Feng shui is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the law of both Heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive qi.[i] Essentially it is all about a system of order.
I recently read an interesting book called Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui[ii]. The basic concept is that “clutter” drains you of good energy and creates a kind of low stagnant and confusing energy that can negatively influence or even completely block the flow of events in specific areas of your life.
Now I know talk about energy, qi and the like are not necessarily an everyday part of business speak here in the West, and I am not trying to make them so, but merely to draw some interesting observations and apply some of these principles to make business operations more effective.
From personal experience I have observed that clearing away physical clutter has an amazing freeing effect on the mind.
I have also observed that businesses frequently become bogged down with their own sort of clutter, such as unresolved issues, outdated systems that don’t work that well, mixed messages, day to day struggles, operating and delivery problems, tax disputes, employee disputes, customer complaints, partner friction, family friction, a loss of focus and direction, a loss of purpose, poor business structures, lack of effective long term planning, etc. The list goes on and on.
All of these unresolved and broken elements are business clutter and they can drain the very energy from a business, its owners and its employees.
Part of the process that I use with businesses, involves identifying, and clearing away such business clutter. I recommend this to all business owners as a first important step. By refocusing and realigning the business, its legal structures and legal vehicles around the core objectives of the owners, and by getting rid of distractions and obstacles, an amazing resurgence often occurs. With clarity, focus and direction, and a clearing away of the “clutter” it is much easier to make better and more successful choices. Do yourself a favor and start clearing away your business clutter.
i Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui
iI By Karen Kingston