Whole Foods co-founder shares tips for launching a successful second act: 'I'm relearning some lessons'
John Mackey is learning that what helped him build Whole Foods Market into a multibillion-dollar business can help him in his second act, but only if he's patient.
TL;DR
- John Mackey sold Whole Foods to Amazon in 2017 and stepped down in 2022.
- His new venture is Love.Life, a health and wellness club launched in Los Angeles in 2024.
- Mackey acknowledges that Love.Life's growth has been slower than anticipated.
- He stresses the need for patience, drawing parallels to Whole Foods' early growth stages.
- Key lessons include being intentional about building corporate culture, learning from mistakes, actively seeking and acting on customer feedback, hiring top talent ('A players'), and motivating employees through genuine recognition and appreciation.
- Mackey believes people are motivated by purpose and love, which can lead to strong employee retention.