In the mid-1960s, Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, embarked on a journey across the United States to visit various discount and variety stores. These visits were not casual; Walton meticulously gathered insights on pricing, customer behavior, and store layouts, which significantly influenced Walmart's business model. During a time when other discount chains like Kmart and Target were emerging, Walton recognized the importance of understanding competitors in a rapidly evolving retail landscape. His observations allowed him to identify gaps in the market and refine Walmart's low-cost model, which required consistent operations and logistics planning. Rather than relying solely on theoretical strategies, Walton's hands-on approach grounded him in the realities of retailing, enabling him to adapt to customer preferences. This methodical habit of learning from competitors, rather than a single moment of inspiration, was fundamental to Walmart's growth from a single store in Rogers, Arkansas, to a scalable retail empire. Walton's legacy teaches entrepreneurs that valuable insights can come from simple observation and engagement with the market.