New Revenue Source for Feng Shui Practitioners

Someone posted a link about the Singapore Government chasing down Feng Shui masters for refund on their work for the Singapore Flyer (ferris wheel) in my Facebook page.
http://newnation.sg/2014/05/govt-seeking-refund-from-feng-shui-masters-as-spore-flyer-still-bankrupt/

This is scary for people in the Feng Shui ecosystem (if not egosystem).  But I have doubt about the authenticity of this article for 2 simple reasons:

1. Singapore Government is one of the few smart governments left in this world.  For sure they would have caught the Feng Shui masters or at the least, frozen their bank accounts.
2. Anyone with half a brain will know that Feng Shui is only part of the equation for personal or business successes.

 "First fate, second luck, third Feng Shui, fourth good deeds, fifth study, ........"   is the famous Chinese saying on the ranking of important attributes of destiny.  Feng Shui is ranked number three only.

Economic forecasters do not guarantee results. Business consultants do not guarantee successes. Even weather forecasters with advanced equipment like doppler radar cannot guarantee accurate forecast.  How can one expect a few Feng Shui audits or designs to replace marketing research/ planning and management practices?

Can Feng Shui handle changing business environment, physical environment (Feng Shui) and competitions? Local Singaporeans figure these factors out without blaming Feng Shui.
http://sbr.com.sg/hotels-tourism/exclusive/singapore-flyer-placed-under-receivership-what-went-wrong
http://www.singapolitics.sg/views/why-singapore-flyer-hasnt-taken

Thanks to this "Feng Shui lynching" article, it gives me a new revenue idea for our hardworking (and maybe starving) Feng Shui folks --we can offer "Feng Shui pinata" service for professionals in marketing and management.

"Ken, are you kidding?  You mean clients can beat us up when their business sucks?"

Kind of.  We offer the service to be the "fall guy" of business people's marketing or management flops. So they can blame their failures on Feng Shui and keep their jobs.  If their business is a great success, they can keep all the glory to themselves and mention nothing about the Feng Shui work done.

If you offer this "Feng Shui pinata" service, please send 10% royalty to Ken Lai's PayPal account or any charity of your choice.

Ken Lai

"Destiny/Luck Mgmt. w/ Bazi- Basic/ Advanced w/18 hr. HD video each
"Advanced Visual Form Feng Shui w/ 23 hr. HD video
"Feng Shui Toolbox: Sha-qi, Health/Wealth & Career" w/ 7 hr. HD video
"Period 7/8 Feng Shui Toolkit w/ Advanced Flying Star techniques" w/ 6 hr. HD video
"Practical Date-Selection Methods (incl. XKDG) w/ 12 hr. video
"Professional Imperial Qi-Men-Dun-Jia 4G" w/ 21 hr. video
"EZ QMDJ series: Astrology, Date/Task Selection, Annual Luck/Feng Shui"w/ 3 hr. HD
"EZ QMDJ Advanced Feng Shui" with 4 hr. HD video
"Daoist Talismans for Feng Shui/Blessing" w/ 24 hr video
 "Practical Door Feng Shui for Wealth" w/ 3 hr. video
 "4-Pillars Forecasting Bootcamp" with 12 hr. video

 http://www.kenlaifengshui.com
 http://kenlaifengshui.blogspot.com  

Feng Shui Anything

A few years ago, many of us laughed our heads off when we saw the "Feng Shui haircut" in Penn & Teller's TV series "Bullshit".

Well, you have not seen the real head-turner yet.

Ms. Yang-lan, a TV personality in China, has teamed up with a clothing manufacturer and developed an underwear line using "Feng Shui" as the brand name. The picture here is the cover of a magazine pushing the FS undies.

Here is the headline:

"Yang-lan highly recommends Feng Shui Underwear.
Wearing Feng Shui Underwear wil turn you into a rich woman"

It does not specify if a man wears the FS undies will turn him into a rich woman or free sex-change operation is included.

Feng Shui undies may be an extreme case of marginalizing Feng Shui. But the damages to legitimate Feng Shui has been done by these "Feng Shui Anything" marketeers. They promise anything you want-- health, wealth, relationship, academic, career.... ., but deliver little.

