FENG SHUI FOR BUSINESS

May 9, 2017 by Master Simona

Feng Shui for Business

I have often talked about the importance of been prepared– meaning being “business prepared–“ when beginning a new business endeavor. In that sense, utilizing Feng Shui’s principles in an office or a business location is part of being prepared to eliminate blockages in the ‘energy’ that could prevent you and your business from achieving the goals you’re setting out to accomplish.

Some of you may already have read books on Feng Shui for business– or perhaps read my brief for the Canon Corporation on how to maximize productivity and reduce office stress. You may have already introduced some elements of Feng Shui in your office design, or perhaps you have gone so far as to hire an expert– hard as it is to find a qualified one these days.

And yet, some of you may still find your business has been a place of challenges both on a personal and professional level. This is usually a sign that something is up at a deeper, more advanced Feng Shui level. And as well intended as we may be as expert Feng Shui Masters turned teachers and writers, it is just too lengthy and complex to address every case scenario in our books or classes for why this may be happening. Have I mentioned before how the energy distribution of each building is based on the year of construction of the said building and its orientation? This means there are literally hundreds of combinations that give each building its unique characteristics in the way each one affects its occupants. Then you can add to that how each of the occupants may each have a need for more specific colors or materials or desk placement in his or her office based on their date of birth and there you have it– a three variable equation! How many of you really have the patience of going through such training just to set up your office?

So, to make things a bit easier for you, I am going to enlist four major groups of buildings that you may come across when shopping around for a building, when considering where to move your office or business, or where to start a new one. If you have already moved in this can serve as a “check list” to evaluate how good the building you have rented and purchased is and whether it would be a good idea to consider having the consult of a Feng Shui expert to do some “fixing.”

Those who know me have already heard me say several times, mostly about residential, that a building’s energy, whether good or bad, affects its occupants time and again. That is because each building is created with certain, specific features that have the ability of affecting people on a health, wellness, relationship, and the ability to perform in business level as well as with life in general. So, if a building has great aspects it will affect its occupants in a very “lucky” manner, while buildings that are not very positive will affect its occupants by bringing about challenges and overwhelming obstacles.

Many make the mistake in thinking that a previous occupant’s bad luck may have “lingered” in the building, when in fact it was the Feng Shui’s characteristics under which the building was created– most of the time unbeknownst to unaware designers and architects– that had affected the one or more different occupants over time. So knowing what has happened to the previous occupant(s) of a space can give you some indication of what the building may have in store for you too.

Obviously there are many variables to how having bad Feng Shui could undermine a company’s business efforts, but for the sake of this discussion, I have grouped them into four main categories. Check them out and see if any apply to your office or business location:

Feng Shui for Business Tip #1
Spaces Where Companies or Businesses Seem To Always Go Out of Business

This is the most obvious “red flag” you can come across: the building has been affecting occupants with a history of financial problems over and over again– and the older the building, the clearer you’ll be able to see this. So there’s a very good chance that the same building will affect your business the same way.

A few years ago I helped a client, John, select a new business location for a store. I had worked with him previously, so he was already aware of how accurate and effective Feng Shui had been for both his residence and with a different business that he had opened a few years prior in a different location.

When reviewing the location he had picked out I advised him that the building had a very adverse potential– bad for financial success, but also bad for the occupants relations and I recommended, if he was going to acquire this space, that he planned in the renovation’s budget for some serious structural remodeling (namely removing the roof of the warehouse-type building so that the original, unfavorable energy could be released and updated to a more favorable, current energy.) After finding out that the previous occupant had gone bankrupt, John was more than convinced of the need for this replacement and set a budget aside for it.

And so he did. However, for this new endeavor, he had joined forces with another, very successful entrepreneur, who, unfortunately, didn’t believe in using Feng Shui.

