Categories: Founder Stories

Sam Walton – What Was The Motivation Behind Sam Walton’s Decision To Find Wal-Mart?

What is the motivation of Sam Walton?

Sam Walton has one question: ‘What to do to improve business?’ His success was due to his simple business philosophy of serving his customers. His commitment resulted in immense success.

His belief was to live his promise by selling items customers could trust as delivery and ensure simple savings.

Sam opened in 1962, in Rogers, Arkansas, at the age of 44 his first Wal-Mart shop. It was to give value and opportunity to his customers.

What were Wal-Mart’s reasons for success?

Sam Walton says Walmart is merchandise-driven retail and not operation-driven. The strategy of an operation-driven business implies improving efficiency and working to reduce expenses. His entrepreneurial spirit focused on goodness.

Walton always liked to get information from retailers, and as he found ideas, he incorporated them into his business. He also learned if he was right or wrong from retailers. Walton announced profit share to his workers on learning that it gave a stake in the success of the company. Thus, he promoted teamwork among employees teamwork.

Walton was honest to admit he needed help and did not know a lot of things. He was not comfortable with computers. But he installed an inventory management system in 1980 that was computerized, outpacing K-Mart, its rival. Even today, Walton is popular for his business expansion and growth, a success model more than a decade after his death.

Sam Walton’s lessons

Understand the dollar value

Walton did not go for a flashy lifestyle. He kept a balance in his life keeping expenses away. People liked enjoying rich experiences and later suffered from losing money, which he disliked. He believed in providing value even by cutting his expenses. He liked wise spending of money. Thus the motto of Wal-Mart: Save money. Live better.

Walton’s visionary leadership did not let him spend more than he traveled with his executives and slept two in a room. He ate at family restaurants and not Star hotels. He had eighteen airplanes, and not one was brand new.

Learn from mistakes and safeguard your success

Walton worked in Arkansas for five years and outperformed his competitors by building the most profitable variety of stores. Regrettably, he lost as his landlord refused to renew the lease.

The man gave nothing in exchange for a fair price and left behind all the built success. Walton did not blame anyone and went on with his positive mindset. He realized someone in the family had experience in law and encouraged Rob, his son, to become a lawyer.

The key to success is to get out into the store and listen to what the associates have to say.

Learn everything about your business

Learning everything about your business is crucial. It helps you know better. Walmart stores have dominated for years now the retail industry. Walton learned from his barber about retail work, and his brothers made his variety store into a sixty-store chain.

Walton spent his Sundays learning the business at his manager`s house and kept talking about retailing. He spent at his competitor’s store his lunch breaks to copy the best practices.

Wrapping UP

Walton had a competitive nature, and he learned from his mother to handle life seriously. He waited at the tables for meals in exchange, worked as a lifeguard, and stopped receiving allowance at the beginning of high school. He made money in his college days despite the 20th-century depression.

The entrepreneurial spirit of Walton, besides his intense experience, set his mind to understand teamwork. He realized his ego should not take its way as it is not appropriate to develop a strong business.

Sameer
Sameer is a writer, entrepreneur and investor. He is passionate about inspiring entrepreneurs and women in business, telling great startup stories, providing readers with actionable insights on startup fundraising, startup marketing and startup non-obviousnesses and generally ranting on things that he thinks should be ranting about all while hoping to impress upon them to bet on themselves (as entrepreneurs) and bet on others (as investors or potential board members or executives or managers) who are really betting on themselves but need the motivation of someone else’s endorsement to get there.

Recent Posts

The Biggest Challenges Modern Entrepreneurs Face and How to Overcome

Starting a business today is exciting, but it can feel like swimming upstream. You have a big dream, you want…

4 hours ago

Top 9 TikTok Management Tools for Agencies and Creators in 2025

TikTok has exploded into one of the most influential social media platforms in the world, with over 1 billion active…

12 hours ago

Why Speed, Security, and SEO All Start With Charlotte WordPress Developers

The Digital Trifecta No One Warns You About Charlotte WordPress developers don’t just make a website pretty; they make it…

1 day ago

The Importance of Financial Security in the Digital Era

In today’s digital age, the way we manage money has drastically changed. From online banking to digital wallets and mobile…

1 day ago

India in Stories: The Cultural Canvas of Amar Chitra Katha Generations have grown up reading Amar Chitra

Katha comics, where India’s heritage is woven into colourful panels, featuring unforgettable characters. For many, these slim comic books were…

1 day ago

Enhancing Utility and Comfort: The Role of Can-Am Defender Accessories and Soft Doors

The Can-Am Defender is one of the most capable and versatile UTVs ever built. Whether you’re crossing rugged trails, tending…

1 day ago