A Virtual Office
In the spring of 2006 I signed up for an online class at the Santa Rosa Junior College that prepares students to create a home office and become familiar with all the aspects of providing online business services, according to each person's skills, such as; bookkeeping, internet research, word processing/writing, and marketing, to name a few.
Our extensive testbook and weekly assignments included; Identifying and handling online and home business challenges, developing a letter of introduction, developing a contractor agreement, developing a client order/invoice form, purchasing equipment for a home office, and organizing your home office for efficiency and comfort.
For our mid-term we had a variety of topics we could choose to research and write a paper on. An additional requirement was to get the information from 6 references: 2 books, 2 periodicals and 2 websites.
The following article in The Press Democrat had caught my attention a few weks earlier and inspired me to research how to create an efficient, comfortable office environment.
“Office Disorders Financial, Psychological Costs”. The opening paragraph stated that, “Messy desks, messy computers, messy calendars are messing up the economy.” The quick summary sidebar identified Clutter’s Cost in percentages, as reported in a recent study done by the Delphi Group, a Boston consultancy group. The percentages were: 15% of paper handled in businesses is lost, 30% of all employees’ time is spent trying to find lost documents and professionals lose 2.1 hours daily to distraction.
I chose to use the midterm article as a springboard into creating a pleasant, comfortable and efficient environment for myself, so when the course was completed I would know what I needed to do to make my environment condusive to my being creatve and successful with my life’s mission.
The following 6 resources have given me creative ideas to rearrange my office and home.
2 Books
Kingston, Karen, (1999) Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui www.spaceclearing.com/
The Table of Contents for Karen Kingston’s book is intriguing. The book is 179 pages, divided into three parts, with an appendix, bibliography, recommended further reading, resources and Index. Karen insists you can’t move to Part 3 until you have read and understand Part 1 and 2.
Part 1. Understanding Clutter
Part 2. Identifying Clutter
Part 3. Clearing Clutter
As I began to read her book, I was quite thrilled it is in my hands! I am looking forward to thoroughly reading it. On page 7 she mentions there are three levels of stuck energy.
1. physical grime (general yuck),
2. predecessor energy (emotional vibrations from former dwellers or
your own emotional traumas)
3. Clutter. She says that low level energy always accumulates around dust!
Now I have a good grip on how to explain to my husband why we need to clean the dust and emotional trauma in order for me to approach my paper clutter! This won’t be an issue of trying to control him, but to free us both from stuck negative energy!
Morgenstern, Julie, (1998) Organizing From The Inside Out. 262 pages www.juliemorgenstern.com/
Julie Morgenstern is the founder and owner of the New York based professional organizing company Task Masters. Julie has been a consultant to individuals and companies since 1989.
The four chapters in her book are:
Part 1 One - Laying The Foundation
Part 2 – Secrets Of a Professional Organizer
Part 3 – Applying What You’ve Learned: Chapter 7 - Home-Based Businesses
Part 4 – Tackling Time Technology
This book does not mention Feng Shui and has been in my house for quite a while; however, I have not taken the time to open it! It rested along with other books I have accumulated over the years regarding getting organized and clearing clutter.
As I looked more closely I noticed on the cover of one, that in addition to the title were the words “The Foolproof System for Organizing Your Home, Your Office and Your Life”. I'll dust it off and read it - when I have time!
2 Periodicals
Weltman, Barbara; Hayes, Michael Copyright Dec 2005 American Institute of CPA’s Journal of Accountancy: Feng Shui for beginners: an organized, harmonious work environment is a business asset p36 (4).
Feng Shui - half art, half mysticism – was gently and tastefully well written as it promoted ideas to liberate creativity and vitality. In order to open up new opportunities, the authors encouraged the reader to be flexible enough to be willing to follow a Feng Shui consultant’s advice, if the CPA is too busy or feels silly about applying Feng Shui techniques.
Another comment was to say that a practitioner didn’t have to take Feng Shui literally to benefit incorporating some easy-to-implement ideas in order to experience real change. An added nudge was suggested by saying, “You won’t know unless you try it.”
This article was written for a CPAs work and home office suggesting that to create a harmonious work-place, a person must take all their senses into account through simple principles of using full-spectrum lighting, mirrors, bamboo and rubber plants, a small aquarium or a mini water fountain, an air purifier or open windows, particular colors, a crystal figurine, gentle wind chimes, and a bowl of real or crystal and jade fruit. These enhancements along with other clutter free suggestions help to achieve a workplace that is pleasant and efficient that promotes harmony, health and prosperity.
