From retailers and restaurants to shopping malls and multinational corporations, history is filled with businesses that once appeared unstoppable, only to lose momentum years later. Some achieved remarkable growth, expanded aggressively, attracted large crowds, and generated impressive profits.
Yet despite their early success, many eventually struggled to sustain that growth over the long term.
Why does this happen?
Feng shui practitioner Alan Chong believes the answer may lie in a factor many business owners overlook.
Why Fast Growth Does Not Always Lead To Sustainable Growth
Alan explained that authentic feng shui is built around two key components: the wealth factor and the human factor.
He noted that many businesses benefit from a strong wealth factor, which helps attract customers, generate revenue, and create opportunities for rapid growth. This is often why some companies experience explosive growth within a relatively short period.
However, strong financial performance alone may not be enough to ensure long-term success.
In his view, businesses that lack a strong human factor may struggle to maintain their momentum, even if they enjoy impressive results during their early years.
“It’s like a 100-metre sprint. They go very fast, but after that they flat out.”
In other words, a business may grow quickly, but without the right foundation, that growth may not last.
Alan said this often happens when the feng shui formation is configured to maximise growth but is not properly balanced to support long-term sustainability.
The Biggest Misconception About Growth And Feng Shui
One of the most common misconceptions in the feng shui industry, Alan argued, is the belief that a property can only excel in one area.
Some practitioners teach that a business must choose between attracting wealth or strengthening people-related factors, suggesting that it is impossible to achieve both simultaneously.
Alan strongly disagrees.
He maintains that authentic feng shui allows both the wealth factor and the human factor to be strengthened at the same time.
“You can have both. It’s up to the skill of the master to set things up correctly, and of course, the client needs to cooperate.”
According to Alan, the idea that businesses must choose between wealth and people is one of the biggest misunderstandings in modern feng shui.
He added that the belief that a property can only possess one factor at a time stems from inaccurate or incomplete teachings that have become widespread within the industry.
Why Only A Few Malls Achieve Long-Term Growth
To illustrate his point, Alan pointed to the shopping mall industry.
He observed that most people living in the Klang Valley can easily identify a handful of malls that have remained successful for decades, while many others have struggled to maintain consistent performance.
“Most people who live in Klang Valley know there are only a handful of malls that really do well.”
In his assessment, the most successful malls possess both strong wealth and human factors, while many struggling malls may only have one of the two.
This, he believes, is one reason why some malls enjoy strong early performance but fail to remain competitive over the long term.
As a result, some malls are able to attract visitors initially but fail to maintain their appeal and performance over the years.
Sustainable Growth Requires Both Factors
For businesses seeking lasting success, Alan believes both factors are equally important.
A strong wealth factor helps attract customers, opportunities, and profitability. At the same time, a strong human factor helps create capable teams, effective leadership, loyal customers, and a healthier business environment.
Without both factors working together, sustaining long-term growth becomes significantly more difficult.
Alan noted that this principle can be observed even outside the context of feng shui. As examples, he cited Toyota, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and Microsoft, all of which have remained successful for decades.
He pointed out that these organisations not only generate strong profits but also possess strong people, systems, and management structures that enable them to continue growing across generations.
Their success is built not only on profitability, but also on the strength of the people, systems, and culture behind the business.
The Same Principle Can Be Seen In Successful Malls
Alan believes the same pattern can be observed in some of Malaysia’s most successful shopping centres.
Sunway Pyramid, Mid Valley Megamall, and 1 Utama have remained popular destinations for decades despite increasing competition and changing consumer habits.
He suggested that these malls benefit from strong management teams while also possessing qualities that consistently attract visitors and support the businesses operating within them.
According to Alan, long-term success comes when strong business performance is supported by strong people.
Their ability to maintain steady growth over many years is one reason they continue to outperform many newer competitors.
Long-Term Success Is About Balance
Ultimately, Alan believes sustainable business success is not about choosing between wealth and people-related factors, but about achieving the right balance between both.
Having only one may create short-term gains, but lasting success requires both factors to work together.
The wealth factor may help a business grow quickly, but the human factor is what helps that success endure.
“You cannot have one only. To be sustainable, you need both,” he concluded.
For more info on Alan Chong’s practice, visit Feng Shui Mechanics.
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