diversity, enabling teams to thrive and unleash their full potential. He recognized that great achievements were seldom the result of individual efforts alone, but rather the collective contributions of a cohesive team.

Knight promoted an open and inclusive work environment where everyone’s ideas and opinions were valued. He encouraged healthy debates, challenging the status quo, and fostering an atmosphere of constructive criticism. This collaborative approach not only led to better decision-making but also empowered employees to take ownership and contribute their unique perspectives.

Trust was another essential element of Knight’s team-building strategy. He believed in delegating responsibility and giving team members the autonomy to make decisions. By trusting his employees, Knight created an environment that empowered individuals to take risks, innovate, and take ownership of their work. This trust-based culture fostered a sense of accountability and instilled a shared commitment to achieving organizational goals.

Furthermore, Knight recognized that diversity was a driving force behind innovation and creative problem-solving. He championed diversity and inclusion initiatives, creating a space where individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences could thrive. By embracing diversity, Knight ensured that Nike had a workforce that could understand and cater to the diverse needs of its global customer base.

Phil Knight’s emphasis on building a winning team through strategic hiring, talent development, and nurturing a culture of collaboration, trust, and diversity played a pivotal role in Nike’s success. By surrounding himself with exceptional individuals who shared his vision, Knight created a dynamic and innovative workforce. The collaborative and inclusive environment fostered by Knight empowered employees to reach their full potential, driving Nike’s growth and reinforcing its position as a leader in the industry.

Taking Calculated Risks:

Embracing risk-taking as a core leadership principle.

Phil Knight’s leadership was characterized by his willingness to embrace calculated risks. He recognized that playing it safe and sticking to the status quo would hinder Nike’s growth and limit its potential for innovation. Instead, Knight encouraged a culture of calculated risk-taking, understanding that great rewards often came from stepping outside of comfort zones and challenging conventional wisdom.

Knight believed that to stay ahead of the competition, Nike needed to be at the forefront of industry trends and consumer demands. This required taking risks, whether it was launching groundbreaking marketing campaigns, introducing new product lines, or entering new markets. He understood that calculated risks were essential for driving growth and maintaining a competitive edge.

Analyzing Knight’s bold decisions and their impact on Nike’s growth

Throughout Nike’s history, Phil Knight made bold decisions that shaped the trajectory of the company. One such decision was signing endorsement deals with high-profile athletes, including Michael Jordan, which revolutionized the concept of sports endorsements and elevated Nike’s brand to unprecedented heights. This strategic move not only bolstered Nike’s market share but also solidified its position as a dominant force in the sports industry.

Another significant risk Knight took was venturing into international markets, particularly in Asia. Recognizing the potential for growth beyond the United States, Knight expanded Nike’s reach globally. Despite facing cultural and logistical challenges, this move allowed Nike to tap into new consumer markets and establish a strong global presence.

Additionally, Knight pushed the boundaries of traditional marketing through innovative campaigns. The iconic “Bo Knows” campaign, featuring athlete Bo Jackson, and the “Find Your Greatness” campaign during the Olympics showcased Nike’s bold and unconventional approach. These campaigns not only captured the attention of consumers but also reinforced Nike’s position as a brand that celebrated individuality and inspired greatness.

Knight’s calculated risks propelled Nike’s growth, expanding its market share, increasing brand visibility, and driving financial success. By fearlessly challenging the norm and taking strategic leaps, Knight demonstrated that calculated risk-taking is a fundamental aspect of leadership that can lead to remarkable achievements.

Balancing risk and reward: Lessons on calculated risk-taking

Knight’s approach to risk-taking offers valuable lessons for leaders navigating complex and competitive landscapes. Here are key lessons on balancing risk and reward:

Strategic analysis: Knight understood the importance of conducting thorough research and analysis before taking risks. This involved assessing market trends, understanding consumer needs, and evaluating potential returns. Strategic analysis helped Knight identify opportunities and make informed decisions.

Courageous decision-making: Knight demonstrated courage in making decisions that went against the grain. He was not afraid to challenge established norms or go against conventional wisdom. This boldness allowed Nike to stand out from competitors and capture the attention of consumers.

Mitigating risk through innovation: Knight understood that calculated risk-taking required a foundation of innovation. By consistently pushing the boundaries of design, technology, and marketing, Nike mitigated risks by introducing innovative products and campaigns that resonated with consumers.

