kiran_ksk
68

"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
amruta.mathure
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
Abhishek Arun
1

Kiran, That was enriching, really good article hope to see some of them in future too Regards Abhishek Arun
From India, Chicalim
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