--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Someone asked me about what's it like…" description: "\"Someone asked me about what's it like managing 2.2 million associates, and I said, 'When they're Wal-Mart associates, it's not all that hard because of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/mike-duke-31185_about_someone-asked-me-about-what-s-it-like-ma_198072.jpg" --- # Someone asked me about what's it like managing 2.2 million… ![“Someone asked me about what's it like managing 2.2 million associates, and I said, 'When they're Wal-Mart associates, it's not all that hard because of the quality and the depth of our talent.' I'm really proud of the fact that 70% of the managers in the U.S. started as hourly associates with our…” quote by Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/mike-duke-31185_about_someone-asked-me-about-what-s-it-like-ma_198072.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/mike-duke-31185_about_someone-asked-me-about-what-s-it-like-ma_198072.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de7/mike-duke-31185_about_someone-asked-me-about-what-s-it-like-ma_198072.jpg) > “Someone asked me about what's it like managing 2.2 million associates, and I said, 'When they're Wal-Mart associates, it's not all that hard because of the quality and the depth of our talent.' I'm really proud of the fact that 70% of the managers in the U.S. started as hourly associates with our company.” [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Managing millions of workers is easier when they are skilled and promoted from within. **In simple terms:** Promoting from within simplifies management. Key Takeaway Invest in employee development and internal promotion. Themes leadership talent development corporate culture Mood optimistic proud Type strategic motivational When to use this quote - large retail chain - global workforce - HR strategy - manager training - succession planning Key Concepts human resources career progression employee retention Questions to Reflect On - How can companies balance internal promotion with fresh perspectives? - What support do hourly workers need to become managers? A Different Perspective Reliance on internal talent may limit diversity of ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked/) [Associates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/associates/) [Associates Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/associates-hard-2075721/) [Associates Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/associates-said-2075723/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fact/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hourly Associates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hourly-associates-2075724/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Managers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/managers/) [Managers Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/managers-started-455231/) [Managing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/managing/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Million](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million/) [Million Associates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-associates-2075722/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someone/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Wal-mart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wal-mart/) ## Related quotes > [Ninety percent of our managers started in the hourly ranks or started in the lower ranks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-bill-marriott-jr/ninety-percent-of-our-managers-started-in-the-hourly-ranks-or-started/) [J. W. "Bill" Marriott, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-bill-marriott-jr/) > [After I won Miss Universe, my managers started telling me I have to start putting on less makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pia-wurtzbach/after-i-won-miss-universe-my-managers-started-telling-me-i-have-to/) [Pia Wurtzbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pia-wurtzbach/) > [I was always intrigued when I was growing up, and then in engineering school, with the idea of a perpetual machine. I think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-was-always-intrigued-when-i-was-growing-up-and-then-in-engineering/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [If I spend all of my day in the details as a CEO of a company like Wal-Mart, I think it would be trouble,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/if-i-spend-all-of-my-day-in-the-details-as-a-ceo-of-a-company-like/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [Wal-Mart, we've been known for many years - back to the days of when Sam Walton started the company - we've been known for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/wal-mart-we-ve-been-known-for-many-years-back-to-the-days-of-when-sam/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [It's interesting: the letters I get from mayors that want Wal-Mart to look and invest in their community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/it-s-interesting-the-letters-i-get-from-mayors-that-want-wal-mart-to/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [At Wal-Mart, it goes back to Sam Walton and the foundation and business model that we simply operate for less, or everyday low cost.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/at-wal-mart-it-goes-back-to-sam-walton-and-the-foundation-and/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [There's a lot of wishful thinking that somehow we'll replace fossil fuels with alternative energy sources, but they remain far from reality. We're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/there-s-a-lot-of-wishful-thinking-that-somehow-we-ll-replace-fossil/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [You can find a lot of reasonable buys at Wal-Mart. But one key to making it on a budget is by donating your time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/you-can-find-a-lot-of-reasonable-buys-at-wal-mart-but-one-key-to/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I think Kathie Lee Gifford had a line at Wal-mart, and Monica Lewinsky had a line of handbags.