New York Feng Shui Consultations: A Day in the Life
(In Loving Homage to my Late Mother Carole)
"Feng Shui Consultants have it SO EASY," you may think. Think again. It takes hard work, determination, ENERGY and some very long days to persue this dream. It's NOT that easy.
Often touted as a "dream job" Feng Shui Consulting is not. As a New York Feng Shui Consultant I often find myself getting up at 5 am or earlier depending where my client may be located. I allow at least one hour of meditation prior to going out for services. (Please note I am not speaking for all Feng Shui Consultants, this is the way I was taught).
Each and every home, business, office, corporation is UNIQUE. So are the people that live or work there. While there are certain Feng Shui principles I always look for, I first find out from out clients what their particular areas of concern are, and then decide how to make simple and inexpensive suggestions to every area.
Hundreds of Feng Shui Principles go through your mind as a Consutant but you are looking for the ones most suited to THIS CLIENT'S issues. It demands FOCUS—and complete acceptance. My clients are PEOPLE and likely to be from any part of the World. They have diverse beliefs and I am always careful not to forget how to treat each and every one with kindness and complete RESPECT, no matter what their beliefs.
This is one of the keys in acceptance. Another is that to seek to gain clients' trust—not always an easy accomplishment when someone doesn't know you. I am carefu NEVER to becritical, but looking always for ways to incorporate Feng Shui ideas and principles into their lives that make it easy for them.
I give them a REASON behind each and EVERY change. If they understand WHY we are looking to improve an area, they are much more likely to take your suggestions. I NEVER force opinions on them, but I do make suggestions on what they can do to improve their lives and then FOLLOW UP.
I see limitations on some consultants' sites on how many follow ups are permitted-and also a time length they have to follow up. A recent contact from a client almost a year and half ago brought me right back to her space—a lovely home in Lindenhurst Long Island.
While our consultation had been a success, she said, things had changed in that time. She'd since lost her job (although re-united with her husband!) and told me she didn't have the finances to pay for another consultation. I asked her to call and as we were speaking, she started to remember key areas we had spoken about and what to do for them now that her situation had changed.
This wasn't about money—my consultations never are. They ARE about searching for ways to help my clients and the gratitude that comes from those emails and phone calls on the wonderful successes they've had. A "typical" Feng Shui Consultation will last about three hours or more. With travel time it can easily become a whole day.
FengShui Consultants are just like all of you who truly LOVE working with PEOPLE and love their jobs and some very tough challenges. And when our clients FEEL that ENERGY, they know they are cared about and thought of often. It's not a position for everyone, but it is the most rewarding profession I've ever had.
Carole Provenzale and Laura Cerrano are Founders of Feng Shui Long Island and New York (Manhattan).
