Ron Johnson Quotes

Powerful Ron Johnson for Daily Growth

About Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson (1955-2016) was an American retail entrepreneur, innovator, and designer, best known as the mastermind behind Apple Inc.'s revolutionary retail stores and co-founder of JCPenney's successful Store of the Future concept. Born on November 18, 1955, in Los Angeles, California, Johnson grew up in an entrepreneurial family. His father, a real estate investor and developer, instilled in him the values of innovation, hard work, and design excellence. After completing his undergraduate studies at University of California, Berkeley, and MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Johnson began his career at Federated Department Stores, where he worked for 18 years. Johnson is perhaps most famous for his tenure at Apple Inc., where he was hired in 1997 by Steve Jobs to overhaul the struggling company's retail operations. Johnson designed the first Apple Store, which opened in May 2001 in Minnesota's Mall of America. The stores were pioneers in their use of sleek design, high-tech features, and exceptional customer service, setting a new standard for retail experiences. In 2011, Johnson left Apple to become CEO of JCPenney. His vision for the company included simplifying store layouts, eliminating sales, and introducing new brands. However, these changes were met with resistance, leading to his departure in 2013. Despite the challenges at JCPenney, Johnson's innovative ideas continue to influence retail industries worldwide. Johnson passed away on March 16, 2016, leaving behind a legacy of design innovation and retail transformation. His impact can still be felt today, with his Apple Store concept shaping the way we shop both online and offline.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The role of a designer is that of a good, thoughtful host anticipating the needs of his guest."

This quote emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding in design. Designer Ron Johnson suggests that a designer should act as a gracious host, anticipating and addressing the needs of their users (guests) prior to those needs arising. By doing so, the user experience becomes seamless and enjoyable. This mindset promotes human-centered design, where solutions are developed with the end-user's convenience, comfort, and requirements at the forefront.


"Design is not just about aesthetics; it's about how it works, how it feels and how it relates to people."

Ron Johnson's quote emphasizes a holistic approach to design that goes beyond merely focusing on the visual aspect. He suggests that design encompasses functionality, user experience, and emotional connection with users. This perspective underscores the importance of considering all these elements when creating designs that not only look good but also work efficiently and resonate with people on an emotional level. Essentially, Johnson encourages designers to think about how their creations interact with people in a practical, intuitive, and emotionally engaging way.


"Retail isn't about selling things; it's about solving problems."

This quote by Ron Johnson emphasizes that the primary role of retail is not merely to sell products, but rather to address the needs, wants, and challenges of consumers. It implies that successful retail involves understanding customer pain points or problems and providing solutions through quality products, services, and experiences. Essentially, it's about building relationships with customers by genuinely helping them, not just pushing merchandise.


"The best customer service is no service at all."

This quote suggests that the ideal customer service experience is one where customers are able to accomplish their goals or needs without having to interact with a service representative, i.e., the service is so intuitive and seamless that it feels effortless for the customer. In essence, it means that creating an efficient and user-friendly product or system can lead to higher customer satisfaction by reducing frustration and saving time for the customers. This aligns with the idea of designing products and services around the needs and preferences of users, rather than forcing them to adapt to a rigid system.


"Design is the method of putting form and content together. Design, just as art, has multiple definitions; there is no single definition. Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated."

This quote by Ron Johnson highlights the complexity inherent in the design process, where form (physical appearance) and content (functionality or purpose) are harmoniously combined. The definition of design can vary, as it encompasses both artistic expression and functional utility. The simplicity of design, in its essence, lies in its ability to effectively convey a message or solve a problem, making it seem effortless or intuitive. However, achieving this level of simplicity requires deep understanding, creativity, and mastery over the craft, which is why design can often appear complicated due to the subtle intricacies that are carefully considered and skillfully implemented.


Debt ceiling is something that, you know, any time the president asks for the authority to increase the debt ceiling, the debt burden on our children and grandchildren, I think that requires a pretty serious discussion, robust debate.

- Ron Johnson

Discussion, I Think, Our, Debt Ceiling

If we weren't running deficits, if we weren't spending more than we were taking in, there would be no reason whatsoever to increase the debt ceiling.

- Ron Johnson

Reason, Ceiling, Whatsoever, Debt Ceiling

With honest discussion, free speech, let people's voices be heard.

- Ron Johnson

Speech, Honest, Free Speech, Discussion

In 2010, there were 57 lawyers, zero manufacturers, and way too many career politicians in the United States Senate.

- Ron Johnson

Career, United States, Manufacturers

What you don't want to do - if you're concerned about poverty, if you're concerned about providing opportunity - you don't want to rip the bottom rung of the ladder of opportunity away from people.

- Ron Johnson

Away, Concerned, Providing, Rung

For nearly five years, I worked with Marquette University Law School and helped to administrate a community crime prevention initiative called Safe Streets. We used restorative justice practices to help reduce crime and violence in the Milwaukee community.

