David Porter | FirstJobs Institute

David Porter

What was your first job?
I started in 1981 cleaning restrooms and sweeping the floors at Wal-Mart in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. I quit after high school and moved to Ada, Oklahoma, where I was hired at another Wal-Mart as a clerk/cashier.

How was your job different than you thought it would be?
First I was a high-school kid who wanted some spending money. But later, I needed a job to pay bills and I begged the store manager to hire me. I did everything from unloading trucks, cashing out customers, stocking, ordering, and various office functions. It was more versatile than I expected.

What important lessons or skills that you learned in your first job have been instrumental in your success?
I learned customer service skills in high school. "Sarge" took me under his wing and taught me how important it was to keep the customer as a focus. As I reflect back, I have learned many life lessons within a Wal-Mart store environment, ranging from the importance of diverse associates (such as people who understood fabric, hardware, etc...) to the importance of a strong work ethic. As Roger Staubach indicated in a recent presentation, "The road is lonely on the extra mile. Traffic jams simply don't exist."

Which of those lessons, and how, carried into subsequent jobs after your first? How do you use those skills in your position today?
I have been fortunate to experience a wide range of job opportunities within Wal-Mart Stores and attribute that to being willing to try and learn different skills. I have experienced the operating divisions of our company through roles as an hourly associate to store manager of high-volume, high-profile Supercenters. I also served as an officer within Information Systems Divisions, where I was responsible for Merchandising and Replenishment Systems on a worldwide basis.

The experience of my first job and the ability to adjust to the environment was learned within my early jobs at Wal-Mart. Versatility was rewarded and I was given the opportunity to "do more."

Have you seen how lacking those first job skills had negative effects on others?
As a front-line associate, I have the advantage of experience in reviewing business decisions and their impact to associates who are responsible for completing the work. I have also been fortunate to see the company through many different lenses: Accounting/Business Control as an internal auditor; Merchandising as a buyer and divisional manager; and Operations as a stocker, cashier, and manager. These different perspectives guide me as I work to provide more efficient solutions to customers, suppliers, or store associates.

Did someone give you advice that you carried and/or later passed on to someone else?
A great friend and mentor taught me a life lesson during a difficult time in my personal and professional life, "You control you." There were many times in my career when I could not understand why "stuff would happen to me." Once I grasped a deeper understanding of this concept, I began to focus on "what can I do" or "what can I change." All of my energy would be spent on things that were within my immediate sphere of influence rather than waste time worrying about what others were doing.

What obstacles that you faced had the greatest impact on your career path?
Moving from division to division within a large corporation is difficult and requires a "reset mentality." In the eyes of other colleagues, I moved "backwards" within the organization on several occasions and it was important for me to separate from the rumors, comments, and general opinions. Through encouraging and supportive friends, I learned to focus my energy on what is important to me, not what others say about me.

What people or outside factors affected your work ethic or motivated you the most to succeed?
I purchased my first home from a family member of a Wal-Mart executive. He took the time to review my personal situation, took an interest in me, and advised me to take a "long-term" view on success. I was worried about promotions, rather than being interested in growing myself into a leader. The next month, I accepted a position as a co-manager and re-located into the field to grow and develop my skills for the future. It was a long-term approach and has been very good for me, personally and professionally.

What advice would you give to someone starting his or her first job?
Commit your plans to paper! Written goals are more likely to be achieved. These plans can be family plans, personal objectives, or business goals. Once they are committed to paper, stay committed to them and work hard to achieve results. Have fun celebrating the successes of your life!

What is most important for young people to know about the retail industry?
I have access to many people in the entertainment industry today. I emphasize today! These individuals aren't necessarily interested in my point of view, but rather Wal-Mart's point of view. Always remember that you are a reflection of your company. I represent every associate in Wal-Mart as we negotiate within the entertainment industry. The product is different than a consumable business; however, the process is very much the same.

What do you find most rewarding about your position today?
Operating with the resources of Wal-Mart, anything is possible. If you can dream it, you can achieve it! We have been able to re-engineer our supply chain of movies, negotiate exclusive product offerings as demonstrated through our Garth Brooks project, and work in a fast-paced entertainment industry that listens to our points of view. Everyday is challenging, different, and important to our business.


