How Did I Get Here?: The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO

How Did I Get Here?: The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO

Released October 2010
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470631492

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Book description

The most famous skateboarder ever shares the business secrets to his success!

He's the man who put skateboarding on the map. He's the first to land a 900 (two and a half full rotations). He's also among the richest pitchmen in any sport. And, in a sport that's especially youth-oriented, Tony Hawk, a 40-something father of four, still connects with his audience by staying true to who he is.

Moving easily between the ramp and the boardroom, Tony currently runs one of the most acclaimed action sports companies, a clothing line, and video game series bearing his name that has sold over $1 billion worldwide, making it the biggest selling action sports game franchise in game history. He has secured endorsement deals with major brands such as McDonalds, Intel, T-Mobile and Kohl's; started the Boom Boom HuckJam action sports tour; and achieved worldwide acclaim from the ESPN X Games.

Filled with Tony's typical modesty and humor, How Did I Get Here? tells the amazing story behind Tony Hawk's unprecedented success from skateboarder to CEO, and the secrets behind his lasting appeal. You'll find out how authenticity has served him well in all his achievements. You'll also understand how his story has shaped many of his fundamental values, including his huge desire to win and his strong sense of realism.

Get the inside story of Tony Hawk beyond the skateboard as he answers the question: How Did I Get Here? --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. PREFACE
    1. Family Trust
  3. CREDITS
    1. Photo Credits—Text
    2. Photo Credits—Insert
  4. 1. TOUCAN SAM TEACHES ME A LESSON: The day I knew it was time to take control
    1. 1.1. Stuck Between Coach and First Class
    2. 1.2. Rule Number One: Don't Make Lists
  5. 2. BUILDING A BETTER BIRDHOUSE: The birth and near-death of our first business
    1. 2.1. A World of Hurt
    2. 2.2. Heelflips on the Titanic
    3. 2.3. Bootleg Braggadocio
  6. 3. HEY KID, WANT TO BUY A HOODIE?: Risking our homes to make t-shirts and hats
    1. 3.1. Going It Alone
    2. 3.2. Breaking Rules
    3. 3.3. Looking for a Suitor
    4. 3.4. Going to the Masses
  7. 4. "IS TONY HAWK A REAL PERSON?": From motion capture to gaming franchise
    1. 4.1. From Apocalypse to Genesis
    2. 4.2. Birth of a Genre
    3. 4.3. Kicking the Reset Button
  8. 5. WHAT THE HELL IS A HUCKJAM?: Innovation and improvisation on a million-dollar ramp
    1. 5.1. The Million-Dollar Napkin
    2. 5.2. "Zoom!" Say Gnarly Disaster Boy
    3. 5.3. Trial by Fire—and by the Loop of Death
    4. 5.4. HuckJam Happy Meals?
  9. 6. "EXTREME" IS A FOUR-LETTER WORD: "This is how we do it in our world"
    1. 6.1. When Not to Trust Your Gut
    2. 6.2. The Last of the Flimsy Pink Backpacks
    3. 6.3. The Wise Old Adolescent
  10. 7. THE DENIM DEBACLE: Some business ideas that didn't quite fly
    1. 7.1. How to Build a Buzz
    2. 7.2. Bye-Bye Blitz
    3. 7.3. Buying Back Birdhouse
  11. 8. FINAL CUT: The key to image control: get your own editing bay
    1. 8.1. Blackjack, Brawls, and the Pensacola Nine
    2. 8.2. "Can You Teach Me How to Ollie?"
    3. 8.3. My Dad's Home-Movie Hobby Pays Off
    4. 8.4. Dust Devils and Big Gaps
    5. 8.5. Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now
  12. 9. HASHTAG IS NOT A DEATH-METAL BAND: Reaching out through tweets, apps, and satrad
    1. 9.1. Some tweets from 2010
    2. 9.2. www.talktofans.com
    3. 9.3. Unheard Music
  13. 10. HOW TO NEVER GET A MOVIE MADE: Hollywood will break your heart, or at least piss you off
    1. 10.1. Supreme Existential Strangeness
    2. 10.2. False Promises, Fast Cars
    3. 10.3. Tom Cruise Gets Mushy
    4. 10.4. Going Indie
  14. 11. STINKY DIAPERS IN FIRST CLASS: How to balance travel and family: bring 'em
    1. 11.1. April 12–15, 2004 Sport for Good Foundation, Sierra Leone, West Africa
    2. 11.2. July 1–7, 2004 Adio Tour, England
    3. 11.3. August 27–29, 2004 MTV Video Music Awards, Miami, Florida
    4. 11.4. October 2, 2004 Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children, Las Vegas, Nevada
    5. 11.5. October 3, 2004 Stand Up for Skateparks Fundraiser, Studio City, California
    6. 11.6. April 22–24, 2005 Black Pearl Skatepark Grand Opening, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
    7. 11.7. June 10–12, 2005 Disneyland, Vegas, Arkansas, Home, Spokane, Various Events
    8. 11.8. July 8–31, 2005 Boom Boom HuckJam Tour, Home, DC, MO, IA, MN, WI, MI, OH, NJ, PA, Toronto, NY, MA
    9. 11.9. September 9–18, 2005 Secret Skatepark Tour, OR, MT, IN, Cayman Islands, GA
    10. 11.10. August–November 2007 France, Germany, NYC, NC, LA, SF
    11. 11.11. December 2007–February 2008 Compton, Vegas, Woodward, Hawaii, Whistler, LA
    12. 11.12. March–June 2008 Russia, Japan, Vegas, Hospital!
    13. 11.13. May 12–16, 2010 Woodward Skate Camp Opening, Beijing, China
    14. 11.14. Tweets, 2009–2010
  15. 12. GIVING BACK: Family, friends, Regis, and a very smart fifth-grader help me build a charity
    1. 12.1. Doing the Charitable Thing
    2. 12.2. This Ain't No Soccer Field
    3. 12.3. Celebrity Backscratching
    4. 12.4. Flipping Flapjacks and Mowing Lawns
  16. Acknowledgments

Product information

  • Title: How Did I Get Here?: The Ascent of an Unlikely CEO
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: October 2010
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470631492