- Ron Johnson

University, Streets, Nearly, Milwaukee

The people that are proposing banning assault weapons, well, first of all they're already banned. Assault weapon is a fully automatic, those are already banned.

- Ron Johnson

Assault, Proposing, Banning

I realize the voters elected President Obama in 2012, but they also, in 2014, elected enough Republican senators to gain a majority in the Senate, so we control the confirmation process. And these are two supposedly coequal branches of government involved in this filling of a Supreme Court vacancy.

- Ron Johnson

Voters, Supposedly, Obama, Confirmation

Vladimir Putin is only going to respond to action, strength, and resolve. He's not going to respond to words.

- Ron Johnson

Strength, Vladimir Putin, Putin

We are in perilous territory the stronger Iran gets. And they're getting stronger. We should make them weaker.

- Ron Johnson

Stronger, Getting, Perilous, Weaker

We certainly should support both parties having observers at the polling stations to make sure that neither side does anything that allowed a fraudulent vote. That's a very healthy check on the process.

- Ron Johnson

Very, Side, Certainly, Polling

The whole climate change debate gives - and there are all kinds of quotes from adherents of and promoters of climate change - the reason they're doing it is it's such a great opportunity to control, you know, pretty much, government, and control your lives.

- Ron Johnson

Doing, Reason, Whole, Promoters

I guess when you take a look at the book 'Atlas Shrugged,' I think most people always like to identify with the main character - that would be John Galt. I guess I identify with Hank Rearden, the fella that just refused until the very end to give up.

- Ron Johnson

Atlas, I Think, Very, Main Character

We have demagogues on all sides of the political spectrum. It's not helpful. It's destructive. It's harmful. So, I don't like demagoguery whether it comes from the left, it comes from the right.

- Ron Johnson

Political, Right, Like, Harmful

I think it's unrealistic for public-sector employees to believe that they are immune from modifications to their pay and benefit packages.

- Ron Johnson

Think, I Think, Immune, Packages

I created jobs. Russ Feingold, during that same approximate 30 years, what did he do? He built government. He built it larger and more intrusive.

- Ron Johnson

Larger, Intrusive, Built, Approximate

People oftentimes refer to me as 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.' So, I'm Mr. Johnson. I'm a complete outsider.

- Ron Johnson

Oftentimes, Smith, Mr, Refer

This is nothing negative about the other candidates. It's just a recognition of the fact that Governor Romney has won more delegates. He's the only person that really has a chance to take the winning number of delegates into the convention.

- Ron Johnson

Fact, Other, Romney, Delegates

In Wisconsin, we have got a lot of agricultural products that are exported. We have a lot of manufacturing products that are exported. I don't want to engage in a trade war.

- Ron Johnson

War, Want, Wisconsin, Manufacturing

Fixing this broken system will take the perspective of someone who has actually solved problems. 31 years of manufacturing taught me how.

- Ron Johnson

Broken, Will, Fixing, Manufacturing

What we should be doing is responsibly addressing the primary drivers of our debt and deficit issues.

- Ron Johnson

Doing, Should, Addressing, Primary

It's more complex than just slapping up a wall. We have got to take a look at all the complexities in terms of eliminating the incentives for illegal immigration.

- Ron Johnson

Immigration, More, Got, Illegal Immigration

When I joined the Senate in January 2011, I raised my right hand, placed my left hand on the Bible, and swore a solemn oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Defending the constitutional domain of the branch of government in which I serve is an obligation of that oath.

- Ron Johnson

Constitution, United, Placed, Solemn

Scott Walker has provided some really excellent leadership in Wisconsin.

- Ron Johnson

Wisconsin, Some, Excellent, Walker

One of the promises I made when I ran was, I'll never vote with my reelection in mind.

- Ron Johnson

Mind, Never, Made, Promises

I've certainly honored the two promises I made: Always tell you the truth; never vote with my re-election in mind.

- Ron Johnson

Mind, Always, Re-Election, Promises

If you manage things properly - and, listen, I'm a business guy. I've got to prioritize spending in all my business career to prevent my business from going bankrupt. The federal government has got to start doing that eventually as well.

- Ron Johnson

Career, Doing, Guy, Prioritize

I'm an accountant. I'm a manufacturer from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, who stepped up to the plate, and now I'm a U.S. senator.

- Ron Johnson

Wisconsin, Plate, Stepped, Manufacturer

The outrages surrounding the Benghazi attack involve administration action - or lack of action - before, during, and after the attack.

- Ron Johnson

Attack, Before, Surrounding, Benghazi

There is a real problem in terms of the refugee flow, the ability of ISIS to infiltrate those refugee flows, our inability to track them.

- Ron Johnson

Them, Infiltrate, Inability, Flow

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