« Hold on Tight - It's the Carnivale of Customer Service! | Main | Why Do I Blog? »

Feb26
John Mackey Gets It
Back in November John Mackey, the CEO of Whole Foods, sent a letter out to his team members.  I found out about it from reading Fast Company Magazine.  Below is a snippet, but you can read the whole thing at the Whole Foods blog...

"While it has become necessary to raise the salary cap at Whole Foods to helpmackey_3.jpg ensure the retention of our key leadership, this is not true in my case. The tremendous success of Whole Foods Market has provided me with far more money than I ever dreamed I'd have and far more than is necessary for either my financial security or personal happiness. I continue to work for Whole Foods not because of the money I can make but because of the pleasure I get from leading such a great company, and the ongoing passion I have to help make the world a better place, which Whole Foods is continuing to do. I am now 53 years old and I have reached a place in my life where I no longer want to work for money, but simply for the joy of the work itself and to better answer the call to service that I feel so clearly in my own heart. Beginning on January 1, 2007, my salary will be reduced to $1 per year and I will no longer take any other cash compensation at all. I will continue to receive the same benefits that all other Team Members receive, including the food discount card and health insurance. The intention of the Board of Directors is for Whole Foods Market to donate all the future stock options I would be eligible to receive to our two company foundations — The Whole Planet Foundation and The Animal Compassion Foundation..."

It takes a strong person to do something like that.  In the corporate society we live in today, most CEOs are trying to increase their salary, but John Mackey, well he’s a man who gets it.  I could kiss him too.

related entries


6 Comments/Trackbacks




I listened to the webcast last night and John Mackey is such an inspiration. I love the way he ended his Power Point with the words of Michelangelo: Criticize by Creating. John went on to say it is the duty of entrepreneurs to create the products that allow the consumer to have a choice. Then he sets up a fund to allow these entrepreneurs to create these products. This guy gets it …..

Ric

Ric,

I really like that quote from Michaelangelo! That's awesome that he has set up that fund to help out other entrepreneurs. I aim to do that one day.

Thanks for stopping by!

Maria,

If you want to start your venture take the leap. I was afraid to put our product out there because I knew I would face criticism . But I also had the passion. In the organic food industry there has always been the battle between being perceived as small and local or big and national. I read an interview with John Mackey and he said it was okay for a small local social entrepreneur to develop a product and spread the concept. John called this virtuous globalization. Just remember to stay true to your principals. Keep your eye on three bottom lines..People, Planet, and then Profits. You will make the world a better place. Best Fishes
Ric

I am an employee of Whole Foods. This is a wonderful
company to work for.What started out as a temporary
job for some holiday money, has turned into 2 1/2 years
of happiness. A company that doesn't tell you how much they care, but really shows and lives it every day.

That's awesome that he has set up that fund to help out other entrepreneurs.

In the organic food industry there has always been the battle between being perceived as small and local or big and national. I read an interview with John Mackey and he said it was okay for a small local social entrepreneur to develop a product and spread the concept.

submit a trackback

TrackBack URL for this entry:

post a comment

Name, Email Address, and URL are not required fields.





Comment Preview

« Hold on Tight - It's the Carnivale of Customer Service! | Main | Why Do I Blog? »

Advertise

Related Resources

recent comments

    sponsored ads



    subscribe


    Prefer Email?
    Subscribe below-

    Enter your Email:


    Powered by FeedBlitz What's this?

    Current News

    Support This Blog

    blogroll


    Alltop, all the top stories

    BlogBurst.com


    Successful and Outstanding Blogger
    QAQnA Mug Club

    Stats:

    business social media

    Use these fast growing business social media sites to promote your business, feature your products, spotlight your business leaders, create links, and drive traffic back to your company site, all for free!

    BIZZlogos - Add your logo - free link to your site
    BIZZphotos - Add photos of your products and people
    BIZZprofiles - Submit your profile and build your online visibility
    BIZZspotlight - Spotlight your business with free links
    BIZZvideos - Videos about businesses, products and business people.
    BIZZbites - "Digg" for Business - Submit your articles and posts

    Know More Media - Customer Service / Services

    know more media network

    View Network Map

    Network Feed List (OPML)

    Know More Media Network
    Feed


    we support unitus

    PRWeb

    Influencer



    CustomersAreAlways is a member of the Know More Media network of business related blogs.

    Here are some current headlines from some of our business publications:

    ProductivityGoal

    CallCenterScript

    AdHurl

    TheBizofKnowledge

    LandingTheDeal

    CustomersAreAlways

    HealthCareVox

    BrainBasedBusiness

    TheInsurancePolicy

    MarketingBlurb