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-bateman/i-think-kathie-lee-gifford-had-a-line-at-wal-mart-and-monica-lewinsky/) [Justine Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-bateman/) > [Wal-Mart does not do big mergers, though it will buy much smaller competitors in so-called 'tuck-in acquisitions.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/wal-mart-does-not-do-big-mergers-though-it-will-buy-much-smaller/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [But they are also better, our competitors are better because Wal-Mart exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-scott/but-they-are-also-better-our-competitors-are-better-because-wal-mart/) [Lee Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-scott/) > [Ahead now, I think you'll see the big nations shrink back into their own corners of the world. I'm not saying we'll see no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/ahead-now-i-think-you-ll-see-the-big-nations-shrink-back-into-their/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [Wal-Mart has always paid low wages, or, as Sam Walton put it, 'as little as we could get by with at the time.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/wal-mart-has-always-paid-low-wages-or-as-sam-walton-put-it-as-little/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [“He hung his head. “Am I punished?” “Yes. I’m too mad to punish you right now. We’ll talk about it when we get home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-hung-his-head-am-i-punished-yes-i-m-too-mad-to-punish-you-right/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) ## More by Mike Duke > [I do spend really focused time with my wife, my kids, grandkids, and so when I'm doing something or on a golf course, work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-do-spend-really-focused-time-with-my-wife-my-kids-grandkids-and-so/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [I spend my time being a retailer, not an economist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-spend-my-time-being-a-retailer-not-an-economist/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [I'm still very bullish on emerging markets. There's an emerging middle class. They're a growing group of customers. And frankly, they want Walmart. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-m-still-very-bullish-on-emerging-markets-there-s-an-emerging-middle/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [I actually think it's better I started by being close to customers. That foundation early on helped me later when I went into logistics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-actually-think-it-s-better-i-started-by-being-close-to-customers/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [At Wal-Mart, it goes back to Sam Walton and the foundation and business model that we simply operate for less, or everyday low cost.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/at-wal-mart-it-goes-back-to-sam-walton-and-the-foundation-and/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [It's interesting: the letters I get from mayors that want Wal-Mart to look and invest in their community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/it-s-interesting-the-letters-i-get-from-mayors-that-want-wal-mart-to/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [I think every responsible public board at every board meeting should be discussing succession. And, of course, Walmart has a very mature board: our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-think-every-responsible-public-board-at-every-board-meeting-should/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [I usually get up between 5:30 and 6. The good news in Bentonville, Arkansas, is I can be in the office seven minutes later.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-usually-get-up-between-5-30-and-6-the-good-news-in-bentonville/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [I probably went into sports with a sense of competitiveness and came out of it even more competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-probably-went-into-sports-with-a-sense-of-competitiveness-and-came/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [We've done both. We can do both. We can raise the quality and still have Walmart prices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/we-ve-done-both-we-can-do-both-we-can-raise-the-quality-and-still/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [I'm not always thinking and working ... I think a leader has to really be a balanced, whole and healthy person personally in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-m-not-always-thinking-and-working-i-think-a-leader-has-to-really-be/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [We see great growth in the United States. But also in China, Brazil, the U.K., and other markets around the world. So ecommerce is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/we-see-great-growth-in-the-united-states-but-also-in-china-brazil-the/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [Wal-Mart, we've been known for many years - back to the days of when Sam Walton started the company - we've been known for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/wal-mart-we-ve-been-known-for-many-years-back-to-the-days-of-when-sam/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [If I spend all of my day in the details as a CEO of a company like Wal-Mart, I think it would be trouble,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/if-i-spend-all-of-my-day-in-the-details-as-a-ceo-of-a-company-like/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) > [I was always intrigued when I was growing up, and then in engineering school, with the idea of a perpetual machine. I think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duke/i-was-always-intrigued-when-i-was-growing-up-and-then-in-engineering/) [Mike Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) [Explore all 16 Mike Duke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duke/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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