You can see the "damages" by simply going to bookstores like "Borders" or "Barnes and Noble". A few years ago, there were 2+ more shelves devoted to Feng Shui books. Now it is less than half of a shelf.

Well, do you want to buy a Feng Shui Magic Wand? Simply make a wish, raise the wand and viola, get whatever you want without leaving your bed to attend any Feng Shui seminars.


Ken Lai

"Practical Date-Selection Methods (incl. XKDG) w/ 12 hr. video
"Practical Imperial Qi-men-Dun-Jia" w/ 10 hr. video
"Daoist Talismans for Feng Shui & Blessing" w/ 12 hr video
"Practical Door Feng Shui for Wealth" w/ 3 hr. video
"4-Pillars Forecasting Bootcamp" with 12 hr. video

http://www.kenlaifengshui.com/

"Lineage Rocks" vs. "Lineage Sucks"-- Part I

In late 1990's, a young entrepreneur had teamed up with a well-known old master to form a Feng Shui school. The young man had picked the biggest asset of the partnership-- lineage and experience to promote the school.

At that time, almost every graduate of that school would point out "lineage rocks!"

The young man had marketed this "lineage" thing so well that his competitions had to somehow coming up with lineage of some sort to stay competitive.

So suddenly, some Feng Shui teachers come up with their lineage overnight-- you have dim-sum teahouse lineage, window-watching lineage and other off-the-shelve lineages.

"No lineage left behind"-- almost everyone got one at that time.

Around 2003, something strange had happened. The young man no longer sang "lineage rocks". His partnership with the old master had dissolved.

He can no longer piggyback on the old master's 50+ years experience or lineage. Now he hopes people will forget his old preaching about "lineage and experience".

So he preaches "lineage sucks" and pushes the "genius" card. His metaphysics knowledge is somehow "born" with him or fallen from sky to him. He rarely mentions where he got his knowledge from.

Lately there are new competitions coming from mainland China vying for a piece of the English-speaking Feng Shui market. These "newcomers" are likely dressed up with advanced degrees and titles like PhD, professor, chairman of obscure Yi-Jing club and the like and of course, a well-written up "lineage".

When they market themselves inside China, their PhD will be likely from fake or paper-mill universities from the west. When marketing outside China, their Phd will be likely from prestigious Chinese Universities (you can get a fake PhD certificate with prestige Chinese university imprinted for around RMB$400 or US$50 in China).

So the relevance or irrelevance of "lineage' pops up again.

One's position is pretty much based on party line-- people who think they have "real lineage" are likely to say lineage rocks. Those who have no lineage are likely to say lineage sucks.

Hey Ken, what is your position on lineage?

Well, I have quite a few lineages on my belt though I do not emphasize them.

It is difficult even for the Chinese to prove or disprove most lineage claims. The problem is that after someone had said or written about certain existent or non-existent "lineage" frequent enough (like 10 times), people begin to believe the lineage is real.

I treat lineage like SAT scores-- just for reference only and will not pay for it solely based on lineage claims.

You need to observe the school or master yourself to see if s/he is credible or not. A simple rule of thumb is that if someone is very flashy and loaded with titles-- the probability that the guy is a fake is pretty high.

Well, don't dump your lineage yet (if you got any), as it may be fashionable again to have a lineage.


Ken Lai

"4P Bootcamp" with 8 hr. video now available
"Daoist Talisman for FS and Blessing" w/ 13 hr video
"Practical Door FS for wealth" w/ 3 hr. video
http://kenlaifengshui.blogspot. com/ MY BLOG SITE
http://www.kenlaifengshui.com

PhD Gowns and Dragon Robe

I was surfing in Google's "Feng Shui" image archive the other day. A young entrepreneur has posted the graduation pixes of his metaphysics school there.

The pixes look very impressive . You see the young entrepreneur and his graduates dressed in PhD style gowns and caps. It is a little bit odd to see the young guy granting a super-sized diploma to someone who could be older than his mother. It looks as if the older students were granting him a diploma.

I told myself, "I should do something like that, requiring my graduates to wear PhD style gown and cap."

"No, you should do something better than PhD gowns." My little voice told me.

"Besides, nowadays, even kindergarten and high school graduates wear gowns."

Then lighting suddenly struck inside my head.

I was in China earlier this year and saw "dragon robes" (robe worn by the Chinese emperor) for sale.

