As we age we lose many things: our innocence, our idealism,
our car keys… There is a beautifully simple sense of wonder and joy to life
when we are young, but then it seems to fade away as we become preoccupied with
work, money, appliances, etc. Where does it go? Is it a by-product of believing
in Prince Charming? Is it a limited supply and so we have to sacrifice ours in
order for the next generation to have some? I’ve come to accept that there are
some things in this life I cannot understand. Such as, why does Princess Kate
spell her name with a K when her name is Catherine with a C? And American Idol.
Is it really our destiny to go down in history as a bunch of narcissistic talent
show groupies?
Sure, there have been some real American idols in the past, a
few come to mind: Clara Barton, Mark Twain, Willie Nelson, Julia Louis-Dreyfus…
but it can be argued that no other culture is as despotically callous in their
day-to-day living. Asians, Africans, Native Americans, Latinos, Pacific
Islanders, they all take better care of each other. They seem to have a basic
understanding that the ‘tribe’ includes everyone and they live life accordingly;
making provisions for their young, their elderly, their schizophrenic… We cast
these people out into the world so that we can go back to work (to day care,
nursing homes and the street, respectively.)
What scares me is that the American way seems to be
spreading, like a virus. This I-got-mine-and-it’s-not-my-problem-that-you-can’t-get-yours
attitude is the New American Dream, the American Dream on Steroids. When did it
become a sign of weakness to invest in the outcome of others? Do we always have
to go overboard, taking more than we need and trying to dominate everyone else?
Let it go, man. As a society, we throw away enough food to feed everyone on the
planet. But we don’t feed them because of —as far as I can tell— fear of
litigation and an unwillingness to share. What are we, five?
At Whole Foods, unsold food is donated to local
organizations like Lift Up, Feed My Sheep and the Pauline S. Schneegas Wildlife
Foundation. And while I’m sure some still gets thrown into compost, a real
effort is being made. Everyone keeps asking me if Whole Foods is really as good
as its reputation proclaims (made Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For
every year for the last fifteen years.) I admit it is. It feels really good to
work for a company that constantly tries to walk the talk, instead of just
talking and talking while riding a flat escalator. It reminds me of the movie
Hancock, “We can save the world. Someone’s just got to go first.” –Ray Embrey. Sure,
there are challenges, imperfections— no fairy tale’s perfect. For instance, we’ll
probably never have a union because John Mackey compares them to having herpes,
“It doesn’t kill you, but it’s unpleasant and inconvenient” (I love this guy!)
Still, for an international corporation started by a white man, it’s pretty great.
I’ll tell you what I’ve gleaned to be the Whole Foods secret to success in the
six months I’ve worked there; it really does make a difference when a company hires
friendly people, and then fosters autonomy and
sharing. And I’ll be the first to admit I’m not in the mood to disparage; not
when the organic kool-aid tastes this good!
I love my job for many reasons: the people, the pb & js,
and because I feel like I’m working for the good guys (Leia would never engage
in public speaking for the Darkside.) Anyone who knows me well knows that I am
not what you would call a good morning person. I’m more of a “What’s so good
about it!” –Walter-Matthau-in-Grumpy-Old-Men type person. But it’s the darndest
thing, when I get to work (in the morning) it only takes one cup of coffee and
a few interactions with my coworkers until I’m busy working away. And enjoying
my work, in much the same way that the princess enjoys her menial tasks because
they give her time to sing.
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