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Will Feng Shui give you the edge in your negotiations?

By Marc Diener

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Part mysticism, part custom and part common sense, Feng Shui is the Chinese practice of designing living environments for optimum harmony. The aim is to harness the unseen universal energy called qi (pronounced chee) and create a balance among the five elements (earth, fire, metal, water and wood) in order to obtain health, happiness and prosperity. Serious practitioners claim Feng Shui can dramatically influence all aspects of our lives, including our business deals.

Certainly, negotiators can't afford to ignore their surroundings. So whether we bargain at our place or theirs, the chosen location affects each side's comfort, mobility and power. Decór and ambience influence mood-and deal-making in the boardroom is different from dealmaking at the beach.

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