So while this gentleman did agree on some of the modification I suggested, he opposed the plans to replace the roof. To not upset his new business partner, John reluctantly went along with not doing it. And so, the renovations were carried on without this crucial part of my recommendations

No sooner had the renovations begun than the trouble also appeared on the horizon– construction was delayed several times and dragged on for several months due to multiple misunderstandings between the architects, contractors, and clients. By the time the “Grand Opening” came about John and his new business partner had experienced so many “irreconcilable differences” in the business managements and on a personal level that they decide to, resentfully, split. By the end of the year the business was sold and a new owner took over– while John’s other building’s businesses were Feng Shui had been successfully applied were flourishing.

Feng Shui for Business Tip #2
Spaces Which Cause Arguments, Office Politicking, Scandals, Lawsuits, etc.

This is a variation on the previous one. However, this kind of building is a bit more difficult to identify because companies and business in this kind of building may still do fairly well financially, which makes it hard to detect as a Feng Shui problem simply due to the fact that it’s being shown as people who are just not getting along with each other. Nevertheless, it could be something as simple as readjusting the office’s layout to improve the relations between people and, consequently, both productivity and the bottom-line.

Feng Shui for Business Tip #3
Buildings Unoccupied for a Long Time

These situations are the most difficult to explain to clients because most of these buildings are usually on the market for an incredibly reasonable price tag and that can lure even the most hardcore Feng Shui aficionado into thinking what we all would think– “It’s a great deal!” But remember– not all that glitters is gold. If you investigate a bit more you’ll soon find out that your “dream building” has been unoccupied for months, maybe even years, which is the reason for the cheap price. What do you do then? If you know what’s good for you (and your business) you’ll start doing some more research before signing that escrow/lease agreement.

My suggestion is that you first get your information from a reliable third party, not your or another party’s agent who may know nothing about the building’s history, but rather from the building’s neighbors or the current, “soon-to-be-previous-occupants.” These are among the best third party sources to ask.

I have done this several times, one of which I remember very well. I had witnessed my client, Bob, completely enthusiastic about a space way larger than what he could afford, but wanted it mainly because it had a very “sweet deal” attached to it. Based on the year of construction I was given the place looked like a dream come true– a great space with an excellent price– which made me suspicious. When I asked the real estate agent who occupied the space previously I was told that the space had been empty for seven months– which made me seriously suspicious. I had to convince my client to take 24 hours to think it over so I could find a way to collect more information. Since we were away from Los Angeles I couldn’t rely on any of my usual sources, so we sent one of Bob’s employees to have a friendly “chat” with the occupants of the office suite right next door. There we found out that the building had indeed been empty for seven months because the previous company had gone bankrupt and its guarantor was still carrying out the lease for them. So think about whether or not you’d like to get one of these supposed “deals” for yourself and your business.

Feng Shui for Business Tip #4
Buildings That Have Been in Business Since the Beginning of Time and They’re Still Thriving

Now it probably goes without saying that these are the best buildings ever. You can think of them as coming with a “Feng Shui Warranty.” They may need to be “tinkered with” to accommodate your business and maximize its potential, but you know a good potential is there to begin with. And this is the kind of building I recommend my client to always look for. But the trick is there are not very many of them around. Only about 25% of buildings designed and constructed without keeping Feng Shui in account end up having good potential, and they still need tweaking afterwards! So imagine what happens when you just “choose” your business or office location without keeping Feng Shui in consideration. Are you really ready to deal with the unknown?

Having said that, do you know now what’s in your building?
Let me know if I can be of any assistance at 310 860 8989

For personalized Feng Shui Consultations for your business, find more information here.

For Feng Shui Courses and Classes visit our Training Center site www.FengShuiTrainingCenter.com

FENG SHUI FOR BUSINESS: the City Club Los Angeles

October 14, 2015 by Master Simona

When the City Club in downtown Los Angeles decided to relocate to the South Tower of the City National Plaza building in 2012, I was contacted by the planning architect and was offered the task of being the Feng Shui business consultant for their design. In fact, the Club’s General Manager, Larry Ahlquist, had specifically requested my services. “We have a large Asian clientele,” he informed me during our first meeting. “We know Feng Shui is important to them, and we would like to honor their culture and avoid any Feng Shui faux pas.”

