Completing 5 Years at Walmart

I joined Walmart five years ago, expecting good things to come my way, with little thought about the impact it would have on shaping who I am today. The beginning of my career journey rapidly transformed into a personal development experience full of trials and learning lessons I will never forget. The fact that Walmart has created an environment and context of real, intense, continuous learning over the past half-decade is what has allowed me to reach this five-year benchmark. During this time, I have had the opportunity to work with great teams on challenging problems and give back by contributing to projects that truly matter.

What started small has grown significantly, and as I reflect on this journey, today's post is a subset of the key learnings I've gained. Below, I share my list of 5. Which consist of my 5 DO's, 5 DON'Ts , 5 Learnings, 5 Suggestions, and 5 Rules that I have followed not only in my professional life but in my day-to-day life as well. Whether you are in IT or any other field, I hope this provides some direction and inspiration—perhaps even a new perspective on your journey.

1. 5 DO's

1. Embrace Change: Stay adaptable to emerging technologies and methodologies. The pace is fast, so your ability to pivot or shift on the fly will directly reflect in your ability to thrive at Walmart.
2. Develop Relationships: Forge strong relationships with your peers. These relationships will lead to new opportunities and collaborations throughout the entire organization.
3. Focus on Customer Impact: Ensure that everything is built for the end customer. Remember to always act in accordance with the value you deliver for your customers.
4. Show Initiative: Demonstrate that you have the ability to proactively drive projects and roles. You will be noticed and even promoted as an excellent, aspiring self-starter.
5. Continuous Learning: Curiosity is key, so keep investing time in learning. The tech world is vast, and changes are occurring at every moment.

2. 5 Don'ts

1. Do Not Be Defensive With Feedback: Use feedback as a tool for personal and professional development. Embrace constructive criticism.
2. Avoid Overpromising: Make wise choices about the workload you can manage. Underpromise and overdeliver.
3. Work-Life Balance: The risk of workaholism is real, and burnout can be prevented by ensuring a distinct separation between your professional and personal spheres. Balance is key to high productivity.
4. Do Not Operate in Silos: Work together. Share your knowledge with the team so that everyone can benefit, and leave behind selfish behaviors.
5. Fail Early & Often: Making mistakes is how you learn. Fear of failure should not stop you from taking well-calculated risks.

3. 5 Rules

1. Integrity First: Always be honest and truthful. Trust is the foundation of all good personal and professional relationships.
2. Respect Everyone: Treat everyone with respect, no matter their role or position. Productivity is directly proportional to a healthy work environment.
3. Continue Learning: Never stop learning, whether through formal education or self-study. In a rapidly changing field like IT, knowledge is power.
4. Own It: Be accountable and take ownership of your actions and decisions. Trust and credibility are the fruits of accountability.
5. Act Professionally: Always be professional in your responses. Your name is your brand.

4. 5 Learnings

1. Collaboration: Teamwork always beats working in silos. Collective effort promotes increased creativity and problem-solving.
2. How to Succeed in IT: Be adaptable. Technology is constantly changing, and so are teams.
3. Lead with Empathy: Leading with empathy creates a more inclusive and collective team. If your organization genuinely tries to empower, celebrate diversity, and develop talent, understanding digital transformation is essential. A leader is more effective if they know what their team members think of them.
4. Importance of Communication: Clear communication prevents misunderstandings and gets everyone on the same page.
5. Why Diversity is Important: Considering multiple viewpoints leads to more creative solutions and a better workplace.

5. 5 Suggestions

1. Mentorship Matters: Drive a mentor-led culture and give back by mentoring others. This interaction helps both parties share their experiences and knowledge.
2. Organization: Figure out a way to organize your tasks and responsibilities systematically. If things are scrambled, your productivity will drop, and stress will negatively impact both your health and performance.
3. Join Company Culture: Participate in gatherings and activities that the company organizes. Being an active part of the culture further grounds you in your organization.
4. Play the Long Game: While winning short-term victories is important, always keep your long-term career goals in mind so you can work towards them without getting distracted.
5. Give Back: Support the community by volunteering, sharing knowledge, or helping your colleagues. Gratitude and reciprocation demonstrate appreciation for the collective knowledge shared with you.

As I look back on these past five years at Walmart, I’m filled with gratitude for the experiences, lessons, and growth that this journey has offered me. Each challenge has been an opportunity to learn, and every success has been a testament to the power of collaboration and perseverance. Moving forward, I’m excited to continue this journey with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment. The future is full of possibilities, and I’m eager to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Here’s to the next chapter, full of learning, growth, and continued success—both for myself and for everyone around me.