Transcript
Introduction
"By the end of the first trading afternoon, Whole Foods market was valued at $100 million. Even though my shares had been diluted over the years, my own net worth was now over $7 million. I was rich how did that happen? It seemed to me like a crazy amount. It was exciting, even shocking to suddenly be worth so much after so many years of having no money.
That evening, after the markets closed, I slowly drove home still in something of an altered state. I opened my first beer in several weeks and sipped it slowly on the porch, breathing in a sense of gratitude and wonder for how far we had come. I thought back to that little Victorian House, where Safer Way, that was the original name of the business that eventually turns into Whole Foods.
I thought back to that little Victorian House, where Safer Way had begun and the modest dreams of success that Renee and I had shared as we woke up each morning on the top floor, took our showers in the dishwasher and converted our bedroom to its daytime form as the store's office. I thought about Craig and Mark taking the leap of faith to merge with us and build an entirely new store, bigger than any natural foods store in the state. I thought about the 100-year flood and our near-death experience.