Nate’s Notes 278: Ron Johnson, Apple Store Creator | Choose Kindness

Thank for listening to this episode of Meikles & Dimes.

One of my favorite ideas from Ron is the distinction between the things we’re given and the things we choose. We might be born smart, athletic, talented, or attractive. Those are gifts. But kindness is a choice. And as Ron said, imagine if the smartest, most talented person, or the best leader also chose to be the kindest.

I also loved Ron’s perspective on Steve Jobs. Steve didn’t necessarily show kindness in the way people often think about it. He believed that one of the highest forms of kindness was telling people the truth—even when that truth was hard to hear. And Steve also showed kindness by building great products for others. He obsessed over making products easier, more useful, and more empowering because he wanted to improve people’s lives. In Ron’s words, he was trying to “secure the good” of the customer. And that idea eventually became the philosophy behind the Apple Store: enrich lives. Don’t just sell people something. Make their lives better.

And in a world increasingly shaped by AI, what matters most may be the things that only we can bring: our presence, our unique perspective, and the genuine human connection that comes through conversation.

In summary: Be present. Connect with others. And above all, choose kindness. All simple ideas. Please take them seriously.

Ron Johnson Bio:

Ron Johnson is one of the most influential retail executives of the past several decades. After graduating from Harvard Business School, he began his career at Mervyn’s before joining Target, where he helped turn Target into “Tar zhay.” That work caught the attention of Steve Jobs, who recruited Ron to create Apple’s retail business from the ground up. Over the next decade, Ron helped develop the vision for the Apple Store, build its world-class retail team, and launch innovations such as the Genius Bar—ultimately creating some of the most successful and productive retail stores in the world. He later served as CEO of J.C. Penney, an experience he says taught him more in 24 months of failure than in 24 years of success. Ron is the author of the book Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple’s Genius, which explores lessons on innovation, leadership, design, culture, and why human connection may matter more than ever in the age of AI and online shopping. I hope you enjoy learning from Ron Johnson today.