In today’s Washington Post Magazine, there was a great article on Kevin Plank and Under Armour.  Under Armour in addition to being close to home physically (I live near Baltimore), carries a personal connection. My nephew Kevin Kirk was recruited by CEO Kevin Plank to be an intern. After reading this article, I understand why Mr. Plank took such a shining to my college-age nephew: I think he sees in him the same entrepreneurial spirit he has always exhibited. Based on the article, it seems both Kevins (Plank and Kirk) spent a good deal of their teenage years finding different ways to make some money. For Plank, in college, it was selling flowers. For my nephew (who is still in college) it has been selling girls’ accessories like head bands, pashmina shawls, flip flops, purses – whatever he can get in cheap supply and sell at girls’ and women’s sports tournaments.

One of the things that stood out to me is how Under Armour has engaged in an intense battle to overtake their competition: Nike and Reebok. Sort of a David and Goliath story with multiple Goliaths. What Under Armour has accomplished so far is amazing and I’m sure if you asked someone today about starting up in an industry with such large, established competition they would tell you that you’re nuts. If anyone had told Kevin that, he certainly wasn’t listening. With smart marketing, sheer determination, and maniacal focus, Kevin Plank has beaten the odds and turned the company he started right out of college into a force to be reckoned with approaching $1B in revenues. Impressive indeed.

Given the sports/competition mentality of this company and having been to their offices a couple times, I’m certain the unifying mission to take on the giants in their industry is a powerful motivator and could be the catalyst for the innovation they’re going to need to overcome such formidable opponents. They have a young, smart workforce so I’m anxious to see what they come up with, but to materialize the kind of  innovation needed requires more than just an idea or two. You have to uncover and recognize the right opportunities (yes, there is a difference between IDEA and OPPORTUNITY) and then execute flawlessly. Kevin and UA have done this before, but will what got them here get them where they want to go next? Time will tell.

When I see their most recent approaches and new products, they seem to be taking a head-to-head approach with the Big Guys. They appear to be asking “How can we do that, too?” I wonder if they might be asking the wrong questions.  Hmmm. Maybe I’ll drop them a line and see if they could use a Muse. I just might know one.