Sam Walton: Made In America

Sam Walton

Sep 2012 · Sold by Bantam

About this ebook

In this “sure-fire all-American success story” (The New York Times Book Review), the founder of Wal-Mart describes the inspiration, heart, and optimism that propelled him to build the largest retailer in the world.

“[A] wise and inspiring autobiography—Walton tells his quietly fantastic story with conviction and makes no bones about his mistakes.”—San Francisco Chronicle
 
Meet a genuine American folk hero cut from the homespun cloth of America’s heartland: Sam Walton, who parlayed a single dime store in a hardscrabble cotton town into the retail giant Wal-Mart. 
 
In Sam Walton: Made in America, he tells his extraordinary story in his own inimitable words. Genuinely modest but always sure of his ambitions and achievements, he shares a revealing perspective on the elements of his success along with his philosophy of life and practical business advice, including:
 
• Competition: I’ve always had a passion to compete. Our story proves that spirited competition is good for business
• Partnership: Individuals don’t win; teams do. Wal-Mart is just a spectacular example of what happens when people find a way to work together.
• Money: Success has always had its price and I learned that lesson the hard way.
• Celebrity: I’m not sure I ever really figured out this celebrity business. Why do I drive a pickup truck? What am I supposed to haul my dog around in, a Rolls-Royce?
• Family: The kids received your everyday heartland upbringing based on the same old bedrock values: a belief in the importance of hard work, honestly, neighborliness, and thrift.
 
A compelling self-portrait, Sam Walton: Made in America is an inspiring ode to the American Dream.

Ratings and reviews

Business is simple. Put the customer first, last, and everything in between. Sam Walton's sage advice will stand the test of time and will remain true as long as human beings trade with each other. A lot of businesses start focusing on their own problems once they grow big. They ignore the fact that they exist for the customer. It's all downhill from there on and no amount of business wizardry and fancy consulting will help. Every function in a business must ask itself - Does what I am doing help make the customer's life easier, faster, happier, nicer, and does it put a smile on their face? If not, then that function needs to change pronto! Thank you Sam for sharing your life story with us. It inspires us ordinary folk to aspire to do better every which way every day.

This is a very interesting book and really sheds a lot of light into the world of the retail big box stores. I would recommended this book if you are intrigued about about Walmart came to be and who was Sam Walton. There are pieces of this book that were frustrating to read because of Sam's out of touch nature with his store level "associates"

I have taught the topic of management accounting for undergraduates and have never quite fully comprehend why textbooks have so much regard for Sam. Fortunately, time is on my side to read his life story. Its also a good reminder to be passionate and to pursue with our best in whatever we do.

About the author

Sam Walton was an American businessman and entrepreneur, best known for founding the retailers Walmart and Sam's Club.

John Huey served as editor-in-chief of Time Inc until 2012. The former editor of The Wall Street Journal/Europe and founding editor of Southpoint magazine, he has long reported on the business world and has profiled many of its leading personalities.