Learning from failures: Not every risk pays off, and Knight experienced setbacks along the way. However, he embraced failures as valuable learning opportunities. Knight and his team analyzed failures, extracted lessons, and used them to improve future decision-making and mitigate risks.

Agile decision-making: Knight’s leadership exemplified the importance of being agile and adaptable in decision-making. The ability to pivot and adjust strategies based on market feedback and changing circumstances allowed Nike to navigate risks more effectively.

Knight’s calculated risk-taking approach demonstrated that leaders who embrace risks, analyze them strategically, and balance them with innovation and adaptability can unlock tremendous growth and success.

In summary, Phil Knight’s leadership journey showcased the significance of embracing calculated risks as a core principle. By taking bold decisions, analyzing risks strategically, and balancing them with innovation, Knight propelled Nike’s growth, elevated its brand, and solidified its position as an industry leader. His approach to risk-taking offers valuable lessons for leaders seeking to navigate dynamic environments and drive transformative change.

Resilience and Persistence:

Overcoming setbacks and failures.

Phil Knight’s leadership journey was not without its fair share of setbacks and failures. However, what set Knight apart was his resilience in the face of adversity. He viewed setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning, refusing to let them define him or the trajectory of Nike.

In the early years of Nike, Knight faced financial challenges, production issues, and intense competition. The company even faced a legal battle with its former partner, Onitsuka Tiger. These obstacles could have derailed a less determined leader, but Knight’s unwavering resilience propelled him forward. He navigated through the challenges, learning valuable lessons along the way and emerging stronger.

Knight’s ability to bounce back from failures stemmed from his unwavering belief in his vision and purpose. He remained focused on his mission to revolutionize the athletic footwear industry, even when the odds seemed stacked against him. His resilience inspired his team to persevere through tough times, fostering a culture that embraced challenges as stepping stones to success.

Learning from mistakes

Knight recognized that mistakes and failures were inevitable on the path to success. Rather than dwelling on them, he encouraged a culture of learning from mistakes and turning them into opportunities for improvement. Knight believed that failure was not an end but a necessary part of the journey towards innovation and growth.

Nike’s famous slogan, “Just Do It,” encapsulates Knight’s approach to learning from mistakes. It signifies taking action, embracing challenges, and learning from both successes and failures. Knight understood that the key to resilience was not being deterred by setbacks but using them as catalysts for personal and organizational growth.

Knight instilled a mindset of continuous improvement within Nike. He encouraged his team to analyze failures, extract valuable insights, and apply them to future endeavors. This iterative approach allowed Nike to refine its products, marketing strategies, and operational processes, ultimately strengthening the brand and enhancing its competitive edge.

Cultivating resilience in oneself and inspiring it in others

Knight’s leadership exemplified the importance of cultivating resilience in oneself and inspiring it in others. He understood that resilience was not solely an individual trait but a collective strength that permeated the entire organization.

Knight led by example, demonstrating perseverance in the face of challenges and setbacks. His unwavering determination and optimism in the midst of adversity inspired his team to embrace resilience. By sharing stories of overcoming obstacles and acknowledging the inevitable setbacks that come with innovation, Knight fostered a culture that celebrated resilience as a core value.

To cultivate resilience within Nike, Knight encouraged open communication and provided support systems for his team members. He promoted a safe environment where individuals could voice their concerns, seek guidance, and learn from each other’s experiences. This created a sense of camaraderie and collective support, enabling employees to bounce back from setbacks with renewed vigor.

Additionally, Knight understood the importance of recognizing and celebrating small wins along the way. By acknowledging progress and milestones, he nurtured a sense of accomplishment and motivation, reinforcing the resilience of individuals and the organization as a whole.

Phil Knight’s leadership journey exemplified the power of resilience and persistence. Through his unwavering determination, ability to learn from failures, and dedication to cultivating resilience in himself and others, Knight overcame challenges and propelled Nike to extraordinary heights. His example serves as a reminder that resilience is not only a personal trait but also a critical element of successful leadership, enabling individuals and organizations to thrive in the face of adversity.

Philanthropy and Legacy:

Knight’s philanthropic initiatives and contributions to society.

Phil Knight’s leadership extended beyond the realm of business, as he recognized the importance of giving back to society. Throughout his career, Knight engaged in numerous philanthropic initiatives, leaving a lasting impact on various causes and communities.

Knight’s philanthropy focused on areas such as education, healthcare, and environmental conservation. He believed in the transformative power of education and made significant contributions to educational institutions. His donations have supported scholarships, research programs, and the development of academic facilities, providing opportunities for countless individuals to pursue their dreams.

