Check Out Carole Hyder’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carole Hyder.

Hi Carole, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My first realization that my surroundings were important to me started when I was a little girl who needed to make her bed before going to school. Although no one would know whether that took place or not, it was important to me. Mostly I loved coming back home and seeing the order it created in my room.

I blended this need for order with a strong creative side. I excelled in art and also studied classical piano—one requiring freedom of thought and the other strict precision. Somehow I managed to blend both sides of the spectrum. After college, I started my own business creating artful etched glass expressions for commercial installations. We produced custom carved, acid-etched, colored, as well a glue-chipped glass for restaurants, banks, office buildings, casinos, as well as residential applications. An opportunity to sell that business enabled me to look in another direction. Enter Feng Shui.

Quite by chance, I heard someone speak on Feng Shui. It was apparent that I could blend my creative side along with the need for spatial order to create a space that enhanced the occupants’ lives. A centuries-old tradition from China was brand new to the US so I was in a position to filter the information, transform it to fit our lifestyle and create a joyous path for myself.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Despite my enthusiasm and strong commitment to the principles of Feng Shui (for I myself had experienced some amazing shifts after implementing some of its suggestions), I realized soon enough that many people were not of the same mindset. Some thought it was a religion; some thought it was the work of the devil. I wasn’t allowed to speak in many places because Feng Shui smacked of heresy.

Nevertheless, there were enough individuals who saw its credibility and were willing to give it a try. Always there was a positive outcome for them—from a small meaningful occurrence to a remarkable shift in lifestyle. Eventually, word traveled that Feng Shui was worth the effort—–a space does indeed reflect the life of the occupant.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
For myself, Feng Shui has opened countless doors. Obviously, as a consultant, I have met some amazing people and seen their equally amazing results. A lot of my current work is based on repeat clients—they move to a new place, they want to remodel, their children leave home. Lifestyle changes often translate into changes in the space. Being one of the first visible experts in Feng Shui in the Midwest, my reputation grew quickly.

Eventually, I formed a school called the Wind & Water Center (Feng means “wind” and Shui means “water” in Chinese). I have trained approximately 600 students over the years and facilitated over 1000 appointments. I write articles for various magazines and publications and have published three books—-and recently released a revision of one of those books. I even teamed up with a Grammy-winning musician out of Los Angeles and together, we composed two CDs of Feng Shui music.

My Feng Shui business has been very successful because I was an innovator and pioneer in something brand new. I am very proud to have introduced the system to so many people, students as well as clients. And, of course, it has influenced my own life enormously.

As I look back on my life, the continuous theme of order and creativity has permeated each career decision I have made. Recently I have channeled that energy into painting, another appropriate outlet for both passions.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Upon reflection, the thing I regret is that I didn’t have a business mentor. A lot of missed opportunities and all-out mistakes were made in both businesses that could have been avoided had I had the help and insight of someone who had business skills. However, back when I had my first business, a woman-owned business was rather rare so I was never treated as though what I was doing would have a lasting effect. Having someone who was objective and had business skills could have made my career path a lot easier.

Contact Info:

• Website: carolehyder.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/carole.hyder
• Twitter: twitter.com/carolehyder