We’ve always believed that freedom is powerful.

But freedom without grounding? That’s chaos.

So when we had the chance to sit down with Mr. Richard Yu, a classical Feng Shui practitioner, we wanted to ask the questions our community actually cares about. 

Mind you, what we love about this Feng Shui Master is how his advice is more practical than woo-woo. Something super relatable for people who do work remotely, and grow online businesses. In this interview, he bares it all.

Come have a cup of your favorite warm drink, and let’s discover a brand new way of looking at space and energy. 

Here’s what we learned:

1. Is feng shui even practical if you change countries every 3 to 6 months?

Richard immediately busted the myth. Feng shui is not about permanent renovations. It’s about energetic positioning. For nomads, it becomes even more important.

If you are staying somewhere under a month, the minimum effective dose is simple:

• Put your bed and desk in the Command Position. Face the door, but not directly aligned with it.
• Clear the energy of the previous occupant by opening all windows, drawers, cabinets for at least 10 minutes.
• Create a small Personal Power Spot with 2 to 3 meaningful objects you travel with.
• Keep the space under your bed clear of luggage.

It is less about redesigning a home and more about anchoring yourself and priming yourself for max productivity. If you notice, is advice also aligns with advice about the effects of access to daylight, our body’s natural circadian rhythm, and typical interior design psychology.

2. What’s the fastest way to reset the energy of a hotel room or Airbnb?

Richard gave us what he calls a 10 Minute Reset Protocol.

In the first 10 minutes:

Air Flush. Open windows or blast the AC to push out stale air.
Sound Purge. Clap in corners or play high frequency sounds to break stagnant energy.
Light Activation. Turn on every light to flood the room with Yang energy.
Water Reset. Run taps and flush toilets for 30 seconds.

If mirrors face the bed, cover them. If your back faces the door, place something reflective so you can see behind you. (Also a safety thing!)

You may not control the furniture. But you can always control your micro environment. You can do this even in a 20 square meter studio.

3. Entrepreneurs carry stress. Does that affect the space?

This one hit home. Richard described something he calls the Cortisol Clutter loop.

When we are stressed, we create clutter. When we create clutter, it increases stress.

Your desk is your throne.

If your back faces the door, your nervous system stays alert.
If you face a blank wall, you create what he calls a Vision Block.

His advice:

• Clear 24 inches directly in front of your desk.
• Add Water energy for clarity. Even an image of flowing water.
• Add Wood energy for growth. A healthy plant on your left side.

Your workspace either fuels your nervous system or drains it.

4. Is there an ideal desk setup for nomads?

Yes. Find your Command Position.

Face the most open part of the room. Have solid support behind you. A wall. A pillar. A high backed chair.

Do not work from bed unless you absolutely have to.

Mixing rest and work in the same exact spot confuses your brain and affects both sleep and productivity.

This one felt very practical for anyone working from random cafés. Personally, Alex and I do this and really treat our bedroom sacred for sleep, rest, and.. Well… things married people do 😉 

5. How do you create a sense of home when constantly moving?

Richard said something we loved.

“Stop looking for home. Carry your center.”

He recommends:

• A consistent scent across locations.
• A short ritual when you arrive.
• Three portable anchors: something grounding, something warm, something alive.

Consistency in small layout details also stabilizes your mind. We immediately thought of how many Founders underestimate ritual, and how a “sense of home” can easily be built. 

After 40+ countries traveled between Alex and I, we have our “minimum viable home” standards that we use to pick hotels, Airbnbs, or even accepting an invitation from a friend to stay in their homes. 

6. Is there really a wealth corner in short term rentals?

Yes. But not the way Instagram shows it. Instead of activating the whole room, activate your desk.

The top left corner of your desk is your Micro Wealth spot. Place your primary money making tools there.

Other subtle activators:

• Use green or purple wallpapers on devices.
• Keep your wallet elevated and respected. (We love this, Alex and I invest in really high quality wallets and have them professionally cleaned. Most designer shops will clean your wallet anytime, forever.)
• Keep windows clean so you can “see” opportunities clearly.

He emphasized intention and micro adjustments over decoration.

7. Is blocked energy real or superstition?

Richard explained it in three layers.

Environmental friction.
Psychological stress response.
Energetic mismatch.

If you constantly move furniture to open a window, that friction drains focus. If your back faces an unlocked hallway, your brain stays on alert. If your ambition is high but your space is dim and dusty, you create mismatched frequency.

Blocked energy is not mystical.

It is accumulated friction, and it’s wired into how our brains quickly assess a space. Talk to your interior designer or architect friend and they will give you more information about this.

8. Biggest mistakes digital nomads make?

We laughed because we’ve done some of these.

Living out of suitcases.
Working from bed.
Charging devices next to your head.
Using harsh overhead lighting.

Richard calls them the Suitcase Ghost, Vibration Blur, Blue Light Sha, and Cutting Qi.

Translation: unpack, separate work and rest, create a tech dock, soften lighting.

Your nervous system will thank you. A quick meditation and a “before work” ritual helps too. It could be a cup of tea, or opening your to do list notebook and re-prioritizing tasks. 

Last tip: We noticed we slept better and deeper if our phones were away from the bed. This is confirmed via a sleep health tracker, not just vibes. 😉 

9. Can you design space for creativity versus execution?

Yes.

For creativity, face East or Southeast. Growth directions.
For execution, face West or Northwest. Completion energy.

In small spaces, rotate your laptop and shift colors when you’re shifting from work to not work, and vice versa. When I used to live in a studio apartment with a small table I would usually work on one side of the table, and then eat lunch on the other side. This helped  me create a “brain delineation” between the two tasks so I was able to work with focus, and enjoy my meal properly. 

Here are other tips from Master Richard Yu: 

Green and purple for visionary mode.
White, gray, or gold for operator mode.

This was advice also rooted from basic color psychology. It’s helpful for Founders who constantly switch between dreaming and doing.

10. One feng shui rule for entrepreneurs who want freedom and stability?

Richard ended with this:

Build your throne before you build your empire.

Freedom without structure creates Floating Qi. Movement needs grounding.

Where you sit. How you start your day. What supports your back.

Those small structural choices protect your nervous system so you can actually build.

I always say, “home is where your best self will come from”. Your best work, your best health, your best way of showing up for others. When I see someone invest a lot into their home, in a way that it brings them peace (not just for showing off), I respect them a lot.

We walked away from this conversation seeing space differently.

As location independent entrepreneurs, we optimize everything. Funnels. Teams. Tools. Revenue. Maybe it is time we optimize our environments too.

PROMPT FOR YOU: If you are building while moving, what small shift can you make in your space today? 🙂 

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