What I Learned From Sam Walton: How to Compete and Thrive in a Wal-Mart World
"Innovative ideas backed by visionary leadership and hard work can lead to transformational changes in the world in which we live."–From the IntroductionThe late Sam Walton began his march to retailing supremacy by building stores in rural areas across the southern United States. After establishing himself and gaining momentum, he began his expansion campaign in the west, north, and northeast–using his innovative business techniques to catch his competitors flatfooted. Walton was innovative, visionary, and hardworking, but these weren’t the only traits that enabled him to take Wal-Mart to the top of the retailing world.If you want to compete in today’s Wal-Mart world, what better way to improve your business than to learn from the strongest and fastest competitor?  In What I Learned from Sam Walton, author Michael Bergdahl uncovers and unravels the principles, culture, and secrets of Wal-Mart’s unprecedented success in a way that no one else can. As a former director under Sam Walton, Bergdahl draws upon his firsthand observations of Walton, his company, and its executive team to help you adapt Wal-Mart’s best practices and principles to your own organization.With an insider’s perspective, Bergdahl peels back the cultural layers of Wal-Mart and gives you a glimpse into the mind of the founder of the world’s largest retailer. He also shares seven effective strategies you can take from Wal-Mart to build your business. These seven strategies are illustrated by the acronym P.O.C.K.E.T.S.–because to compete effectively you have to carve out a niche or business "pocket" for your company.Each aspect of the P.O.C.K.E.T.S. strategy is fully examined, with the author devoting an entire chapter to each tactic, namely:P	–	PriceO	–	OperationsC	–	CultureK	–	Key Item Promotion/ProductE	–	ExpensesT	–	TalentS	–	ServiceIn each chapter, you’ll be introduced to some of the inside strategies and tactics utilized by Sam Walton and Wal-Mart.Wal-Mart’s success strategies and tactics are easy to understand, yet hard to duplicate. What I Learned from Sam Walton offers a portrayal of Wal-Mart’s strengths and provides strategies, tactics, and ideas you can implement today that will enable you to compete.