阿迪达斯总裁写给2107的信(图)

阿迪达斯总裁

　　Interestingly, it was my brother, Walter, who was the better athlete growing up. Like so many boys, we were very competitive and just crazy about sports. More than any other, though, we loved football (soccer, in other parts of the world.) And growing up in the 1960s in Bavaria, Germany, we were lucky enough to live during a golden age for the sport. Many of the greatest football players ever crossed the world’s stage at the time: Brazil’s Pele, Holland’s Johan Cruijff and, of course, our idol, Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.

　　As boys, Walter and I dreamed of following these football legends onto the professional pitch. In the end, however, only Walter managed to play in the Bundesliga, the highest level of Germany's football league system; at my best, I rose to semi-professional. So I turned my attention – and competitiveness – toward business, starting as a marketing manager at Procter & Gamble and, eventually, moving onto adidas. After 16 years, I was named CEO of adidas Group in 2000. It was at that moment that I knew I had finally done my brother one better.

　　Notwithstanding my dream of playing football for a living, I now know that leading adidas is the world’s greatest job. You work in a global sporting goods company that is young, fast-paced and relevant. You get to travel the world, learning about different cultures and meeting all nationalities. You meet incredible athletes and entertainers, global leaders and dignitaries. And since adidas sponsors many of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Beijing Olympics in 2008, you get to go to some pretty fun places.

　　However, I think what I’ve truly enjoyed most is meeting ordinary people in my travels, which takes me around the world several times each year. Average men, women and children who live extraordinary lives. We, in fact, were so moved by these people that we created a global advertising campaign, Impossible Is Nothing, featuring everyday heroes and their personal stories, in order to inspire others. Our message – that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to a challenge – is timeless.

　　Today in 2007, adidas is one of the world’s great brands and companies. We have over 25,000 employees working globally in over 100 markets – and, I’m certain that in 2107, the company will be the dominant brand in the sporting goods industry. Countries like China are only beginning to blossom and, eventually, it will be one of the great new economies of the world. In the next 2-3 years, China will become our company’s second biggest market after the United States, passing Japan. I’m convinced China will eventually be #1.

　　There is so much that will change over the next 100 years, but I believe sport will always be with us. We believe as a company, and I believe personally, that sport can make the world a better place. It can bridge differences and bring cultures together. In a world without rules, sport creates a safe environment for entertainment, a level playing field for healthy competition. Of course, this is a lesson I learned when I was just a boy.