Knight’s commitment to healthcare led to contributions to medical research and facilities. His philanthropic investments have supported advancements in healthcare technology, the establishment of medical centers, and initiatives aimed at improving public health. Knight’s generosity in the healthcare sector has helped enhance the quality of care and improve the lives of many.

Additionally, Knight demonstrated a deep concern for the environment. He supported environmental conservation efforts, promoting sustainable practices and investing in initiatives to protect natural resources. Knight’s dedication to environmental causes reflects his belief in responsible leadership and his desire to create a positive impact on future generations.

The importance of giving back: Lessons on leadership with a purpose

Phil Knight’s philanthropic endeavors provide valuable lessons on leadership with a purpose. He understood that leadership goes beyond financial success and encompasses a responsibility to contribute to the well-being of others and the greater good.

Knight’s philanthropy reflected his values and passions, aligning with the core principles of Nike. By giving back to causes that resonated with him, Knight demonstrated authenticity and integrity in his leadership. He understood that leaders who align their personal values with their philanthropic efforts create a positive ripple effect, inspiring others to contribute to causes they are passionate about.

Moreover, Knight’s philanthropic initiatives served as a catalyst for positive change within Nike itself. By fostering a culture of giving back, he instilled a sense of purpose and social responsibility within the organization. This sense of purpose not only attracted and retained top talent but also fostered employee engagement and loyalty.

Knight’s leadership with a purpose also impacted Nike’s brand perception. His philanthropy showcased the company’s commitment to social and environmental causes, resonating with consumers who value ethical and socially responsible business practices. By leading with a purpose beyond profits, Knight helped cultivate a positive brand image that transcended the realm of athletic footwear.

Reflecting on Knight’s lasting legacy and impact on the world

Phil Knight’s legacy extends far beyond his entrepreneurial achievements. His leadership, philanthropy, and commitment to making a difference have left an indelible mark on the world.

Knight’s legacy lies in the countless lives he has touched through his philanthropic endeavors. The educational opportunities, advancements in healthcare, and environmental conservation efforts supported by Knight’s generosity continue to create a positive impact on individuals, communities, and future generations.

Furthermore, Knight’s legacy is intertwined with Nike’s enduring success. His visionary leadership laid the foundation for a company that continues to innovate, inspire, and empower athletes worldwide. Nike’s iconic status as a global leader in athletic footwear and apparel is a testament to Knight’s ability to cultivate a culture of excellence and drive sustainable growth.

Beyond Nike, Knight’s legacy serves as an inspiration for aspiring leaders. His journey exemplifies the power of resilience, visionary thinking, calculated risk-taking, and purpose-driven leadership. The lessons derived from Knight’s leadership journey can guide future generations of leaders, empowering them to make a positive impact and leave a lasting legacy.

Phil Knight’s philanthropic initiatives and his commitment to leadership with a purpose cement his legacy as more than a business leader. His contributions to education, healthcare, and environmental conservation demonstrate the transformative power of philanthropy and reflect his desire to create a positive impact on society. Knight’s enduring legacy is one of purpose, authenticity, and a relentless pursuit of making the world a better place.

Leading with Purpose: Embracing Phil Knight’s Leadership Lessons

As we reflect on the leadership journey of Phil Knight, we uncover a wealth of invaluable lessons and stories that transcend the realm of business. Knight’s remarkable career as the co-founder and former CEO of Nike serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs worldwide.

From the early years of Nike’s humble beginnings to its global dominance, Knight exemplified visionary leadership . He articulated a compelling vision that went beyond selling shoes, igniting a passion for excellence, innovation, and empowerment. Knight’s ability to inspire a shared purpose united the organization, fostering collaboration, and driving the pursuit of greatness.

Knight’s leadership was underscored by his talent for building winning teams. By carefully selecting individuals who shared his values and complemented his skill set, Knight created a culture of collaboration, trust, and diversity. He recognized that a cohesive team, driven by a common vision, could accomplish extraordinary feats.

The story of Phil Knight is also one of embracing calculated risks. Knight understood that progress and innovation required stepping outside of comfort zones and challenging the status quo. By taking strategic leaps, he propelled Nike’s growth, captured new markets, and solidified the brand’s position as a global leader.

