"HARI SADU!" H for Hitler, A for Arrogant, R for Rascal and I for
Idiot; during a TV commercial, this is the way an executive is shown
telling the correct spelling of his boss's name over a telephone
call. Three exposures to this ad set me thinking, "Who is Hari
Sadu?" "What if he's there in me?" And "What if he's there in the
other managers?" And my fears weren't unfounded! Each one of us may
have behaved like Hitler or as an arrogant person, or as a Rascal or
Idiot some times in life. Yet, "Is this how we want others to think
about us?"
As I was entertaining these thoughts, I came across the copy of "Made
in America", by Sam Walton. The following are the excerpts from the
first few pages:
Hello, friends, I'm Sam Walton, founder and Chairman of Wal-Mart
Stores. By now I hope you've shopped in one of our stores or may be
bought some stock in our company. If you have, you probably already
know how proud I am of what is simply the miracle that all these Wal-
Mart associates of mine have accomplished in the thirty years since
we opened our first Wal-Mart here in northwest Arkansas, which Wal-
Mart and I still call home. As hard as it is to believe sometimes,
we've grown from that one little store into what is now the largest
retailing outfit in the world. And we've really had a heck of a time
along the way.
I realize we have been through something amazing here at Wal-Mart,
something special that we ought to share more of with all the folks
who have been so loyal to our stores and to our company. That's one
thing we never did much of while we were building Wal-Mart, talk
about ourselves or do a whole lot of bragging outside the Wal-Mart
family - except when we had to convince some banker or some Wall
Street financier that we intended to amount to something someday,
that we were worth taking a chance on. When folks have asked me, "How
did Wal-Mart do it?" I've usually been flip about answering
them. "Friend, we just got after it and stayed after it, " I'd say.
The Wal-Mart story is unique: Nothing quite like it has been done
before. So may be by telling it the way it really happened, we can
help some other folks down the line take these same principles and
apply them to their dreams and make them come true.
Life has been great to me, probably better than any man has a right
to expect. At home I've been blessed with a wife and a family who've
stuck together and loved each other and indulged my lifelong
obsession with minding the store. At work my business life has been
spent in lock step with an incredible group of Wal-Mart associates
who have put up with all my aggravation and bullheadedness and pulled
together to make what once appeared truly impossible now seem
expected and routine.
So first I want to dedicate this book to Helen Robson Walton and the
four fine kids she raised - with some help along the way from the old
man - our sons Rob, John, and Jim and our daughter Alice. Then I want
to dedicate it to all my partners - and I wish I could recognize
everyone of you individually, but we've talked over the years and you
know how I feel about you - and to all 400, 000 of my associates-
partners who've made this wild, wild Wal-Mart ride so much fun and so
special. Much of this book is really our story.
I reflected, "In stead of saying such things at the fag end of my
business career, why not I say it today; when it matters most." I
have decided that when the office opens after the week end, people
would see a sign out side: "This company is great because Archana
starts the day for us much before 8 am. This company is great because
Vinod does those small little things that we can use our office
without a hitch through out the year. "
I can already feel a wave of joy building inside me.
Regards
Kiran
From India, Hyderabad
68Idiot; during a TV commercial, this is the way an executive is shown
telling the correct spelling of his boss's name over a telephone
call. Three exposures to this ad set me thinking, "Who is Hari
Sadu?" "What if he's there in me?" And "What if he's there in the
other managers?" And my fears weren't unfounded! Each one of us may
have behaved like Hitler or as an arrogant person, or as a Rascal or
Idiot some times in life. Yet, "Is this how we want others to think
about us?"
As I was entertaining these thoughts, I came across the copy of "Made
in America", by Sam Walton. The following are the excerpts from the
first few pages:
Hello, friends, I'm Sam Walton, founder and Chairman of Wal-Mart
Stores. By now I hope you've shopped in one of our stores or may be
bought some stock in our company. If you have, you probably already
know how proud I am of what is simply the miracle that all these Wal-
Mart associates of mine have accomplished in the thirty years since
we opened our first Wal-Mart here in northwest Arkansas, which Wal-
Mart and I still call home. As hard as it is to believe sometimes,
we've grown from that one little store into what is now the largest
retailing outfit in the world. And we've really had a heck of a time
along the way.
I realize we have been through something amazing here at Wal-Mart,
something special that we ought to share more of with all the folks
who have been so loyal to our stores and to our company. That's one
thing we never did much of while we were building Wal-Mart, talk
about ourselves or do a whole lot of bragging outside the Wal-Mart
family - except when we had to convince some banker or some Wall
Street financier that we intended to amount to something someday,
that we were worth taking a chance on. When folks have asked me, "How
did Wal-Mart do it?" I've usually been flip about answering
them. "Friend, we just got after it and stayed after it, " I'd say.
The Wal-Mart story is unique: Nothing quite like it has been done
before. So may be by telling it the way it really happened, we can
help some other folks down the line take these same principles and
apply them to their dreams and make them come true.
Life has been great to me, probably better than any man has a right
to expect. At home I've been blessed with a wife and a family who've
stuck together and loved each other and indulged my lifelong
obsession with minding the store. At work my business life has been
spent in lock step with an incredible group of Wal-Mart associates
who have put up with all my aggravation and bullheadedness and pulled
together to make what once appeared truly impossible now seem
expected and routine.
So first I want to dedicate this book to Helen Robson Walton and the
four fine kids she raised - with some help along the way from the old
man - our sons Rob, John, and Jim and our daughter Alice. Then I want
to dedicate it to all my partners - and I wish I could recognize
everyone of you individually, but we've talked over the years and you
know how I feel about you - and to all 400, 000 of my associates-
partners who've made this wild, wild Wal-Mart ride so much fun and so
special. Much of this book is really our story.
I reflected, "In stead of saying such things at the fag end of my
business career, why not I say it today; when it matters most." I
have decided that when the office opens after the week end, people
would see a sign out side: "This company is great because Archana
starts the day for us much before 8 am. This company is great because
Vinod does those small little things that we can use our office
without a hitch through out the year. "
I can already feel a wave of joy building inside me.
Regards
Kiran
From India, Hyderabad
heyy Kirann...
Awesum Article....i can surely make use of some of the quotes of Mr. Samuel Walton......coz m workin on Walmart'z Succes Case Study in my B-school....
thankz...
Regards,
Amruta....
From India, Thana
Awesum Article....i can surely make use of some of the quotes of Mr. Samuel Walton......coz m workin on Walmart'z Succes Case Study in my B-school....
thankz...
Regards,
Amruta....
From India, Thana
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