Sam Walton - A Business Brain I’d Like To Pick
If I could spend time with any business leader, dead or alive, it would be Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart. I read Sam’s book, Made in America, in 2002 and it became an inspirational book for me as a leader in an emerging retailer. To me, Sam was the most passionate retailer and merchandiser ever and I wanted lululemon to have the same level of enthusiasm, attention to detail, and merchandising prowess as Wal-Mart.
You may not know this but Sam Walton’s book was the reason sales people at lululemon became ‘educators’. We were so inspired by Sam’s quirkiness that it reinforced our desire to push the limits of corporate culture. Made in America became mandatory reading at lululemon.
Of course Wal-Mart is villainized and is as much a hated company as it is a revered company. The way I see it, they live under the old business paradigm of maximizing profit for shareholders and have been very successful. At one point Sam Walton was the richest person in America. If you measure success in dollars, which most business do, Sam Walton and Wal-Mart are winners.
Wal-Mart haters argue against low employee wages, lack of health benefits, and promoting foreign manufacturing. Supporters relish the benefits of low prices and the overall cost of living savings the retailer has created for the average American. What I see is a successful retailer that has quickly become a global advocate for sustainability efforts. They do not have to be social impact advocates, but they are.
If I could resurrect Sam Walton today I would love to hear his opinion of how his company is perceived in the world. I would love to walk through a few stores with him for his famous walk-abouts and feel his passion for both his stores and his customers. Besides a renewed passion for retailing, I would probably leave more ambitious than ever to prove to the world that business is a tool for positive change in the world.
Comment below and tell me what you think about Wal-Mart, whether you shop there, and who you would love to spend time with.
Written by: Darrell Kopke, Skool Principal
I loved this book too. It’s amazing to look back and understand how one man with a station-wagon used to shuttle goods from NYC to his little retail store. Sam’s story is a testament to hard work and perseverance and believing in yourself.
I don’t shop much at Walmart (no locations in Vancouver) but I do love the store and the business model.
The Walmart computer system used to provide immediate sales totals for suppliers is comparable to what google analytics does for the web!