Book Review: Made in America by Sam Walton

When a person shares their life story, it is supposed to serve a dual purpose: to inspire other  people to achieve what the person has achieved, or to educate the audience. Learning from the experiences of others is said to be the cheapest way to learn. That said, the internet age makes it incredibly difficult to learn from others’ experience. See we have been brought up to believe that our teachers must be these mistakes-free almost godly characters, and if they’re not then they lose the moral authority to teach us anything. The internet age means that every mistake a famous person has made is out there for us to read even before they write their story. 

When I started reading this book, I was no stranger to the issues Walmart has faced over the years, from bribery allegations to class suits, to sexual discrimination to employee exploitation. Depending on where you stand, Walmart is either an example of how anything is possible in America or how big business can be bad for the economy.
Despite the bad I knew, I chose to be inspired by Sam Walton’s life story. The company he founded has clear ethical issues, but only the most obstinate would fail to be inspired by what he accomplished.

Made in America begins in 1985 when Sam Walton is named America’s richest man, something that perturbed him because he not only had no idea that such a ranking existed, he also did not consider himself rich. He recounts how hounded he felt by reporters and photographers who hunted him down to his home town Bentonville. Their hopes of finding him swimming in pools of money were dashed, as they found a simple man who drove a truck with his dogs in the back. This down-to-earth humility is evident throughout the book.

Made in America is very simply written, and you can almost hear Sam’s voice as you read. If you have listened to voice before, then the book is a familiar voice.

I like that he doesn’t embellish his humble beginnings or even his weaknesses. He admits that his penny pinching attitude (which he credits for success at the beginning), has sometimes hurt his business and cost him good people. He also admits that taking care of his workers needs was something his wife had to arm twist him into doing, it did not come naturally to him. This is a big admission for the owner of a company that has grown to be America’s biggest employer and  it could explain why employee issues remain a thorn on Walmart’s side.

Made in America gives you as much detail about the Walmart story, as one can possibly squeeze into 300 pages of print. He also gives his 10 rules of success in business which sound very familiar, simple and obvious. Goes to show that success in business is not really a secret. 

He introduces the book and his story as follows:

Is a story about entrepreneurship and risk, and hard work, and knowing where you want to go and being willing to do what it takes to get there. It is a story about believing in your ideas even when maybe some other folks don’t and sticking to your guns. But I think more than anything it proves that there is absolutely no limit to what plain, ordinary working people can accomplish if they are given the opportunity and the encouragement and the incentive to do their best. Because that’s how Wal-Mart became Wal-Mart.

I think the book accomplishes this excellently.

I definitely recommend it as a ready by any entrepreneur, but remember, you have to choose to be inspired. Perfect teachers are extinct. In fact they never existed.  Follow the link below to buy a copy.