And so we rode up to the 51^st floor of the City National Plaza’s South Tower to an empty, glass and concrete, 30,000 square foot space with nothing but an electrician there making it fit for use. It was a Feng Shui Master (and architect’s) dream scenario. “This building is very good for the Club, Larry,” I shared with him during my initial analysis. “And we’ll make it a smashing success.”

In the following months, Larry and their teams of architects and designers worked painstakingly to create the most luxurious, sophisticated, and yet still warm and inviting look for the “new” club. And proudly, I must say, they all followed every single Feng Shui suggestion I had made during my consulting time with them, incorporating the Five Elements of Feng Shui with the design layout, the colors, and the finishing materials. The result was not only breathtakingly beautiful, but equally perfect from a Feng Shui stand point.

“This building has very good Qi, that is why it is so successful,” one of the members commented to me during one of the Club’s sold out events (and without knowing I was involved in its design). When I explain my involvement, he was very happy to know the management had taken an interest in Feng Shui during its design. And he wanted to know more, so I told him how my consultation had helped. Soon a pool of people started to form around us, all eager to know what I did to make the energy of the place so good.

“In every single area we have inserted natural elements and colors to create harmony with the Qi of the building and to support leadership, financial success, and harmonious relationships for the members in attendance,” I explained. “So no matter if you are a guest for dinner, having a one-time only meeting in one of the conference rooms, or attending a weekly meeting or a special function or a banquet—every area has been designed specifically for the Qi, meaning the life force energy, to support members in creating success. And this is possible to attain for anybody and any building, whether it’s a residence, an office, or a place of business, by following my specific Feng Shui Master instructions, just like the City Club management and design teams have done.”

I remained in deep discussion with these members for almost an hour. Upon seeing such an interest in hearing even more details, Larry decided to offer his members (and non-members) a live public presentation at the City Club itself where I could explain what I did even further, and also so that all of his members would be able to have the opportunity to learn how the Feng Shui of the Club can help them achieve success in their daily visits.

And so it is that we’ll now be holding the public presentation “Designed for Success: Feng Shui at the City Club Los Angeles” on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at 6:30 – 8:00 PM on the Club’s very own premises.

Please join us in celebrating the Club’s success and learn how you too can use Feng Shui principles to make your own business space more successful.

Please call 213.620.9662 to RSVP. A small fee for non-members may apply.

I look forward to seeing you and sharing all I know about Feng Shui with you!

EVENT DETAILS:

“Designed for Success: Feng Shui at the City Club Los Angeles”

Wednesday, March 30, 2016 – 6:30 – 8:00 PM

City Club Los Angeles

555 S. Flower St., 51^st Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071-1558

Call 213.620.9662 to RSVP

For more Feng Shui Classes and Courses, please visit our Feng Shui Training Center Here.

For personalized Feng Shui Consultations for your house or business, find more information here.

FENG SHUI OFFICE TIPS: Planning for Success with a Feng Shui Consultant

September 30, 2015 by Master Simona

Utilizing Feng Shui Office tips helps achieving the business goals you’re setting out to accomplish.

Some of you may find your business has been a place of challenges both on a personal and professional level. This is usually a sign that something is up at a deeper, more advanced Feng Shui level. The energy distribution of each building is based on its year of construction and its orientation. This means there are literally hundreds of combinations that cause each building to have positive or negative effects on its occupants. In addition, each of the occupants has a need for more specific colors, materials or desk placement based on their date of birth.

So, to make things a bit easier for you, I am giving you here four Feng Shui Office Tips for buildings you may come across when shopping around for a location, when considering where to move your office or business, or where to start a new one. If you have already moved in this can serve as a “check list” to evaluate how good the building you have rented or purchased is and whether it would be a good idea to consider having the advise of a Feng Shui consultant to do some “fixing.”

A building’s energy, whether good or bad, affects its occupants time and again. That is because each building is created with certain, specific features that have the ability of affecting people on a health, wellness, relationship, and the ability to perform in business as well as with life in general. So, if a building has great aspects it will affect its occupants in a very “lucky” manner, while buildings that are not very positive will affect its occupants by bringing about unforeseen challenges and overwhelming obstacles.

