Erik Bowman is an author, speaker, serial entrepreneur and business consultant with over 20 years of experience. As a serial entrepreneur, Erik is a results-oriented, strategic thinker with proactive, creative and analytical abilities. He works successfully with all functions and levels of management.
Innovation and creation is his lifeblood. He learned early on in life that he had a unique gift, and that was finding an imaginative solution to fill any need. He lived his life built around the principle of using my inner creativity to bring a valuable service to others. He didn’t know it at the time, but he was living in harmony with a 2,500 year old ancient wisdom found within the book of Guanzi.
The book of Guanzi is a compilation of Chinese economic and political philosophic materials named after 7th century BC philosopher Guan Zhong, who was Prime Minister to Duke Huan of Qi. The actual authors of the Guanzi are unknown, perhaps because it is a compilation of the vast knowledge accumulated through the years by some of the wisest Chinese philosophers and scholars. However, it is widely believed that Guan Zhong originated many of the core concepts of the philosophy before it was passed along and improved during the following ages.
He didn’t come across Guanzi until I was a student at university when he elected to take a number of Eastern philosophy and world religion courses. There he found mention of the Guanzi and the philosophy of Inner Enterprise. His interest was piqued and he had to learn more.
From Erik Bowman:
“Not knowing how to read or translate Chinese, I found a 2 volume English translation by W. Allyn Ricket named Guanzi. The economy principles present in Guanzi philosophy were in accord with my core beliefs and I finally had a name to match my life purpose. A lot of the Guanzi philosophy blends Taoism and Confucianism while discussing concepts of Legalism.
Legalism to the Guanzi can be found in 3 principles: Fa, Shu and Shi.
- Fa: prescribes equal protection for all people under the law
- Shu: is the concept of states secrets – those secrets that must exist to protect one’s government
- Shi: suggests that it is the position of the ruler and not the ruler himself that has power
Guanzi stresses individualism and stresses harmony in relationships and a pursuit of a conflict-free society. I found that the many principles found in Guanzi could be applied to both business and personal affairs.
In 2007, I started the Guanzi Institute for Management and Entrepreneurial Studies. I wanted to take the passion I had for Guanzi, and my passion for entrepreneurship and create a path by which people could discover their inner entrepreneur. Through the Guanzi Institute I hope to foster a new generation of entrepreneurs by providing extensive business training, guidance and overall inspiration. It has taken me many years of hard work to gain the abundance and success I have in my life. I hope to then pass on what I have learned so others can prosper and grow. My journey to Guanzi is only just beginning.”
In addition to writing the curriculum for the Certified EntrepreneurTM program, he has a number of books focused on Entrepreneurship and personal, professional and financial growth. Including Start It Up!TM How To Guides For Business Startups, Ultimate Marketing SecretsTM: Social Media Marketing, Startup IQTM: Discover and Develop Your Inner EntrepreneurTM.