Holistic – “Emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts” – American Heritage Dictionary 
 

The Pyramid Builder hypothesis rests on two tenets: 1) the foundation or base of the pyramid which is built on Maslow’s first four levels of his Hierarchy of Needs and 2) an embrace of holism needed to reach the pyramid’s apex of peak experiences where one finds self-fulfillment and happiness.  

In the United States, as in most western countries, the first two levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy – Physiological Needs and Safety Needs – are satisfied for most of its citizens by actions from various levels of government.  The third need of Belongingness and the fourth need of Esteem, which complete the base of the pyramid, are much less easily satisfied.  These two needs require a dedication on the part of the individual, his/her family, the business world, and the community at large.  It is the satisfaction of meeting these two needs that pulls the individual out of despair and unhappiness and creates a sense of contentment, but happiness is still elusive.  The foundation must be built upon level by level to reach the apex of the pyramid before happiness and self-fulfillment are attained. 

The building of the levels upward from the pyramid’s foundation requires a commitment to various holistic pursuits.  These holistic pursuits can be classified into five areas: athletics, civic volunteerism, pursuit of knowledge, aesthetics, and spirituality.  While it is uncertain as to whether all five activities must be pursued, what is certain is that active pursuit of some of these levels is needed to have peak experiences. These peak experiences occur through embracing holistic activities supported by a strong foundation of well-satisfied belongingness and esteem needs. It is these peak experiences that create a state of mind of happiness and self-fulfillment.   

In order to create the time needed for holistic pursuits it may be necessary to consider an “entrepreneurial” life.  This life is characterized by leveraging one’s time, especially in the workplace, creating a management structure that minimizes the amount of time that one needs to devote to daily work responsibilities.  This “entrepreneurial spirit” can even be expanded from the workplace to one’s personal life in which a focus on greater efficiency leads to a dedication of one’s time for holistic pursuits.  

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