New movement seeks to “liberate the entrepreneurial spirit”

By Frances Allday

At a Houston Property Rights luncheon I attended on May 1, speaker Bert Loan offered a perspective on his involvement in the FLOW movement, which defines itself as "dedicated to liberating the entrepreneurial spirit for good, and focusing it on creating sustainable peace, prosperity and happiness for all in our lifetime."

The term "FLOW" refers to “an optimal state of human experience in which individuals are fully engaged in creative endeavors," resulting in "the free global flow of goods, services, capital, people and information...." Mr. Loan, who is an economics teacher, explained that he joined FLOW because its philosophy best expressed his own beliefs and experience.

Flow was co-founded by John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, and Michael Strong, an author and educator. Strong has written several books, including The Habit of Thought: From Socratic Seminars to Socratic Practice and most recently Be the Solution.

Mackey is not only the CEO but also one of the co-founders of the Whole Foods Market, now one of the top 15 supermarket companies in North America. He is described as a believer in Libertarian and free market principles, along with empowerment management.

Loan said in his speech that entrepreneurs are often accused of being money grabbers. "But most are passionate about what they are doing," he says, "and value their work and what inspires them more than the bottom line. Polls show that the majority of people believe the means of production should be privately owned, and respect entrepreneurs. There are two ways to acquire wealth: by force or by creating it. Entrepreneurs create wealth, and are really the source for public funding."

He said he believes in the free flow of trade because it creates worldwide prosperity and peace. However, he is against the exploitation of labor to achieve profit. He believes in environmental protection, property rights, and educational opportunity – all of which, he says, can be achieved through the liberation of the entrepreneurial spirit. "John Mackey is trying to change what we think about capitalism. Whole Foods embraces a liberal idealism of social and environmental consciousness, with a sound market philosophy."

FLOW advances its mission by way of publications, videos, the internet and other forms of media. They sponsor networking and community building through program-related events and Activation Circles in various cities, and online. Outreach and education programs are primarily conducted through their core programs of Peace through Commerce, Conscious Capitalism and Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs.

To learn more about the FLOW movement you can visit their web site at www.flowidealism.org.

(The Banner, May 7, 2009)