Now I can outdo PhD gown by requiring my graduates wearing "dragon robe". They will be granted the titles of "Emperor of Feng Shui", "Empress of Feng Shui", "Emperor of 4P" .... and so on.

This for sure will blow away titles like "master" or "master-trainer".

Only 20 graduates will be granted these highest possible titles, so book yours ASAP!



Ken Lai
http://www.kenlaifengshui.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10429370@N05/

Choosing a Master

Note: The following was written around 2002- 2003.

If the descriptions here match someone you know, it is unintentional and please accept my apology.

The Feng Shui training industry is getting more competitive as new teachers join the fray, offering more "secrets" and lower fees.

Competition is good for consumers. This will hopefully eliminate sub-standard and inadequate teachers and overcharges.

More Feng Shui knowledge for the buck- the day of charging US$2-900 per day of training probably won't last long, as more "teachers" are chasing the shrinking Feng Shui pie.

As competition gets intense, so is back-stabbing among teachers, or "masters" (their preferred title). Masters are also human beings. Feng Shui training is a business, just like any other business.

These "masters" will get creative in their marketing by making myths about themselves.

The followings are common tricks used by con-artists in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. I list it here for reference only.

1. Claiming lineage with a famous Feng Shui or 4P master, who was deceased-- for example, my last name is Lai, and there was a famous Feng Shui Master by the name of Po Yi Lai (960 AD), then I can claim myself as the 30th generation descendent of Master Lai and has inherited tons of top secret handwritten manuscripts.

What happens if my last name does not match any great masters'? No sweat, damn easy to fix.

2. Claiming my si-fu (teacher) is the "Nth” generation "in-house" student of Master XYZ. This works well most of the time.

How about someone with a big ego and claiming he has learned Feng Shui by himself (bookworm)? There are a few ways to handle it:

3a. I found a top secret "lost manuscript" in a used bookstore. It will change the world.
3b. I ran into an old man or helped an old man, he gave me a never been published Feng Shui manuscript to me before his death. You'll kick asses with that manuscript.

All these claims are hard to prove or disprove. So I would suggest people to ignore all these lineage and "secret manuscript" claims in choosing your Feng Shui teacher. Also check if you will be taught by the "master" himself/ herself or by his/her students working for peanuts, but still charging you big bucks.

Another important criterion in choosing a Feng Shui teacher is, especially for advanced levels, does the guy read classical Chinese? If he cannot, he just relies on translated Feng Shui materials just like you. A Bible scholar cannot be a real Bible scholar without knowing Hebrew. A Chinese Feng Shui teacher not knowing Chinese is OK for beginner level Feng Shui classes, but not the advanced levels.


Ken Lai
http://www.kenlaifengshui.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10429370@N05/

A FARMER AND A BUNNY

Note: The following blog was written on Feb. 23, 2005

One day, Farmer Mah took a break after working under the sun for a few
hours. He sat under the cool shade of a tree.

Suddenly he heard a "boom" noise.  It seemed something hit the tree
trunk.

Farmer Mah looked around and found a fainted bunny laying on the dirt.
Mah was happy to have a bunny dinner that evening.

The next day while toiling in the field, he thought, "Why should I work
this hard?  I can sit under that cool tree and wait for another
bunny."

So he sat under the tree and waited-- no bunny showed up.

Then he waited again the following day-- no bunny again.

Farmer Mah asked himself, "Why no more bunny?  Do I sit at the right
angle?  Does it has anything to do with my 4P, house orientation, what I
did the day when I got the bunny...."

So he did some "crime scene recreation" and retraced what he saw and
did the day he got the bunny.  "The rooster crowed 4 times. I'd eaten 3
eggs and pissed 2 times.  The I saw 5 nuns and stepped on some cow dung
on my way to the field...."

So farmer Mah had luopaned the tree, his house, checked his 4P and used
all possible metaphyical methods like Qi Men Dun Jia, 6-ren, XKDG,
TBBS, ZWDS.... to find out if there is any correlation with the appearance
of the bvnny, imageries and numbers that he had encountered in that
lucky day.

Mah had worked so hard to find out how to get the bunny again that he
no longer worked the field and grass grew all over.

