Thanks to Alan Murray, editor-in-chief of Fortune, for reminding me of these rules.  They'e worth considering.  After all, Sam Walton used them to build Walmart to No. 1 on the Fortune 500 list and the Fortune Global 500 list.  Not bad for a business that started out as a 5-and-10 store in Northwest Arkansas.  Here's a summary:

• Commit to your business.
• Share your profits with your associates.
• Motivate your partners.
• Communicate everything you possibly can to your partners.
• Appreciate everything your associates do for the business.
• Celebrate your successes.
• Listen to everyone in your company.
• Exceed your customers’ expectations.
• Control your expenses better than your competition.
• Swim upstream.

And here's a link to a more detailed explanation.