Comments on: Bentley College Commencement Speech

By: AnnC

AnnC — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:10:00 +0000

Dear Mr Mackey, I became familiar with your company after my daughter began her career at the North Hollywood location. She gained many positive values from your company which helped her in other areas of her life. We live in Ojai, CA and some distance from a WFM but we look forward to the new WFM which is planned for Ventura County.

WSJ OPED: Something as important as healthcare reform requires more than a rush to a quick fix and I am glad you spoke out. It’s a shame that those that would lecture us about free expression would want to punish you for yours.

By: Bryan Amstutz

Bryan Amstutz — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:51:17 +0000

John:
When I met you in Ann Arbor @ the store opening, I knew you had a Heart! Being a former TM, meeting you again @ Sarasota Opening…Understanding the TRUE you! Thanks for sharing as you always have from your heart…Since leaving WFM, I have realized how much more I miss a Real true caring work place…Is the Florida Market ever going to hire again? At least I still promote WFM to everyone I met….Because of your passion in this World, we have the Food Standards…well @ WFM…Thanks Again…May your passion live on forever…Mom & Dad are extremely Proud of you!

By: Dr Sandy Gluckman

Dr Sandy Gluckman — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:55:46 +0000

Hello John
This is magnificent. Thank you for publishing it. I have been following your professional challenges and journey and have huge respect and admiration for your courage and integrity. My work is in the field of leadership behavior and communication and I have been working with leaders of businesses in transition around the globe for many years. Finding this blog has helped validate and strengthen my purpose which is to teach leaders the very principles you express so well here.

By: Fred Marmo

Fred Marmo — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:39:07 +0000

I appreciated reading your address to the graduates of Bentley College here in Waltham, Massachusetts. Really good! I can see how you were a philosophy major.

Actually, for me, it answered a personal question I had about Whole Foods for some years. I am an attorney with very conservative business principals. I own a small security guard company and as such first came across Whole Foods when given a contract for one of your Boston stores. I could not help notice how everyone at the store acted really nice, dressed differently, some wore decorations on their face, hair was “individualized,” but most of all how friendly and non-confrontational, if you ask for help.

Yet, this “hippy” organization was on the top ten of Fortune 500! This did not make sense. Or did it; I had to ask myself. This type of customer service is very strange in the city where rudeness is the norm and expected response!

Well, in brief, after reading your article I understand now what you are saying and doing and why. I now subscribe to your “Conscious Business” for the 21st century idea. It is an idea that has come of age, almost out of necessity. Government can keep to itself and all of us can remain free to pursue freedom and happiness. I feel better already. Thank you.

By: Sara Stone

Sara Stone — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:59:46 +0000

When I lived in Berkeley I ran up the street to eat at Whole Foods Deli twice a day!! Now I’m bummed that Eugene lost it’s bid for a Whole Foods.

I’d never heard of John Mackey until I saw him listed as a guest speaker on John McDougall’s website. I wondered what on earth the CEO of Whole Foods had to say. So, I did a search and realized he had embraced the diet with NO ADDED OIL.

Do you realize how hard it is to find restaurant food with no added oil, no salt, no dairy, no meat? Do you realize how many people eat out? Seniors, adolescent males, construction workers, students. The school lunch program sucks.

I hate to cook! I want/need and am totally excited about Whole Foods movement in this direction. John Mackey is totally right on with his prescription for health care. I have/had diabetes and took the AMA’S prescription of insulin, 3 blood pressure pills, cholesterol lowering drugs and guess what? I swelled up to 216 lbs and my legs got edema so bad I couldn’t cut my own toe nails, my doctor was totally non-plussed with this development. As McDougall says, you die sooner with better numbers!

I don’t know what it is about consuming fat/oil but it’s dangerous! There is much backup out there for this diet. Campbell, Ornish, McDougall, Pritican, Furhman, the rice diet in Durham.

Our government has known at least since the 30’s what diet does. You may not appreciate the Nanny State but we need the governments help to clean up our food supply, label products w/GMSO, get the salt and oil out. I pray that Obama will tackle that issue in due time. Mackey’s right, we need education and support.

Thank you John Mackey for your inspiration!

By: Gordon Rouston

Gordon Rouston — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:37:26 +0000

John Maskey, I agree with your stand on health care and socialism, Obama is taking this Country in thw wrong direction. Boycotting you and your store is ridiclous, I am behind what you said and behind your rights 100%. Keep up the good worka nd keep speaking out for AMERICA

By: David Beaster

David Beaster — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:19:26 +0000

When I travel around the nation on vacation I always checked to see where the Whole Food outlets were so I could spend my money with a company that shared my environmental values. After CEO John Mackey’s unsubstantiated remarks about the proposed needed changes in how we distribute health care in America, I will withdraw my support of this company. Its seems Mr. Mackey is far more interested in using “green” to forward his profits than he is of real positive change in the established norm!

By: Kim Bell

Kim Bell — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:24:47 +0000

Thank you for your incredible article on healthcare. We are not whole foods shoppers because there is not one in our town (Oxnard, CA). We will seek out your store in the future. You are clearly a CEO with guts and integrity. Why can’t they all be like you? Thank you. Kim Bell

By: Jaydee

Jaydee — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:30:35 +0000

Being one of the graduates of Bentley that day I found this commencement speach to be moving and heartfelt and I find myself every now and again coming back and reading it. I especially find this line to be truly inspirational “It is fear which prevents most people from reaching their fullest potential in life—fear of failure, fear of rejection from people we care about, fear that we simply aren’t good enough, and sometimes even fear of our own potential greatness”

Thank you for the great words.

By: Terry Thomas

Terry Thomas — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:08:25 +0000

Dear John, What an awesome discovery!! I had no idea who you were or the values of Whole Foods. Except–I have always noticed the energy in the store. The checkout people’s kindness–thoughtfulness, genuine smiles! The feeling, as one writer above said, is not easy to put your finger on. We are starting our automated currency business, and you have stated my own standards, and point the way to the keys we will follow. Gratitude, Forgiveness and Generosity. Terry (Hope you write a book and also I plan to meet you one day)