High expectations is the key to everything.

I'd still say that visiting the stores and listening to our folks was one of the most valuable uses of my time as an executive. But really, our best ideas usually do come from the folks in the stores. Period.

I've always been driven to buck the system.

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.

If you don't listen to your customers, someone else will.

If one of our customers comes into the store without a smile, I'll give them one of mine.

Money and ownership alone aren't enough. Set high goals, encourage competition, and then keep score.