In the previous chapter, you learned about the feng shui ba gua—the “energy map” of your space. The ba gua can be used for any defined area; there is a ba gua for your entire home and also a ba gua for each room within your home, including your office.*
Here’s how clutter in the various guas within your office could be affecting you and your business:
Clutter in the CAREER area (kan gua) symbolically “muddies the water” and can result in:
• Unclear or misunderstood communications going out from your office • Feeling unsure what role you wish to take in your profession
• People contacting you because they misperceive your role or services; you waste time clarifying what you do and directing them elsewhere for assistance
Clearing clutter here will help you build a successful career doing what you love, rather than what other people think you should do.
Clutter in the KNOWLEDGE area (ken gua) can make it hard to: • Stay current with new developments in your field
• Get accurate information when you need it
• Have a clear understanding of your personal needs and priorities
Clearing clutter here will make it easier for you to make appropriate decisions that support both your professional success and your personal growth and happiness.
Clutter in the FAMILY / COMMUNITY area (jen gua) can make it harder to: • Get new projects started (this area governs fresh starts of all kinds) • Attract new members to your network marketing “family”
• Gain community support for your business • Make time for family commitments
Clearing clutter here will help you balance family and work commitments and expand your community/network connections.
Clutter in the WEALTH area (hsun gua) makes it harder for you to: • Prosper financially
• Increase your cash flow • Increase your profits
• Attract new income opportunities • Resolve financial disputes
• Have a clear understanding of your financial situation
Clearing clutter here will help you make more money faster, better manage your expenses, and make wise investments.
Clutter in the FAME area (li gua) can lead to:
• Underperformance of your marketing initiatives
• A reputation for being “old school” (versus “cutting edge”) • Undeserved damage to your professional reputation
• Difficulty gaining recognition for your accomplishments
• Lack of a clear future vision for your business, or the next steps to get you there
Clearing clutter here will help you become a star in your field.
Clutter in the RELATIONSHIP area (kun gua) can lead to problems in both your love life and your business relationships. This could mani- fest as:
• Complaints from your spouse/romantic partner regarding your work habits or commitments
• Difficulty finding a good business partner or assistant, if you are look- ing for one
• Conflicts with your business partner/assistant
• Complaints from customers that you are unresponsive to their needs
Clearing clutter here will help you enjoy satisfying and mutually supportive busi- ness and personal partnerships.
Clutter in the CHILDREN/CREATIVITY area (dui gua) can result in: • Feelings of overwhelm
• Lack of creativity
• Problems with or complaints from your network marketing downline or from your children
Clearing clutter here will help you discard old ideas and outmoded ways of think- ing, see your business from a new perspective, make better parenting decisions, and devise creative solutions to any problems you are facing.
Clutter in the HELPFUL FRIENDS/TRAVEL area (chien gua) could be the cause of such problems as:
• Lackluster performance from service providers
• Mentors or advisors unavailable when you need them • Lack of support from a network marketing upline • Difficulty achieving any travel-related goals
Clearing clutter here will keep your lines of support strong.
Clutter in the TAI CHI (center) of the office will affect every aspect of your professional life, as well as having a negative impact on your health and wellbeing.
Clearing clutter here will help you handle stress more easily, take better care of yourself, and balance your work and family life more effectively.
MORE CLUTTER PROBLEM AREAS
Here are some other places where clutter may be holding you back: • IN THE HALL
If your home office is at the end of a hallway, clutter in that passageway will keep chi from getting through to your work space. Where chi goes, people, ideas, money, and opportunities flow as well. So if the chi is blocked in the hall before it even gets to your office, all aspects of your business will suffer.
• BEHIND THE OFFICE DOOR
Doors represent access to new ideas and opportunities. A blocked door is a metaphor for blocked achievement. When your office door doesn’t open all the way because there’s a pile of stuff stashed behind it, you are likely to feel blocked, stymied, and frustrated. Find someplace else to stash that stuff!
• IN YOUR OFFICE CLOSET
In feng shui, closets represent things that are secret, unknown, or unrecognized. Cluttered closets can indicate that hidden problems are impeding your progress. Many home offices are set up in an extra guest room, with closet space that becomes a catch-all for things that don’t have a home somewhere else in the house. When your office closet is filled with clutter— especially when that stuff is unrelated to your business activities—your ability to be intuitive and insight- ful is stifled. Cleaning out the closet and using it for office storage only can help put you back in touch with your inner wisdom.