Dr. Weil, Heal Thyself

Dr. Andrew Weil, the health-guru-turned-celebrity, is trying to prove you can simultaneously be an icon for social change and a fast-growth entrepreneur. But so far, he's off to a sputtering start. And the reason may be that maintaining the purity that goes with being an icon is incompatible with the compromises one must make to successfully lead a fast-growth company. After all, could Ralph Nader have maintained his reputation as a consumer activist if he had founded an auto-parts company?

I should point out that I've been a longtime fan of Weil. I've taken much of his advice to heart -- for example, to avoid as much as possible non-organic strawberries, based on his assessment that they're heavily treated with pesticides, and to try to eat more soy, based on its potential health benefits.