3 Life Lessons I Learned As The Co-Founder & CEO of Whole Foods

Whole Foods Market changed the way Americans buy groceries forever, much thanks to John Mackey, the co-founder and CEO who has spent 44 years building the business from the ground up. 

Mackey’s leading advice: Don’t be afraid to change what isn’t working for you—both in business and everyday life. He uses his personal health as an example when he says, “I stopped drinking because of my Apple watch because it gave me data. I changed my behavior because of that.” 

He adds, “It’s the same way in business—if something’s not working, change it.” He continues, “If something’s working at some other company, copy it.” 

Mackey has a natural affinity for constantly learning new things, as many entrepreneurs do, and he suggests putting all of that data you gather into making your business, or your well-being for that matter, as great as it can be. 

It’s natural to have a strong ego attachment to your business, especially as an entrepreneur, but sometimes compromise is the secret sauce to success. “Market has to meet the marketplace,” Mackey says frankly. 

Rather than only viewing what you want from the business, you should also consider customer feedback just as valuable. Mackey uses an example from his work with Whole Foods: 

“I’m not a huge proponent of the ketogenic diet or the carnivore diets, and yet, Whole Foods Market promoted those diets because the customers wanted it,” he says. 

He adds, “You're in the business of satisfying your customers while simultaneously trying to fulfill your higher purpose.” 

On the topic of flexibility, Mackey suggests viewing your beliefs as adaptable, and ready to change when new information comes about. “If the facts change, I change my beliefs. It’s kind of like wearing clothes,” he says. 

While he puts on his clothes every day, he doesn’t view his clothes as a core part of his being. But for many people, he says, they identify themselves with their beliefs. “So if the beliefs are attacked, they feel like they’re being personally attacked,” he says. 

Mackey describes this tendency to separate his self-worth from his belief as a “superpower” in work and in life. “It's enabled me to change and make sometimes change on a dime if necessary,” he says.

Mackey has learned a lot over the past 44 years as a co-founder and CEO. Amongst the many lessons he shares in our conversation, Macky reminds entrepreneurs to be open to change—be it in their personal lives, beliefs, or businesses.

He’s kept up with the ever-changing health industry by remembering that his mission must meet the demands of the customer—something too many people forget about.