Maine’s first Whole Foods Market opens on Valentine’s Day. I’ve been a fan of Mr. Mackey’s stores since the mid-80’s when the first Dallas Whole Foods opened. (There are now 7 in the DFW area) At that time the store wasn’t much larger than a 7-11. The store opening here in Portland is 46,000 square feet and the new store opening at Houston and Bowery on Manhattan’s lower east side is 80,000 square feet. This company is doing something right.

That ‘something’ is staying true to the vision, the values and the mission they set out almost 30 years ago.

Vision - Values - Mission; they’re all different but interdependent and staying true to that interdependency is critical to achieving the level of success Whole Foods Markets has - and continues to see.

Whole Foods Vision:
"Our children and grandchildren will have a sustainable future, meaning they will be living in a world that values human creativity, diversity, and individual choice. Businesses will harness human and material resources without devaluing the integrity of the individual or the planet's ecosystems. Companies, governments, and institutions will be held accountable for their actions. People will better understand that all actions have repercussions and that planning and foresight coupled with hard work and flexibility can overcome almost any problem encountered. It will be a world that values education and a free exchange of ideas by an informed citizenry; where people are encouraged to discover, nurture, and share their life's passions."

Whole Foods Core Values:
• Selling the Highest Quality Natural and Organic Products Available
• Satisfying and Delighting Our Customers
• Supporting Team Member Excellence and Happiness
• Creating Wealth Through Profits & Growth
• Caring About Our Communities & Our Environment

Whole Foods Mission:
To be a dynamic leader in the quality food business that sets the standards of excellence for food retailers.

Ok, so let’s get this out on the table. The latest lobster “issue”: Whole Foods, while originally banning the sale of live lobsters in their stores because of animal cruelty, will now be selling live lobsters in the Portland store. The lobsters will be supplied from a NH based company that has agreed to a kinder and gentler handling process than traditional methods. The store will not send the lobsters home live, however. They will kill the lobsters by electrocution before bagging them up for customers.

As silly as this might sound, as silly as it may actually be - or not – that isn’t the issue of this article. What is the issue is that even this latest announcement is right in line with the company’s Vision, Values and Mission. Whether you care if they sell lobsters, care where they get them or if they give them to you live or electrocuted - you must admit the company has integrity. Right down to Mr. Mackey deciding Whole Foods Market has paid him enough money and doesn't want any more. Last year he made the announcement to this effect and he’s reduced his salary to $1 a year.

Mackey opened the first Whole Foods Market in 1980 in Austin Texas with 19 employees, a clear vision and firm values. Today this company employs almost 42,000 people. They walk their talk and made $2 billion gross profit in 2006 -PLUS they do good things. We could use a few more of these formula businesses in Portland.

Talk about being BOLD. Walk your talk and follow your vision. That's where it all starts.

The next issue of The BOLD Bulletin, our e-journal for self-employed and small business professionals, will be coming out next week so sign up now to receive yours by email.

The next Ocular Forum applications are due by 2/21. Go to www.ocularforum.com for information or give me a call at 207-221-3492.

I'm preparing a survey for self-employed and small business owners covering a number of areas. I hope you'll agree to participate - completely anonymous or course. I’ll put a link to the survey on a post here when complete. Everyone who participates will be welcome to a copy of the results, if interested. If there’s a specific question you think would be a good addition to the survey post a comment here to let me know.

To read an excerpt from John Makey's letter to employee's of Whole Foods Market regarding his $1 salary read on.

Excerpt of Announcement from Mackey re: reducing his salary to $1 a year.

..."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."...

Whole Foods Market Wins Environmental Protection Agency 2006 Green Power Partner of the Year Award

Whole Foods Market® Soars to Number 5 Spot on FORTUNE's "100 Best Companies to Work For" List

Link to Whole Foods "lobster" article in the Austin Statesman: 2/8/07
http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/other/02/08/8wholefoods.html

I'm preparing a survey for self-employed and small business owners covering a number of areas. I hope you'll agree to participate - completely anonymous or course. I’ll put a link to the survey on a post here when complete. Everyone who participates will be welcome to a copy of the results, if interested. If there’s a specific question you think would be a good addition to the survey post a comment here to let me know.

The next issue of The BOLD Bulletin, our e-journal for self-employed and small business professionals, will be coming out next week so sign up now to receive yours by email.

Be Bold!

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