Farmer Mah had lost track of time, but one day he was overcome with joy
and yelled, "I've cracked the secret! XKDG said that date was my lucky
day, QMDJ said I walked the lucky direction and where I'd stepped on
the cow dung is the weakness point of the bunny luck system....."

Using a multitude of metaphysics systems, Mah was able to fit some
facts a bit here and there.

With his new-found secret, do you think Farmer Mah will wait for bunny
under the tree again?

(Answer below)



Ken Lai

http://www. kenlaifengshui.com

===================================
PS:  This story was based on a Chinese fable.

Answer:  No, Farmer Mah did not wait for bunny again.  Instead he had
become "Master Mah" and taught FS seminars on how to win lottery and
animal-racing.  When the gig did not work out, he became a "motivational
speaker".



Ken Lai

http://www.kenlaifengshui.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10429370@N05/

Feng Shui your way to the bank or the biz of FS

Note: The following blog was written on April 22, 2005


I've received the following spam email and have lots
of fun with it. So I hope it will start your day with
some laughs.

All the names have been changed except the guilty one
(Ken). I've make some comments in the text. I do not
dispute or endorse the FS method discussed in the
text.

However, we can learn a lot from this spam as it
covers lots of classic marketing skills, applicable to
other fields besides FS.


Ken

================================================


Ken,
I'M GOING TO HELP YOU MAKE
A MILLION DOLLARS
WITHOUT EVEN LEAVING YOUR HOME!

Dear Ken,

That's right - you can earn a million dollars! You
won't have to leave your house or apartment. You
don't even have to make a phone call. All you need to
do is rearrange your furniture. Clean a special area
of your kitchen. Or hang a mirror on the correct
wall. It's easy - once you know the secret!

Yes, Ken! Feng Shui Master XXX, wants to reveal to
you an ancient Chinese secret that will show you how
to turn your home into a powerful magnet for wealth
and good fortune.

XXX's rags-to-riches story is so incredible, I
simply have to let him tell it to you directly, in his
own words.

First, I want to thank (spammer's name) for
giving me this chance to speak to you.

My name is XXX. I was born to a poor family in
China in 1935, and began my education with the very
selective XXX FENG SHUI School of Buddhist monks when
I was a child of eight. There I was taught the
closely guarded secrets of FENG SHUI that can provide
the "3 Great Blessings" of Health, Happiness and
Prosperity to those who understand its mysteries.
(Ken: GM Lin should be flattered by this sincere
imitation)

Years later, after we'd escaped the Communist
regime in China, I used the wisdom I had attained as a
master of FENG SHUI to help my parents make a fortune!

Knowing that I had given riches and security to
my parents filled me with pride. Despite my
schooling, I am a devout Christian and I vowed that I
would use my mastery of FENG SHUI not for my own
profit, but to help other people like you, Ken - good,
honest people who struggle every day to make ends
meet.

To me, FENG SHUI was the key to making the
American dream come true - the promise that anyone,
with enough luck and the right help, can become
magnificently wealthy!
(Ken: this is a real pro! He knows we need money and enough
luck¡¨)

Successful businessmen around the world have
already cashed in on this ancient miracle of wealth
and power. Major magazines and newspapers have
reported how Michael Ovitz and Donald Trump, two of
America's most dynamic tycoons, have consulted
traditional masters of this powerful art to help
design and bless their offices. It is said you can
see its principles in the design of the Trump Tower!
(Ken: Donald Trump has filed bankruptcy a few months
ago. Fortunately, he did not admit using FS in his
book "How to Get Rich¡¨, so his problems has nothing
to do with FS.)

Citibank, Chase Asia, PaineWebber, the Asian Wall
Street Journal -- all respected, conservative
financial institutions -- as well as the firm of
renowned architect I.M. Pei are a few of the more
prominent businesses that have paid thousands of
dollars to have this secret of gaining and preserving
their staggering fortunes. But YOU don't have to!
(Ken: This is great copy-writing¡ no need to pay big
bucks to use FS! I'd have save tons of tuition fees if
I've bought this guide years ago.)


