I learned early on that one of the secrets to campus leadership was the simplest thing of all: speak to people coming down the sidewalk before they speak to you. I did that in college. I did it when I carried my papers. I would always look ahead and speak to the person coming toward me. If I knew them, I would call them by name, but even if I didn't I would still speak to them. Before long, I probably knew more students than anybody in the university, and they recognized me and considered me their friend.

To succeed in this world, you have to change all the time.

There are only four things in life that matter. The first is happiness and I'll sell you the other three for a dollar.

Exceed your customer's expectations. If you do, they'll come back over and over. Give them what they want - and a little more.

I not only knew I wanted to go into retailing, I also knew I wanted to go into business for myself.

Celebrate your success and find humor in your failures. Don't take yourself so seriously. Loosen up and everyone around you will loosen up. Have fun and always show enthusiasm. When all else fails, put on a costume and sing a silly song.

After a lifetime of swimming upstream, I am convinced that one of the real secrets to Wal-mart's phenomenal success has been that very tendency.