First Job: Wal-Mart Custodian Location: Broken Bow, Oklahoma Age: 16 Wage: Minimum Wage Current Job: Vice-President/Divisional Merchandise Manager - Home Entertainment, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc		David Porter What was your first job? I started in 1981 cleaning restrooms and sweeping the floors at Wal-Mart in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. I quit after high school and moved to Ada, Oklahoma, where I was hired at another Wal-Mart as a clerk/cashier. How was your job different than you thought it would be? First I was a high-school kid who wanted some spending money. But later, I needed a job to pay bills and I begged the store manager to hire me. I did everything from unloading trucks, cashing out customers, stocking, ordering, and various office functions. It was more versatile than I expected. What important lessons or skills that you learned in your first job have been instrumental in your success? I learned customer service skills in high school. "Sarge" took me under his wing and taught me how important it was to keep the customer as a focus. As I reflect back, I have learned many life lessons within a Wal-Mart store environment, ranging from the importance of diverse associates (such as people who understood fabric, hardware, etc...) to the importance of a strong work ethic. As Roger Staubach indicated in a recent presentation, "The road is lonely on the extra mile. Traffic jams simply don't exist." Which of those lessons, and how, carried into subsequent jobs after your first? How do you use those skills in your position today? I have been fortunate to experience a wide range of job opportunities within Wal-Mart Stores and attribute that to being willing to try and learn different skills. I have experienced the operating divisions of our company through roles as an hourly associate to store manager of high-volume, high-profile Supercenters. I also served as an officer within Information Systems Divisions, where I was responsible for Merchandising and Replenishment Systems on a worldwide basis. The experience of my first job and the ability to adjust to the environment was learned within my early jobs at Wal-Mart. Versatility was rewarded and I was given the opportunity to "do more." Have you seen how lacking those first job skills had negative effects on others? As a front-line associate, I have the advantage of experience in reviewing business decisions and their impact to associates who are responsible for completing the work. I have also been fortunate to see the company through many different lenses: Accounting/Business Control as an internal auditor; Merchandising as a buyer and divisional manager; and Operations as a stocker, cashier, and manager. These different perspectives guide me as I work to provide more efficient solutions to customers, suppliers, or store associates. Did someone give you advice that you carried and/or later passed on to someone else? A great friend and mentor taught me a life lesson during a difficult time in my personal and professional life, "You control you." There were many times in my career when I could not understand why "stuff would happen to me." Once I grasped a deeper understanding of this concept, I began to focus on "what can I do" or "what can I change." All of my energy would be spent on things that were within my immediate sphere of influence rather than waste time worrying about what others were doing. What obstacles that you faced had the greatest impact on your career path? Moving from division to division within a large corporation is difficult and requires a "reset mentality." In the eyes of other colleagues, I moved "backwards" within the organization on several occasions and it was important for me to separate from the rumors, comments, and general opinions. Through encouraging and supportive friends, I learned to focus my energy on what is important to me, not what others say about me. What people or outside factors affected your work ethic or motivated you the most to succeed? I purchased my first home from a family member of a Wal-Mart executive. He took the time to review my personal situation, took an interest in me, and advised me to take a "long-term" view on success. I was worried about promotions, rather than being interested in growing myself into a leader. The next month, I accepted a position as a co-manager and re-located into the field to grow and develop my skills for the future. It was a long-term approach and has been very good for me, personally and professionally. What advice would you give to someone starting his or her first job? Commit your plans to paper! Written goals are more likely to be achieved. These plans can be family plans, personal objectives, or business goals. Once they are committed to paper, stay committed to them and work hard to achieve results. Have fun celebrating the successes of your life! What is most important for young people to know about the retail industry? I have access to many people in the entertainment industry today. I emphasize today! These individuals aren't necessarily interested in my point of view, but rather Wal-Mart's point of view. Always remember that you are a reflection of your company. I represent every associate in Wal-Mart as we negotiate within the entertainment industry. The product is different than a consumable business; however, the process is very much the same. What do you find most rewarding about your position today? Operating with the resources of Wal-Mart, anything is possible. If you can dream it, you can achieve it! We have been able to re-engineer our supply chain of movies, negotiate exclusive product offerings as demonstrated through our Garth Brooks project, and work in a fast-paced entertainment industry that listens to our points of view. Everyday is challenging, different, and important to our business.