70 Lessons for 70 Years
In honor of celebrating 70 trips around the sun today, here are 70 lessons I’ve learned along the way: 1. Be optimistic.2. Go on a hike.3. Eat fruits and vegetables.4. Read, read, and read some more.5. Eat beans! 6. Prioritize sleep.7. Be open to friendships with...
Evolving Your Perspective
For many years, I considered myself well-informed on animal husbandry and believed that Whole Foods had rigorous standards that were best in class. That all changed at our annual shareholder meeting in 2003. For anyone who has ever led or attended this type of...
John’s Must-Reads: Summer 2023 Edition
Although I’m an avid reader all year long, there’s something about reading in the summer that is so enjoyable. Personally, I tend to travel more, so I often find myself able to read more on the go and in new and exciting places. Whether it’s an audiobook during a road...
John’s Recipe for Building a Successful Team
As leaders, we truly are only as good as our teams. Entrepreneurs and CEOs are often credited with all the success when building great companies or fostering revolutionary breakthroughs. In reality, all successful businesses have an amazing, talented team working...
Finding a Balance Between Entrepreneurship and Business Planning
When I talk to entrepreneurs and leaders at young startups, I frequently get asked questions related to business plans. What makes a good business plan? How important are they? How much influence should they really have on your day-to-day decision-making? It goes...
Remote Work: Has the Pendulum Swung Too Far?
I’m going to be direct about my opinion on a topic that can be controversial: remote work. I personally believe that being physically together in an office is critical for a healthy work culture. In-person connections are so valuable, and this is complicated by the...
Appalachian Trail Notes
Long-distance hiking is a great passion of mine. I love being able to disconnect and enjoy the beautiful nature around me. Although I have enjoyed hiking for the majority of my adult life, I developed my passion for long-distance, ultralight hiking after thru-hiking...
Your Guide to a Nutritious and Delicious Vegan Brunch
Who doesn’t love brunch? It combines the best flavors of both breakfast and lunch and is the perfect meal for a slow-starting, relaxed Sunday morning. When people think of brunch, they envision eggs, breakfast meats like bacon, sausage, and ham, pancakes and waffles,...
John’s Must-Reads: Appalachian Trail Edition
I am an avid reader, typically reading or listening to three to six books at a time. And guess what - this doesn’t change while I’m out on the trail! During my recent 200-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail, I read several very interesting and engaging books that I...
Four Seats and Four Questions
I want to share one of my favorite stories with all of you. In 2005, my wife and I had the opportunity to go to dinner with Milton Friedman and his wife, Rose. I had long admired Milton’s work and was excited to enjoy what I thought would be a delicious meal filled...
Alcohol’s Impact on a Good Night’s Sleep
The quality and quantity of sleep you get every night directly impacts your health, mood, and brain performance - that’s why getting a good night’s sleep is so important! A good night’s sleep is not just about logging enough hours of sleep every night, but also about...
Popular Vegan Myths Debunked
As someone whose life calling involves healthy food, I think it’s great to see the elevated attention given to food and diet philosophies in today’s culture. When it comes to the pros and cons of various dietary paths, there’s such an abundance of information out...
John’s Advice for an Aspiring Long-Distance Hiker
While packing for my recent hike on the Appalachian Trail, I started thinking about things I wish I knew before getting into long-distance hiking. I had a lot of experienced friends who helped me early on, but I also learned a lot of lessons from my own trial and...
Five Lessons for a Successful Acquisition
For many companies, the ability to accelerate growth and scale the business will involve mergers and acquisitions. There are nuances to every acquisition and a one-size-fits-all approach to integration rarely works, but there are definitely best practices that can be...
Plant-Based Appetizer Ideas That Will Make Every Guest Want Seconds
With the spring season and warmer weather approaching, the time to start hosting is just around the corner. There are so many delicious and nutritious whole-food, plant-based options that your guests will love! Here are a few of my favorites: Roasted Vegetable Skewers...
John’s Five All-Time Favorite Movies
In addition to being an avid reader, I also love movies, television, podcasts, and listening to music. I have always believed that consuming these forms of entertainment can teach us so much about life, ourselves, and the world. Everyone loves a good story, and there...
Conscious Leadership
When you look back at jobs you’ve had throughout your career, the day-to-day details often fade, but the influence of the leaders you encountered along the way has a lasting impact. Now more than ever, people want to feel connected to a deeper sense of purpose in...
John’s Top Three Practices to Relieve Stress
Stress can be very harmful to the body. Chronic stress increases your cortisol levels, which over time, can lead to several physical health issues including insulin sensitivity or resistance, elevated blood pressure, muscle soreness, weakened bone tissue, or an...
Lead with Love
With today being Valentine’s Day, I wanted to take the opportunity to talk about a topic I’m very passionate about: leadership and love. I think that love is one of the most powerful yet undervalued virtues a leader can practice. It’s time to let love out of the...
Three Tips for Making Homemade Soup
There’s nothing like a warm, delicious bowl of soup on a chilly day...or on any day for that matter! For someone on a plant-based journey, soup is an amazing, healthy meal that is simple to prepare. Soup has an endless variety of flavors, textures, and nutritional...
The Day of Our IPO
31 years ago today marks a very important moment for both me and Whole Foods - it was the day of our Initial Public Offering! Back in 1992, we had 12 stores and desperately wanted to grow, but cash constraints continued to be a problem. We needed a solution. The...