I was always intrigued when I was growing up, and then in engineering school, with the idea of a perpetual machine. I think of the Wal-Mart culture as that.

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 want everyday low price. And that's why we are continuing to grow in the emerging markets around the world, too.

I think every responsible public board at every board meeting should be discussing succession. And, of course, Walmart has a very mature board: our chairman Rob Walton and other members. So succession is an ongoing. I think when I first joined the board of directors, it was discussed then. And it's discussed at every board meeting continually.

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 and other kinds of management.