Resilience and persistence were foundational to Knight’s leadership. He faced setbacks and failures with unwavering determination, viewing them as opportunities for learning and growth. Knight’s ability to bounce back and inspire resilience in others cultivated a culture that thrived in the face of adversity.

Knight’s leadership extended beyond business success. His philanthropic initiatives showcased a commitment to giving back and making a positive impact on society. By supporting education, healthcare, and environmental causes, Knight left a lasting legacy that transcends the world of business.

As we conclude our exploration of the leadership lessons and stories of Phil Knight, we are reminded of the transformative power of purpose-driven leadership. Knight’s journey teaches us the importance of having a compelling vision, building winning teams, embracing calculated risks, cultivating resilience, and giving back to society.

The legacy of Phil Knight continues to inspire current and future leaders to strive for greatness, lead with purpose, and make a positive impact on the world. His enduring influence serves as a guiding light, reminding us that leadership is not solely about achieving personal success but also about uplifting others, fostering innovation, and leaving a lasting legacy that transcends generations.

As we embark on our own leadership journeys , let us draw from the lessons and stories of Phil Knight, harnessing the power of vision, collaboration, calculated risk-taking, resilience, and philanthropy to unleash our full potential and create a meaningful impact in our organizations and the world at large. In doing so, we can honor the remarkable legacy of Phil Knight and continue his legacy of transformative leadership.

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Elon Musk's X Is Suspending Accounts That Reveal a Neo-Nazi Cartoonist's Alleged Identity

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X has locked and suspended the accounts of journalists and researchers who shared the alleged identity of a neo-Nazi cartoonist known as Stonetoss after the cartoonist appealed to site owner Elon Musk .

The incident, critics say, highlights once again how Musk has not only welcomed extremists onto his platform but has repeatedly boosted their conspiracies, engaged with their accounts, and seems to have protected them from scrutiny.

A lengthy X thread posted by the antifascist research group Anonymous Comrades Collective last week claimed that Stonetoss is a man named Hans Kristian Graebener from Spring, Texas. Stonetoss cartoons , which feature simple and colorful imagery coupled with racist, homophobic, and antisemitic language, have become hugely popular among right-wing communities since they were first published at least seven years ago.

In its telling, the antifascist research group linked the Stonetoss cartoonist to another anonymous racist cartoonist known as Red Panels by comparing their voices from appearances on extremist podcasts. The researchers say they found an email address linked to Graebener that was used to register the Red Panels accounts on the far-right social media platform Gab. Then, the group says, it was able to match up comments made by Stonetoss with events in Graebener’s life. In one case, Graebener took a trip to Japan in 2019 with a Houston IT company he then worked for; at the same time, Stonetoss posted a picture on X of a “welcome to Japan” sign with the comment, “Finally made it to the ethnostate fellas.” The research group has been doing this kind of work for years and has been credited with unmasking numerous other extremists, including those involved with a neo-Nazi homeschool network .

Graebener has not disputed anything the researchers uncovered. He did not respond to requests for comment from WIRED to his personal email address nor to the email address on the Stonetoss website, and he did not pick up calls from phone numbers associated with his name.

The Anonymous Comrade Collective thread got a lot of attention on X, racking up at least 13.5 million views. On Thursday, the Stonetoss account appealed to X users who have “a direct line” to Musk, X’s owner, to help to get the thread deleted. Musk has, in the past, shared an altered version of a Stonetoss cartoon about the collapse of society. “If Elon's idea of a ‘free speech’ website is one where people can be intimidated into silence, the outcome will be a site where the Stasi will drive out all dissent,” Stonetoss wrote. The account also tagged Musk and offered to share a list of people to target.

In a subsequent post, Stonetoss said this appeal was not about him but about other “artists.”

“This is about others I know personally,” Stonetoss wrote. “There is a whole ecosystem of artists out there who cannot (or have stopped) making art because of people on twitter organized to punish them IRL for doing so.” The cartoonist also added that sales of his plush toy were “going gangbusters” since his alleged identity was revealed.

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Hours later, the account associated with the Anonymous Comrades Collective that posted the thread was deleted, and the account was suspended. On Friday, dozens of users, including a number of researchers and journalists, began discussing the incident and posting some of the details of the research, including Graebener’s name.

X locked down many of these accounts and ordered them to delete the offending tweet to get full access to their accounts back. Among those targeted were Jared Holt , a senior research analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, who covers right-wing extremism; Hannah Gais , a senior research analyst at Southern Poverty Law Center; and Steven Monacelli, an investigative journalist for the Texas Observer . (WIRED has also published Monacelli’s work.)

