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illustrated book

Running with Purpose

Discover Brooks’ extraordinary challenger brand story as it went from near bankruptcy to finding its purpose and running to the front of the pack in the highly competitive global running market. Brooks is a turnaround tale for the ages on how a brand was re-founded and a passionate, determined team fueled its growth with performance gear and celebrating every runner’s run.

Cover of Running with Purpose

“Jim’s passionate story will inspire you just as it inspired me in 2012 to recognize that he would make Brooks a stand-alone star at Berkshire.”

Warren Buffett

Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Illustrated books with legs

In Running with Purpose, you will find a highly engaging read with insights, inspirational stories, and tangible takeaways for current and aspiring leaders, entrepreneurs, brand builders, and especially the 150+ million runners worldwide and those in the broader running community who continually invest in themselves and put positive energy into the world.

  • The untold David vs. Goliath challenger brand story in which Brooks’ bold strategy and unique brand positioning fueled its move from the back of the pack to lead.
  • The key to building a purpose-driven brand that is oriented around customer obsession, building trust, competing with heart, and having fun along the way.
  • The six clear leadership lessons Jim has learned along his path and applies at Brooks to help managers at all levels develop into authentic leaders.
  • How Berkshire Hathaway’s support and influence provided a tailwind for Brooks’ business and brand to surge.
  • A revealing look at the ups and downs of Jim’s personal journey, which led to his conviction that life is too short not to enjoy what you do and the people by your side.

Running with Purpose book cover

Praise for Running with Purpose

Quotation mark

As a long-time Brooks athlete, it’s been easy to draft off the brand's approach of reaching for the biggest goals regardless of being labeled the underdog. Jim Weber goes beyond the goal and gives readers the hows and whys behind the company’s success. This book will motivate and guide those looking to have a breakthrough performance and solidifies my belief that Weber is one of the greatest leaders in business.” Des Linden – Boston Marathon Champion

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Jim Weber beautifully demonstrates the power and joy of leading with purpose and authenticity and how it can create stunning business results while being a force for good. A wonderful book that is both inspiring and very practical.” Hubert Joly – Former Chair & CEO, Best Buy Co., Inc., and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of The Heart of Business

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Running with Purpose is a master class in focus, tenacity, team building, innovation, and culture. While I have known Jim Weber for many years, I can only now understand the depth of the struggles he faced on his way to being one of the great leaders of a generation and creating a brand that has motivated millions of runners to Run Happy. I can say with certainty that all managers and leaders will find helpful tools in this book to build their businesses for success.” Robin Thurston – CEO, Outside, Inc.

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Over the last twenty years as a Brooks athlete, I’ve watched Jim Weber turn a gasping business into a champion in the industry by not just being a CEO who wants to win the race, but one who leads from the front and brings out the best in everyone. His captivating career path proves that passion + precision elevates performance every time.” Scott Jurek – Ultramarathon Champion and New York Times Bestselling Author of Eat & Run and NORTH

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Running with Purpose is as inspirational, insightful, and educational as the company it features and the leader who wrote it. The story of how Brooks rose from the ashes to become a force in running is full of important lessons on both formulating and executing strategy. Read it to learn how performance brands and great teams are built, and how successful leadership requires not just vision but courage and discipline.” Kusum Ailawadi – Professor, Tuck School of Business, and Co-author of Getting Multichannel Distribution Right

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I regard Jim as a miracle worker. The institution is the length and shadow of this man.” Charlie Munger – Vice Chairman, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Order Running with Purpose now

Purchase your copy of Running with Purpose at any of these booksellers:

Illustrated Running with Purpose book
Jim Weber smiling

About Jim Weber

Author, Running with Purpose

Jim Weber joined Brooks Running Company as CEO in 2001 and is credited for the Seattle-based running company’s aggressive turnaround story. The business and brand success caught the attention of Warren Buffett, who declared Brooks a standalone subsidiary company of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in 2012.


Weber’s professional journey includes leadership roles for several consumer product brands such as chairman and CEO of Sims Sports, president of O’Brien International, vice president of The Coleman Company, and various roles with The Pillsbury Company. Weber was also managing director of U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Seattle Investment Banking practice and a commercial banking officer at Norwest Bank Minneapolis (now Wells Fargo). He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management and a Master of Business Administration degree with high distinction from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.


Find Jim on social: @jimweberseattle (Twitter)Jim Weber (LinkedIn)

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News and notables

Jim Weber and Running with Purpose are making headlines:

The New York Times Corner Office: The CEO of a Running Company Who Can No Longer Run

Read article

Acquired Podcast Arena Show Part II: Brooks Running (with CEO Jim Weber)

Connect to podcast

2022 SXSW Keynote

Watch video

Giving back

Brooks believes in a world where everyone is welcome to run and has a place to do it. Jim Weber will donate all profits from Running with Purpose to the Brooks Booster Club, a needs-based grant program that provides performance running footwear, apparel, and funding to under-resourced high school cross country and track teams.

Brooks Booster Club coach with athletes
Illustrated pile of books

Other inquiries

For Running with Purpose bulk book buys, book-related speaking engagements, and media inquiries, please contact RunningWithPurpose@brooksrunning.com.

Runners on the cover of the Running with Purpose playlist cover

Fine-tune your reading

Jim Weber’s life has a soundtrack, starting with the music his mother loved and played in his childhood home including Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Elvis, and more. For many long runs since, he has created the perfect playlist to fit the moment, so it only felt natural for Jim to create the soundtrack for this book as well. Tune in to this Running with Purpose playlist to add some sonic context to your read.