This article was of particular interest, since I have worked with many CPAs over the years and was unaware they would have any knowledge of or come in contact with Feng Shui. Although I am not a CPA, I have tendencies to be a bit reluctant to be too far-out, even though others have considered me “on the fringe”.
As an added incentive to quell fears of being odd, the authors mentioned New York City Major Michael Bloomberg, Donald Trump, Virgin Atlantic Airway founder Sir Richard Branson, a couple of high profile corporations, and the possibility of future clients, incorporating Feng Shui into their work places, so I am encouraged to pursue creating a Feng Shui office.
2. Gibbons, Dawn: March 2006 p28 (1) Contract Flooring Journal: Helping You Gain A Competitive Advantage: Dawn Gibbins On Feng Shui And Business Performance
Dawn Gibbons’ article was the fifth of a series she was writing regarding Feng Shui for this industry’s monthly newsletter. She suggests that once a person achieves positive Feng Shui energy they will begin to feel better and their whole life will improve, including their financial bottom line.
She advises getting rid of EMF (electromagnetic frequencies, which can seriously damage health. These frequencies are found in radio alarm clocks, electrical cables and computer bases to name a few. She suggests hiring a consultant, who can bring an EMF meter to determine if you are exposed to more than 20 volts per meter, since more than 20 volts is very unhealthy. Also, Dawn says clutter depresses the human spirit, so it is vital to eliminate it, and surround yourself with things that make you feel good.
EMFs have been a concern of mine for a number of years, so I have placed a piece of equipment, that looks and acts like a clock, near computers, to defuse EMF negative energy. I am pleased she is bringing this information to a whole industry and interested to know that getting rid of EMFs is considered part of “going Feng Shui”.
2 Websites
Wong, Angi Ma Copyright (c) 2000 Excerpted from the Feng Shui Dos & Taboos, a book by Angi Ma Wong, www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/ Reprinted by permission from Storey Books. www.storeybooks.com
The excerpt from Angi Wong’s book, found on the above mentioned link, are 13 tips for the dos and taboos of Feng Shui office design. Nine of the items are dos and four are taboos. She suggests where to place a desk, what should be behind the wall and behind your back, where to put the computer, the aquarium or tabletop fountain, where to put a safe, the importance of balancing light and dark colors, soft and hard surfaces, and smooth and rough textures.
One “to do” I particularly liked was, to treat the files in your office with respect. They represent your past, present and future business.
When I set up an office, I purchase a box of colored file folders, a box of file folder labels with 4 different colors and 4 different colors of Sharpie extra fine point permanent marker pens.
Each year I choose a specific color for the file folders, the labels and the ink color is the same color as the label. I also align file folders in a particular way, which I find works well for consistency when adding new folders, ease of filing and finding documents. When a file drawer is opened, the color and arrangement is pleasing to my eyes and brain. Any other way is very discombobulating to me! I had no idea I was using Feng Shui in my files!
I stumbled upon Ms. Wong, referred to as the Feng Shui Lady. She is a diplomat’s daughter born in China, who has lived in New Zealand, Taiwan and Washington, D.C. She is a wife, mother, cancer survivor, a best-selling author, an award-winning entrepreneur and the only Feng Shui expert to have appeared on Oprah’s program.
I am quite pleased to “meet” her, so will be checking out her books very soon.
Yates, Gayla: The Art of Placement & Amazing! Feng Shui www.amazingfengshui.com/site/fengshui_tips.html
Gayla Yates states that the art of placement can cause dramatic benefits, but only addresses the environment at the most superficial level. Amazing! Feng Shui goes far beyond the simple arrangement of furniture, mirrors, crystals, fountains and flutes. Gayla suggests that your home and/or office will feel noticeably lighter and brighter with an Amazing! Feng Shui treatment. She says the secret to profound transformation is in the shifting of Qi, i.e. the cleansing, balancing and harmonizing of vital, life-force energy at the quantum levels of the environment.
Gayla lives in Santa Rosa and is an acquaintance of mine. The testimonies her clients give are quite wonderful. I will ask Gayla for her professional expertise, after I have cleared my clutter and made some obvious placement changes.
Feng Shui is of the utmost importance for me to be comfortable in my home, my home office and successful in my business.
Dianna Coulombe
April 15th 2006
