Frequently Asked Questions What does FLOW mean?
• An optimal state of human experience in which individuals are fully engaged in creative endeavors, experiencing fulfillment, happiness, and well-being. This state is articulated by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. • The means by which increases in the free global flow of goods, services, capital, people, and information will accelerate human progress and well-being. We believe that the entrepreneurial spirit fosters the flow state, and entrepreneurial creativity and innovation can create conditions that promote sustainable peace, prosperity, and happiness for all, in the next 50 years. The name FLOW was discovered by John Mackey after an early work session in which more concrete, descriptive terms (such as “Realistic Visionary” and “Voluntarist Idealists”) had been considered and rejected. Aren’t FLOW’s stated goals of achieving peace, prosperity, happiness and sustainability in 50 years idealistic? Yes, exceedingly so. Indeed, they