I want YOU to use the power of FENG SHUI
to attract money, good luck and happiness.
I'm going to give you the key to a new life of
luxury and freedom, because I think that anyone who
wants to be rich should have a chance to make that
dream come true. That's why I've put all of these
remarkable secrets into one clear and simple guide
I've called
FENG SHUI: XXX INSTANT WEALTH.
(Ken: Master XXX must be inspired by instant noodles)

Here's what FENG SHUI did for one client of mine,
J.G. of Oakland, CA:
"I had a table and a mirror in my front hallway.
According to you, it was blocking the flow of positive
energy into my home. I moved the table and changed
the mirror to the other wall. Two days later I got a
call from a lawyer. A distant relative I had never
heard of had just died. He left me $500,000.00 in his
will. How's that for positive energy!?"
(Ken: President Bush probably will ban this guide or
our relatives will die like flies.)

FENG SHUI could work for you as it did for J.G.
and hundreds of my clients. And you won't have to
spend years learning mystical secrets like I did. You
won't have to pay the outrageous fees that
millionaires pay to other FENG SHUI masters.
(Ken: Again, this is very convincing. FS masters will
be out of business.)

I'm offering all the secrets of Asia's most
closely guarded mystery at an amazingly low price
because I want to see good people like you -
hard-working citizens - enjoy the fun and freedom of
being incredibly rich!
(Ken: Hope it is also for hardly-working folks like me
too.)

These are some of the amazing discoveries you'll
find in my secret guide, FENG SHUI: xxx INSTANT WEALTH

What your front door opens up to - how it can bring in
good luck.

The arrangement of furniture in your living room -
creates a whirlwind of positive energy that delivers
money through telephone or mail.
(Ken: This is a new invention¡ wealth through phone
and mail.... is it phone sex?)

That special part of your kitchen - clean it once a
day and increase your chances of winning the lottery.
(Ken: Smart copy-writing; just increase your chance,
no guarantee)

The ceiling in your bedroom - it can energize your sex
life, attracting rich lovers.
(Ken: Wow! Great sex and money, who can refuse this
offer?)

The direction of your bed - allows dreams to reveal
lucky numbers.
(Ken: Also works on dreams!)

Do you have a mirror? I'll tell you exactly
where to hang it so it turns your home into a beacon
of light that attracts money energy. I'm sure you
love the sound of wind chimes. So do the prosperity
spirits you'll draw to your home. I'll show you how
to hang your chimes and create the special music that
brings the sound of money into your life!
(Ken: I think it is more to Master xxx's life.)

There's one special corner in your living room.
Put a red object there and your money doubles within
two weeks! That's right - DOUBLES! Find out where
that corner is in my secret guide, FENG SHUI: xxx
INSTANT WEALTH.
(Ken: I make sure my wife will not sit there or my
pain will be doubled.)

Did you know that a small aquarium, if placed
correctly, cleans your room of all negative energy?
Or that a plant, growing in the right spot, makes that
area a fertile ground for spirits of abundance? With
FENG SHUI, these spirits establish themselves in your
home and become powerful money-making forces!
(Ken: I don't know spirits like fertilizers)

I'm saving the best for last. Here's an amazing
fact:

Every home has a MAGNETIC MONEY POWER POINT. Sit
there for 10 minutes a day and you'll be able to
predict winning lottery numbers, sports teams and
stocks.
(Ken: The pot gets sweeter and sweeter, winning lotto,
sports and stock!)

I'll show you how to find your home's MAGNETIC
MONEY POWER POINT in your secret guide FENG SHUI: XXX
INSTANT WEALTH.

So many of my overjoyed clients have sent me
letters telling me how they have benefited from the
power of FENG SHUI to attract money. It is my most
sincere wish that you too could someday send me a
letter like this:
"I set up the mirrors, fans and plants like you said.
I'd been unemployed and was down to the end of my
savings. I sat down in the MAGNETIC MONEY POWER POINT
and waited for a miracle. Five different people
called in the next hour, all asking for the same wrong
number. I played the number five plus that 'wrong'
number in the lottery, and guess what? I won 3
million dollars!"
(Ken: From now on, I won't swear at my wrong number
callers.)

Good luck, incredible fortune and astonishing
amounts of money are out there. Direct them into your
home, work space and bank account with FENG SHUI!
(Ken: I'm drooling. Stop the BS and give me the
guide!)