There is a popular belief that a previous occupant’s bad luck “lingers” in a building after they leave, when in fact it is the Feng Shui’s characteristics under which the building was created– most of the time unbeknownst to designers and architects– that affects different occupants over time. So knowing what has happened to the previous occupant(s) of a space can give you some indication of what the building may have in store for you too.

Obviously there are many variables to how having bad Feng Shui could undermine a company’s business efforts. Check them out and see if any apply to your office or business location:

Feng Shui Office Tip 1:

Spaces Where Companies or Businesses Seem To Always Go Out of Business

Three years ago I helped a client, John, select a new business location for a store. I had work with him previously, so he was already aware of how accurate and effective Feng Shui had been for both his residence and with a different business that he had opened a few years prior in a different location.

When reviewing the location he had picked out I advised him that the building had a very adverse potential– bad for financial success, but also bad for the occupants relations and I recommended, if he was going to acquire this space, that he planned in the renovation’s budget for some serious structural remodeling (namely removing the roof of the warehouse-type building so that the original, unfavorable energy could be released and updated to a more favorable, current energy.) After finding out that the previous occupant had gone bankrupt, John was more than convinced of the need for this replacement and set a budget aside for it.

However, for this new endeavor, he had joined forces with another, very successful entrepreneur, who, unfortunately, didn’t believe in using Feng Shui.
So this gentleman opposed the plans to replace the roof and John, to keep the peace, reluctantly went along with not doing it.

No sooner the store opened than the trouble also appeared on the horizon– sales and goods delivery was delayed several times and dragged on for several months due to multiple misunderstandings between vendors and clients. In less than a year, John and his new business partner had experienced so many “irreconcilable differences” that they decide to, resentfully, split. By the end of the year the business was sold and a new owner took over. John’s other ventures however, all located in buildings were Feng Shui had been successfully applied, were flourishing.

Feng Shui Office Tip 2

Spaces Which Cause Arguments, Office Politicking, Scandals, Lawsuits, etc.

Feng Shui Office Tip 3

Buildings Unoccupied for a Long Time

These situations are the most difficult to explain to clients because most of these buildings are usually on the market for an incredibly reasonable price tag and that can lure even the most hardcore Feng Shui aficionado into thinking “It’s a great deal!” But remember– not all that glitters is gold. If you investigate a bit more you’ll soon find out that your “dream building” has been unoccupied for months, maybe even years, which is the reason for the cheap price.

What do you do then?

This is a scenario where the help of a qualified consultant will make a difference.

What does it take to fix it? Can be fixed at all? Or is it better to walk away?

All of these questions can be answered in a brief pre-purchase session that can easily fit in your budget.

When I review the building upon his request, I found it highly negative for business success and advise against my client’s leasing it.

Later, Bob’s sent one of his undercover employees to have a friendly “chat” with the occupants of the office suite right next door. There we found out that the building had indeed been empty for seven months because the previous company had gone bankrupt and its guarantor was still carrying out the lease for them. So think about whether or not you’d like to get one of these supposed “deals” for yourself and your business.

Feng Shui Office Tip 4

Buildings That Have Been in Business Since the Beginning of Time and They’re Still Thriving

Now it probably goes without saying that these are the best buildings ever. You can think of them as coming with a “Feng Shui Warranty.” They may need to be “tinkered with” a bit to accommodate your business and maximize its potential, but you know a good potential is there to begin with. And this is the kind of building I recommend my client to always look for.

But the trick is: there are not very many of them around. And any of my students who have helped people scouting for property will tell you the same.

Only about 25% of buildings designed and constructed without keeping Feng Shui in account end up having good potential, and they still need tweaking afterwards! So imagine what happens when you just “choose” your business or office location without keeping Feng Shui in consideration. Are you really ready to take such a risk? And very expensive risk too, between set up costs and lost income?

Again, there is no need for you to play the guessing game when comes to Feng Shui.

I am more than willing to assist you in making the right Feng Shui choices, and my consulting costs are very reasonable when compared with the cost you will be encountering by moving into the wrong building. Think how much money you will be saving by moving your business into a good Feng Shui location from inception, or maximizing the one you are in right now.

