Comments on: When self-promotion self-destructs

By: Truth: how great a virtue is it business? « FoundRead

Truth: how great a virtue is it business? « FoundRead — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:02:39 +0000

[...] written previously about how founders can get into trouble when they aren’t completely honest with their [...]

By: adambenayoun

adambenayoun — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:56:04 +0000

I think that it is completely legal to do what he did. I personally think that you should disclose the fact you are the CEO of a company that you’re writing about, that add a lot to your credibility.
Since he did that and was risking his credibility, I can only say that he has blown that big time, Who will trust him? and since leadership is all about trust, then i can’t see how he can continue to work as the CEO.
I do not condemn such activities, lot of companies hire PR firm that ultimately operate lot of people who “gloat” about the company product, write comments on blogs about the company products and ultimately take part on forums where debate are taking place about the company.
Last one: how come the CEO has so much time left on his hand to post such comment _“I like Mackey’s haircut”; “I think he looks cute” (ehem); and, “While I’m not a ‘Mackey groupie,’…I do admire what the man has accomplished.”_}

By: aym35

aym35 — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:46:32 +0000

It’s a forum. If people want to be anonymous, they can be. The CEO is no different from anyone else…}

By: jayfallon

jayfallon — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:39:05 +0000

If you take the case of Steve Balmer running amok and sweating on stage like the best of them, then that’s as far as anyone should [really] go.

But he did it as himself. There’s an inherent expectation of openness and disclosure in relation to internet-based conversations that Mr. Mackey obviously didn’t take into account.

To excuse himself by pointing out that many people post in forums using a pseudonym is somewhat disingenuous, as most anonymous posters are not the CEO of a large corporation anonymously engaged in self-promotion, employer retaliation or competitor gossip.

Instead of righting a wrong, Mr. Mackey has chosen to pursue the tired line of self-righteousness that history only proves as fallible. One thing is to play games with the FTC or disparage labor unions, another is to break trust with the unforgiving internet community.

At this time, it would be in the best interest of Whole Foods shareholders to take Mr. Mackey’s keyboard away.}