I find decorating and gardening shows inspirational and I’m often struck by the coaching lessons they hold.
In a new show Matthew Wilson, the landscape man, spends time with people whose plans involve not just planting, laying paths and building fences, but digging lakes or moving vast amounts of soil to completely reshape the grounds.
The first show followed a couple in Devon who remodelled 4 acres to build canyons, mounds and lakes to reflect the surrounding hilly countryside. To allow themselves to complete this massive undertaking the man spent long days using heavy earth moving machinery and doing massive plantings. His wife supported him by running the small nursery that brought in some money to fund the project. They lived very simply in a basic shack and went without to free up time and money for what they loved doing.
After losing his job as head gardener on an estate he had been thoroughly dejected and decided to make his own garden to reflect all his own design ideas. For him it was a matter of his identity and creative integrity. He was willing to make sacrifices for what he believed in. He was willing to put in the considerable amount of dedicated hard work required to make his dream a reality, and he sought the support of those closest to him.
All of those things are part of successful goal setting. The most striking thing though was when the presenter said that he was amazed at the outcome – how they had created such a beautiful garden where there was nothing before. In reply the gardener said ‘but it has always existed in my mind’.
First he had the vision – the clear, engaging picture of how he wanted it to be. That’s what motivated him and kept him going.
