Sam Walton

Sammy and his younger brother, Bud, worked hard around the family farm. There were always chores to do and the two boys helped as much as they could. Every morning, they rose early to milk the cows. Even though they both worked hard and the chores were not always pleasant, taking care of the cattle was especially distasteful to Bud because he didn’t even like milk. Every now and then, his older brother, Sammy, would mischievously take aim while milking and squirt a stream of warm milk all over Bud. When Bud grew older, he even hated ice cream

The hard work and responsibilities allowed the brothers to develop a mature work ethic. On a farm, every one has duties and all work together to maintain the whole. Even though Sammy loved to work around the farm the bright young boy was gripped by a desire to make his own money. 

At the age of eight, Sammy woke up very early one morning with an especially exciting idea in his heart. With great anticipation, he had formulated a plan and was eager to share it. Full of excitement, he ran down the still dark hall to his parent’s bedroom and banged on their door.

“Daddy, answer the door!”

Startled, Sammy’s dad, Thomas, bolted from his bed and quickly opened the door. “What’s wrong Sammy?”

Sammy was almost jumping up and down with enthusiasm. “I can’t go back to sleep. I have an idea.”

Thomas settled into a comfortable chair and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He pulled his oldest son over and stood the boy squarely in front of him. “Well Sammy, what is it? Tell me what’s on your mind.”

Taking a deep and serious breath, Sammy looked his dad straight in the eye, his gaze steady, “I think it’s about time we had a serious conversion about all the hard work I’ve been doing around this farm.”

Sammy’s dad chuckled at the statement. “Oh?”

Sammy continued, “In fact, I think it’s about time I start my own business and go into business for myself.”

Sitting in the cool, still dawn, watching his earnest barefoot child, Thomas’ first impulse was to laugh, but as he considered Sammy’s stern look, he recognized that his son had inherited his own entrepreneurial determination.

Thomas clasped Sammy’s hand in a firm shake, “Son, if you think it’s time to go into business for yourself, you go for it. You are a humble boy with great courage and if you set your mind to it, you can do anything.”

Sammy’s father, Thomas, was himself a business man. Not all men admired the business he engaged in however. Thomas repossessed properties for a mortgage company that was owned by his brother. Thomas was determined to provide for his family, in spite of the fact that involvement with that aspect of banking gave Thomas a bad reputation. During the Depression, Thomas was often forced to repossess farms, but he was not a heartless man and used as much grace as possible.

His father’s permission was all the motivation Sammy needed and he immediately began preparations for his first venture. The fields and woods surrounding the farm teemed with wildlife. He set traps all around the area and soon caught and prepared a substantial inventory of pigeons and rabbits. Sammy’s Pigeon and Rabbit Stand performed better than the average stands in Sammy’s neighborhood. Sammy developed his natural gift for business and was soon doing quite well.

Thomas had diligently taught Sammy to be modest and humble in all his actions. Even though his business allowed the family to live comfortably, nobody really knew that Sammy’s family was better off than average. His family dressed and lived just like all of the other struggling farm families in Missouri. Young Sammy had learned well and remained a humble eight year old entrepreneur and never bragged or boasted. This early philosophy of humbleness made a deep impression on Sammy’s life that would stay with him in his prosperity.

While walking home one afternoon, 14-year-old Sam heard the voice of a young man crying out from a nearby river, “Help, I’m drowning.”

Sam didn’t think about his own safety; he dove into the water and pulled the boy out. By that time, the boy was unconscious and not breathing, but Sam performed artificial respiration until the boy began to breathe on his own.

“You saved my life!” the young man gasped. “Don’t even mention it,” Sam responded with his trademark modesty.

The community considered Sam a hero and the rescue made the local headlines. Years later, when asked about the incident, the adult Sam’s response was “truthfully, talking about this embarrasses me a good bit because I worry that it seems like I’m bragging or trying to make myself out to be some big hero. It particularly bothers me because I learned a long time ago that exercising your ego in public is definitely not the way to build an effective organization.” Even as a hero, Sam did not like to boast.

Sam met his future wife, Helen, at the University of Missouri and they both earned a degree in business. After they married, they decided to start a business together. In 1945, the ambitious couple moved to Newport, Arkansas and purchased a Ben Franklin retail store for $25,000. Sam was 27 at the time. The store was not performing well when Sam purchased it, but within two years he turned it into the most profitable Ben Franklin retail outlet in the six state region. Sam was realizing his potential as a great entrepreneur.

Sam and Helen Walton eventually moved to Bentonville, AK and with the help of Sam’s brother, Bud, began a larger retail franchise. The first store opened in 1962 and was originally named Wal-Mart Discount City. The business performed well and Sam became extremely wealthy. In 1991, Sam Walton was named the richest man in America. Before this point, little was known about Sam Walton. Reporters flocked to his hometown in Bentonville, to get a better idea of who he was.

Reporters were amazed by Sam Walton’s lifestyle. They couldn’t believe he lived such an ordinary life. The richest man in America blended in just like a common man. He drove an old beat up pick-up truck, with hunting dogs in the back. He wore a baseball cap, jeans, and a t-shirt to work. People were taken aback by his down-to-earth humble ways; this was not the typical lifestyle of a billionaire. Sam didn’t understand their bewilderment and asked, “What do they expect me to do, take my dogs around in a Rolls Royce?”

He realized he had been bestowed a gift from God to make money and that he was to use it to help others and in philanthropy. The Wal-Mart “associates” were amazed by Sam’s “evangelical ways”. Sam Walton was passionate about the success of Wal-Mart, but not for himself. His vision was to improve the quality of life for people by lowering their cost of living. The Vice President of Wal-Mart once said, “Mr. Walton has a calling.” His associates said “Mr. Sam spoke with ‘the air of a fiery Baptist preacher’”

Sam didn’t even carry around very much money. David Glass, his successor as CEO wondered if Sam even had any money. On business trips Sam often ran out of cash and asked David Glass to loan him some. “Does Sam have money? I’ve been traveling with him for thirty years, and you could never tell it by me. In fact, I’d say he was broke.”

True to his father’s teaching, Sam didn’t feel any need to carry around a fat wallet and drive around in flashy cars. He explained his modest life, “I don’t have any desire to buy a small island or a yacht. That’s what gets these other CEO’s into trouble.” Sam Walton simply rejected pride and embraced humility. He did not feel like he needed to try to impress people. He flew first class only one time in his life. Even as a billionaire with a total worth of 28 billion dollars, Sam remained a humble man.

Bernard Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot, made the following statement after meeting with Sam, “I hopped into Sam’s red pick-up truck. No air-conditioning. Seats stained by coffee. And by the time I go to the restaurant, my shirt was soaked through and through. And that was Sam Walton – no airs, no pomposity.”

One historian stated “of all the innovations that helped make him a billionaire, his greatest innovation as a CEO may have been that he himself did not change, [he ignored] the usual trappings of power.” Humility was his secret weapon. It was his competitive advantage. His competitors were withdrawing stock to live a prestigious lifestyle. He had no need for such a vain goal. Sam Walton was content to stay out of the public eye as much as possible. If he could sneak away on Sunday to go quail hunting, after church, that satisfied him plenty.

“For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.”

Ecclesiastes 5:7

Thanks to the following for contributions to this article:

Walton, Sam.  Made In America, (New York: Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, 1992)

Camerius, James W.  “Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.:  On Becoming The World’s Largest Company.”  Strategic Management and Busines Policy-10^th Edition Case Studies Section E (2002)

Gross, Daniel, Forbes Greatest Business Stories of all Time, (New York: Byron Preiss Visual Publications, 1996)

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