X also imposed a ban on sharing the link to the Anonymous Comrades Collective blog detailing its research. WIRED verified this on Monday morning by attempting to post the link, only to be met with a pop-up message that read: ‘We can't complete this request because this link has been identified by X or our partners as being potentially harmful.”

Even with the crackdown from X, people kept sharing details of the Stonetoss investigation.

“We all just started posting his name; it was like a Streisand effect ,” Alejandra Caraballo , a clinical instructor at the Harvard Law School Cyberlaw Clinic, tells WIRED. “They're just trying to censor his name, and then everyone started getting their accounts locked.”

Caraballo, who shared screenshots of the messages she received from X with WIRED, managed to circumvent the initial ban by appealing it and claiming, ironically, that she was the victim of mass reporting from antifa who were attempting to silence her right-wing viewpoint.

While that appeal was successful, Caraballo was quickly locked out of her account again when she changed her username to “Hans Kristian Graebener is stonetoss.” That resulted in a 12-hour suspension, and when her account was reinstated she was soon punished for earlier posts that shared screenshots of information about Graebener. Caraballo’s account has now been suspended for seven days. Shortly after this article was originally published, Caraballo’s account was restored by X, without an explanation.

An X representative says that the company, following a review of the actions taken against the accounts of Anonymous Comrades Collective, Holt, Gais, Monacelli, and Caraballo, stood by its decision.

“The posts that were removed were all actioned correctly,” says Joe Benarroch, head of business operations at X, adding that the posts violated the company’s “posting private information policy” for “outing the identity of an anonymous user.”

While X does have a policy around sharing private information, the company’s terms of service on March 20 did not mention a policy related to outing the identity of an anonymous user, and Benarroch did not respond to a request for clarification. On March 21, after WIRED published this story, X updated its privacy policy to specifically prohibit posting the ”the identity of an anonymous user, such as their name or media depicting them.”

“According to X’s terms of service, posting someone's name does not constitute doxing, but, many accounts, including my own, have been made to delete posts that merely mention the name of the racist and antisemitic cartoonist Stonetoss,” Monacelli told WIRED before the change. “I've never seen enforcement like this before.”

This policy change could possibly be in response to a post last month from Musk when he wrote, “Any doxxing, which includes revealing real names, will result in account suspension.” Still, in an interview with Don Lemon released on Monday, Musk said that moderation of hate speech is akin to “censorship.”

There are now hundreds of posts on the platform which name Stonetoss as Graebener. There are also numerous accounts on the platform that changed their profile name to “Hans Kristian Graebener is stonetoss”—and they haven’t all been suspended.

“This is completely arbitrary and under Twitter's own community standards it says that a name is never considered private information,” Caraballo tells WIRED. “There's an immense double standard here of the neo-Nazi comic guy being protected” by X. But then, she says, “The people that do this to anyone on the left are not only followed by [Musk] but are boosted by him. It's completely inconsistent.” To her, it seems that whoever Musk favors gets protected, and anyone else is banned. “This is also a pretext for them to be able to go after anyone that they dislike,” Caraballo says.”

Caraballo and others have pointed to accounts like Libs of TikTok and far-right troll Andy Ngo, both of which have shared private information about trans people but have not had their accounts suspended. Musk has also engaged with posts that doxed individuals on X , with seemingly no recourse for those accounts.

For anyone who has tracked Musk’s actions since taking control of X in October 2022, this incident is no surprise. Musk has systematically removed the guardrails the company had put in place to prevent hate speech on the platform and has welcomed back racists, antisemites, and transphobic posters who had been previously banned.

In recent months, Musk has repeatedly endorsed racist conspiracies like the great replacement theory and has engaged with numerous accounts spreading disinformation and hate speech. Just this weekend, Musk interacted with Martin Sellner , the founder of a white ethnonationalist group in Austria who previously communicated with and accepted a donation from the man who shot and killed 51 people at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019.

After they deleted their posts, most of those restricted for sharing Graebener’s name have had their accounts unlocked. However, the Anonymous Comrade Collective account that shared the details about Graebener is also suspended, and a representative tells WIRED they are unsure when or if it will come back.

Update 3/21/2024, 10:20 am ET: Updated to include mention that X has now updated its privacy policy to prohibit posting the ”the identity of an anonymous user, such as their name or media depicting them.” This article also has been updated with mention of Alejandra Caraballo’s recently restored X account.

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