So give me a call and let’s set up a consultation. I am looking forward to help you creating a very successful business for yourself, your family and all of your employees.

For more Feng Shui Classes and Courses, please visit our Feng Shui Training Center Here.

For personalized Feng Shui Consultations for your house or business, find more information here.

FENG SHUI FOR HOTELS, RESORTS & HOSPITALITY DESIGN

April 28, 2015 by Master Simona

For years I have been consulting for a hotel development and management company on all their projects in the field of Feng Shui for hotel and resort development and hospitality design. As you well know, most hotels these days include restaurants, bars, spas, conference rooms, and other amenities in addition to the guest sleeping accommodations. So it is not an easy task to make them successful across the board.

Over time I have advised their CEO and development team on several hotels at every stage.

This included advising them on their existing hotels which the company had previously built and managed. Some of them were more successful than others, so I had the chance to see what Feng Shui features worked best for this industry and what didn’t as I compared them. (It’s the only way to really learn and then properly apply Feng Shui when you are building new ones.) Ironically but not surprisingly, I found that most often good Feng Shui makes or breaks the success of a hospitality business more than the brand name or its design.

In addition to their own projects, my clients took me to visit several successful competitor’s hotels and asked me to analyze them (on their time) to steal the Feng Shui secrets to their success. In particular, they showed me a hotel that was recently developed by a competitor who had literally “stole” the project from them. (I won’t go into details, but those of you in this industry can imagine how this kind of thing happens.) Although my clients felt bruised by this loss, I instead had a different opinion. After conducting my analysis on the newly inaugurated and yet still empty establishment, I reassured them it had been for the best. “This building was planned without any Feng Shui in mind by your competitor and it is one of the worst buildings I have ever seen,” I explained. “You are lucky you didn’t get stuck with it. You should thank your competitor for saving you from such financial disaster.”

In light of these experiences, I also consulted for them on older hotels they were refurbishing and planning to redesign with Feng Shui in mind to increase their commercial success. Most notably, I remember one of their top locations—which was very successful and in constant demand—that was under renovation to expand to accommodate the increasing business. However, during the renovation, the layout of the ground floor, all its services, entries, and management offices were scheduled to be moved around and relocated. When I reviewed the proposed project plans I realized that in doing this all the primary sources of success for this building were going to be relocated with a layout adverse to the success of the business. Luckily, still being at the design stage, we were able to make modifications to the design and complete a successful expansion while keeping the Feng Shui mojo of the building intact.

And of course, I also consulted on new hotels the company was planning from scratch. I advised them on the plan reviews as well as advised them on selecting the lots on which to build, and in some cases advised not to purchase a certain lot because it had unfixable restrictions causing the future building to be inevitably unsuccessful (and even worse, unfixable).

So, you may ask, what is it that constitutes good Feng Shui for hotel and hospitality design and hence guarantees its success?

It is a bit complicated to explain that answer in an article because hotels are yet another category of a business completely on its own. However, it is not about design. Choosing Minimalist Zen style (which has been paddled as Feng Shui style for a while now) or a more classic choice of design… it doesn’t matter. Paradoxically, it is not even about the comfort of the individual bedrooms and suites. Sure, sleeping comfortably is always a plus and not to be undermined, but often people are so tired from travelling they would sleep anywhere (at least I would!).

In my experience with doing Feng Shui for hotels (which is now extensive) the applications of Scientific Feng Shui are geared more to make people feel embraced by the space and welcomed by its invisible energy, which gives them peace, balance, and appreciation for being there.

And I am not just referring to temporary guests staying for a night or two, but particularly to the managing staff; those whom spend most of their time in these hotels providing customer service, marketing, and all kinds of services to the patrons. If these employees have good energy to put forth with the customers, your hotels will always be remembered and sought after for years to come, even if the design could be a bit out of style. But this can only be accomplished with the right Feng Shui for hotels advice provided by an experienced professional. Then hopefully afterwards, these establishments will be so “in demand” they will be in need of an expansion, which should also be executed with the best Feng Shui advice in mind.