I've mentioned there's a MAGNETIC MONEY POWER POINT in
every home -- including yours! -- where money forces
converge and cross-energize. I want to make sure that
you know how to find this spot with one quick glance.
Along with your Feng Shui secret guide, I'll send you
a great gift - a visual diagram that reveals exactly
which part of your home is your MAGNETIC MONEY POWER
POINT. This diagram is called the Ba-gua. It's
beautifully printed in two colors. Use your Ba-gua to
find the exact location of your MAGNETIC MONEY POWER
POINT, then follow the instructions in your secret
guide to absorb that energy and become a money-making
magnet!
(Ken: Me becoming a money-making magnet and you spend
my money?)

Yes, I'm completely certain FENG SHUI will turn
your home into a powerhouse of good fortune and help
you become a multi-millionaire. I'll back that claim
with an absolute guarantee. Order FENG SHUI: XXX
INSTANT WEALTH totally at my risk. I'll give you as
much time as you need to read it, follow the simple
instructions and make a million dollars.

This is your chance to become a member of the
FENG SHUI Millionaires Club.

You have nothing to lose, Ken. It's that simple.
Nothing to lose and millions to gain. And because
you are a friend of (Spammer name), I would be
delighted to offer you this invaluable guide for only
$9.95. That is 60 percent off the regular price,
which comes to a savings of over $15.00 for you
(Ken: Master XXX, please aim higher. This great
copy-writing deserves more than 10 bucks!)

Ask for your FENG SHUI: XXX INSTANT WEALTH today
and then, if you haven't made ONE MILLION DOLLARS
during your lifetime -- or if at any time, for any
reason, you are not completely satisfied -- just
return your secret guide and I'll immediately send you
a complete refund, including the shipping and handling
charge,...with no explanation necessary.
(Ken: This part is great! He does not lie at all.
Assuming an average American works 40 years for his
life time and makes as little as $25000 a year, he
will make his million.)

So you see, you don't have to take any chances to
begin a life filled with riches and good fortune! All
you have to do to get started is click the button
below.

Don't let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
slip by. Accept your Invitation to the FENG SHUI
Millionaires Club today!
(Ken: Cool, putting FSM next to my name on my biz card
:.))

Sincerely,

Just click the button below and order FENG SHUI: XXX
INSTANT WEALTH, and you will receive as your second
FREE gift, your certificate for membership in the FENG
SHUI MILLIONAIRES CLUB.

(Ken: Standard procedure for offer like this, offer
numerous "premium¨ to close the deal, but this is a
flimsy premium, Master XXX should offer something like
"how to grow your anatomy or boobs to any size you
want" etc. )

=============================================================
Ken: FS can't help you much in getting rich--- it is
your 4P that counts most! To learn more, go to "4P
Bootcamp" :.))

Ken Lai

Video Correspondence Courses: (click for details)   
“Applied Bazi: Sickness Forecasting and Management” w/33 hr. HD video 
“Destiny/Luck Mgmt. 1: Forecasting and Decision Support” w/32 hr. HD video
“Destiny/Luck Mgmt. 2: Basic Bazi Therapy w/18 hr. HD video
“Destiny/Luck Mgmt. 3 w/ Advanced Bazi Therapy w/18 hr. HD video
“Feng Shui Toolbox: Sha-qi, Health/Wealth and Career” w/ 7 hr. HD video
“Period 7/8 FS Toolkit w/ Advanced Flying Star techniques” w/ 6 hr. HD video
“Practical Date-Selection Methods (incl. XKDG) w/ 12 hr. video
“Practical Imperial Qi-Men-Dun-Jia 4G” w/ 12 hr. video
“Professional Imperial QMDJ 4G” w/ 21 hr. video
“EZ QMDJ series: Astrology, Date/Task Selection, Annual Luck/ FS”w/ 3 hr. HD
“EZ QMDJ Advanced Feng Shui” with 4 hr. HD video
“Daoist Talismans for Feng Shui/Blessing” w/ 24 hr video
“Practical Door Feng Shui for Wealth” w/ 3 hr. video
“4-Pillars Forecasting Bootcamp+ 2017 edition” with 18 hr. video
“Advanced Visual Form Feng Shui” w/23 hr. HD video
“Visual Form Feng Shui” w/13 hr. HD video

http://www.kenlaifengshui.com