My guest today, Larry Miller, has had an incredible career in business.

He started as an entry-level accountant for the Campbell Soup Company, eventually rising

up to run the Jordan brand at Nike.

He took it over, at perhaps the worst possible time.

The year Michael Jordan retired from the NBA, and yet somehow, he grew the Jordan brand

from $150 million in annual revenues to more than $3 billion.

But that's only part of the story.

I was in my cell, and the guy who had administered the test came out and I said, hey, did I pass?

He said, not only did you pass, but you got one of the highest grades I've seen.

And we'd like for you to be the valedictorian for the graduating class.

Welcome to People I mostly admire, with Steve Levitt.

Larry Miller's story is unlike anyone else in the upper echelon of corporate America.

You've heard about people who defied the odds, not the way Larry did.

And once you've heard this story, it just might make you rethink some of your fundamental

beliefs.

Larry, you have a remarkable story.

So how about we just started the beginning?

It's 1959, you're 10 years old, you live in Philadelphia, your family nickname, with

the champ.

How come?

My uncle nicknamed me that.

He always pumped me up to tell me that I could do whatever I wanted to do.

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