My philosophy is that life is all about learning and growing, and that life can be a real adventure of learning, growing, compassion, and joyfulness.
John Mackey - Life - Learning - Growth - Happiness

For us, our most important stakeholder is not our stockholders, it is our customers. We're in business to serve the needs and desires of our core customer base.
John Mackey - Stocks - Customers - Business

There can be little doubt that a certain amount of corporate philanthropy is simply good business and works for the long-term benefit of the investors.
John Mackey - Business - Long Term Investing - Philanthropy

I do not believe maximizing profits for the investors is the only acceptable justification for all corporate actions. The investors are not the only people who matter. Corporations can exist for purposes other than simply maximizing profits.
John Mackey - Profits - Investing - Business Ethics

I think the hardest thing about my job is the way Whole Foods Market views itself philosophically is that we are a business dedicated to meeting all the various stakeholders of the company's best interests. And by stakeholders we mean customers, team members, stockholders, community, and the environment. Sometimes what is in the best interest of one stakeholder may not be in the best interest of another stakeholder, and as the CEO, I have to balance the various interests of the different constituencies and stakeholders to create win, win, win scenarios, and that can sometimes be very difficult to do. Everybody wants something from the CEO.
John Mackey - Stocks - Customers - Business Ethics - Management - Environmental - Challenges - Companies

Business social responsibility should not be coerced; it is a voluntary decision that the entrepreneurial leadership of every company must make on its own.
John Mackey - Business Ethics - Responsibility - Leadership - Entrepreneurial - Companies

Whole Foods is dedicated to helping people be healthier and live lives with more vitality and greater sense of well being.
John Mackey - Life - Companies - Help

I became a vegan and at the same time I realized, gosh, Whole Foods has got to create a higher standard here. I think it will ultimately be a good business decision because I think our customers expect us, want us to pave this path.
John Mackey - Customers - Business - Business Ethics - Responsibility - Decisions

I think one of the most misunderstood things about business in America is that people are either doing things for altruistic reasons or they are greedy and selfish, just after profit. That type of dichotomy portrays a false image of business. It certainly is a false image of Whole Foods. The whole idea is to do both: The animals have to flourish, but in such a way that it'll be cheap enough for the customers to buy it.
John Mackey - Customers - Business - Business Ethics - American - Greed - Profits