New Book to Outline Lessons
on Wal-Mart's Success

AUGUST 01, 2004 -- The latest book on the world's largest retailer will hit bookstores next month. In What I Learned From Sam Walton, author Michael Bergdahl unravels the principles, culture and secrets of Wal-Mart's unprecedented success in a way that few others can. As a former director under Walton, Bergdahl draws upon his first-hand observations of Walton, his company and its executive team to help retailers adapt Wal-Mart's best practices and principles to their own organizations.

With an insider's perspective, Bergdahl peels back the cultural layers of Wal-Mart and provides a glimpse into the mind of the founder of the world's largest retailer. He also shares seven effective strategies from Wal-Mart that can help retailers to build their own business.

Bergdahl formerly worked with Sam Walton in Bentonville, AR, at Wal-Mart headquarters. It was Walton who gave Bergdahl the nickname, "Bird Dawg."

When Sam Walton died, Bergdahl left Wal-Mart and went to work as a member of an executive turnaround team at American Eagle Outfitters (AE). The AE leadership team turned the company around and took it public. The stock subsequently split four times while he was there. He then joined the turnaround team at Waste Management.