| Feng shui (say "fung shway"), often called the art of | | | | company may have difficulty attracting or keeping key |
| placement, could just as accurately be called "the art | | | | customers.In a retail store, feng shui problems can |
| of flow." This ancient Chinese practice, literally | | | | block the flow of customers into and through the store, |
| translated as "wind" and "water," aims to maximize the | | | | contribute to theft and staffing problems, and have a |
| beneficial movement of chi--the universal life force | | | | negative effect on the amount and size of sales.Feng |
| present in all things--through an environment.Just as | | | | shui provides tools and guidelines for analyzing and |
| fresh air and clean water nourish our bodies, so does | | | | correcting the flow of energy into and through our |
| fresh, clean chi nourish our homes and our lives. When | | | | space. It uses the arrangement of rooms and the |
| the flow of chi through our space is blocked, weak, or | | | | placement of furniture to create a smooth pathway |
| misdirected, our relationships, cash flow, creativity, | | | | for chi through a home, office, or retail location. |
| health, and career can suffer. Chi wants to meander | | | | Blockages and other forms of negative chi are |
| gracefully through a space, like a gentle breeze or a | | | | removed or counteracted in order to welcome in |
| winding stream. When it flows too strongly, it becomes | | | | opportunities and encourage progress. Colors and |
| like a hurricane or flood. We are likely to feel tossed | | | | shapes associated with the five elements-wood, fire, |
| about by winds of change, unstable, prone to crises, | | | | earth, metal, and water-are used to create movement, |
| struggling to "keep our heads above water." Where chi | | | | balance, or protection, depending on the needs of the |
| is blocked it becomes stale and stagnant, like a pond | | | | client. Imagery and objects such as paintings, |
| choked with algae and fallen leaves. We may feel | | | | photographs, statuary and other accessories are |
| tired, run down, depressed, unable to focus, hampered | | | | chosen and placed to enhance and reinforce the |
| in our efforts to move forward in our lives.In a | | | | client's intention.Feng Shui reminds us that everything is |
| corporate environment, poor feng shui can result in | | | | connected, and that our physical surroundings have a |
| miscommunication between managers and employees, | | | | significant impact on our mind, body, and spirit. It |
| conflicts among team members, and lack of support | | | | teaches us to be mindful caretakers of our |
| for key initiatives. Individuals may be overlooked for | | | | environments, so that we may be mindful caretakers |
| promotions or deserved raises, suffer damage to their | | | | of our lives. |
| reputation in the company, or even lose their job. The | | | | |