Planning on designing and building hotels and other hospitality developments? I’ll be happy to assist you in creating your most successful one yet!

Call us at 310 860 8989 or email us at dr.simona@fengshuiarch.com to schedule an appointment and discuss your project.

For more Feng Shui Classes and Courses, please visit our Feng Shui Training Center Here.

For personalized Feng Shui Consultations for your house or business, find more information here.

FENG SHUI FOR RESTAURANT DESIGN : The Difference Between Success and Failure

March 5, 2015 by Master Simona

I have recently done a consultation for one of my long-term clients about a chain of restaurants he is currently developing. Having consulted on all his residences before, it goes without saying that he had already learned firsthand about the positive benefits my consultations have had on his life, his family, and of course, his business and success.

This particular consultation got me thinking, for when it comes to Feng Shui for restaurant design the rules and applications of the principles are very different than they are for any other kind of business. (Generally speaking, the application of Feng Shui rules for a business is very different than the Feng Shui rules for a house too, but that’s another topic altogether.) Feng Shui also differs significantly from business to business, which is why it takes time and a lot of experience for a consultant to really learn how to do each of them right. This is also the reason why no book or website addresses them. It’s too difficult! To really master this aspect of Feng Shui you need a minimum of 20 years of continuous practice or more doing different kinds of Feng Shui business consultations.

Luckily for my client, I have consulted for many restaurants before. And not only am I a foodie, but I particularly enjoy seeing my clients who are great chefs and entrepreneurs become successful in their enterprises as they share their culinary gift with others. So when Max, my client, asked me to look at these new restaurants he was developing (along with his partners), I knew exactly what I needed to do.

Three of the restaurants under design were simpler to address because they were all new constructions, so I knew exactly where and how to place all the strategic areas that would make a restaurant successful and brainstormed with the architect about it until we got the layout completed. However, the fourth building we worked on, posed a different challenge. In the past it had been the location of two different, very famous restaurants. The first one was extremely successful and after a few years (when the lease was up) it moved next door and into a bigger space. The following tenant invested a significant amount of money to completely renovate the premises, but sadly, this new restaurant business ended up in disgrace before the first lease term was even up.

If you are reading this and are an entrepreneur or an investor, your first thought would be “bad management”. But in my experience, if the Feng Shui is good, you do not just go from the stars to the dust in less than one term lease, no matter how ‘bad’ you are at managing the place. So when I consulted for this building I knew that the answer to why the first occupant succeeded and the second one failed had to do with the renovation done in between the two businesses. More importantly, I knew the key to my client’s future success had to do with correcting whatever mistakes had been made during the previous renovation.

So I did some research and I was able to reconstruct the layout of the first space—which was entirely different from the layout I was observing during my inspection. I was made aware of water features that had been removed, entrances that had been shifted, management offices that were relocated, and kitchen layouts that were modified. In short, the entire space was turned around. And that is what made the whole difference in the success and failure of the two different restaurants.

It was quite a task doing the research and coming up with a solution that was Feng Shui efficient, cost effective, and design compatible for my client and their architect. But that is my job and luckily for my client I was there to assist him with making his restaurant successful, making his investors happy, and improving everybody’s life—including the future patrons of this new restaurant.

Imagine how sad it would have been if they had launch their project with a 4 million dollar renovation budget and no Feng Shui plan in mind, just to tank miserably like the previous restaurant owner had done?

And what about your business, your office, your manufacturer, or your store? Are you willing to risk hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions in investments without having a good Feng Shui business plan in place? Think about how much more profitable your investment could be simply by having my Feng Shui business consultation first!

Are you in need of a feng shui consultant for your restaurant? Give me a call at 310 860 8989 or email me at dr.simona@fengshuiarch.com. I am sure I can assist you in making it more successful, just like I did for this satisfied business client.

For more Feng Shui Classes and Courses, please visit our Feng Shui Training Center Here.

For personalized Feng Shui Consultations for your house or business, find more information here.

Last updated by Master Simona at April 26, 2019.