ATTITUDES THAT GUARANTEE SUCCESS. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

POT OF GOLD
A most glorious rainbow brightened up the Singapore skyline as the sunset. Students I was teaching wanted to stop and enjoy the rare sighting of the beautiful hues cascading between the skyscrapers. Exclamations of this is so lucky and rainbows mean good luck delighted the class and it took a good 10 minutes before we resumed again.

NO PIE IN THE SKY
While luck may play a role in business and personal success, having the right values and attitudes is a surer way to guarantee success. The topic under discussion in the class centered upon the values of Sam Walton of Walmart fame.

BOUQUETS AND BRICKBATS
Whatever you think of Walmart the company personally, there is no denying that the conglomerate has enjoyed rapid commercial success in a relatively short period of time since its founding in 1962.

ROCK SOLID
The Walmart website proudly espouses the values of the founder Sam Walton also known as Mr Sam. The House that Walton built was built on his values, values that underpin and pervade the day-to-day operations of the organization. These core values include rules and specific guidance on the codes of conduct.

THE SUNDOWN RULE
This rule emphasizes same-day service. The company does its best to answer requests by the end of business on the day they are received. Whatever the matter is, there should be an answer as soon as possible, ideally replied on the same day it is received.

10-FOOT RULE
Walton regarded this as one of the secrets of both his personal success and his professional success. The 10-foot Rule is one of the secrets of success of customer service. Walton encouraged associates (employees) to take this pledge with him. “I promise that whenever I come within 10 feet of a customer, I will look him in the eye, greet him, and ask if can help him.”

SERVANT LEADERSHIP
Effective leaders do not lead from behind their desks, Walton believed. “It’s more important than ever that we develop leaders who are servants, who listen to their partners – their associates – in a way that creates wonderful morale to help the whole team accomplish an overall goal,” Walton said.

TEAMWORK
Lastly, Walton encouraged teamwork. He believed in the power of teamwork and felt that teamwork was becoming increasingly important as the pace of modern life quickens.

PERSONAL VALUES
Walton was one of the richest men in America but it was not all work and no play for him. However, it was certainly a case of work hard, play hard.

WHAT’S LUCK GOT TO DO WITH IT
I am sure that Walton did enjoy some luck, the luck of being in the right place at the right time. The luck that comes from having a good idea and pursuing and actualizing that good idea. But after that solid values, hard work and good leadership have sustained both Walton and Walmart.