SCOTT MCCUAIG – ON FOLLOWING YOUR PASSION, UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF FAILURE, AND KNOWING YOUR WORTH

Scott McCuaig is the owner and principal landscape architect of Eden Tree Design. Scott turned his childhood passion into a career that he loves. He went from starting a small business in a small town to becoming an award-winning landscape architect, designing and overseeing high end landscapes throughout the GTA, Muskoka, Georgian Bay, the Caribbean Islands, Florida and Europe.

Scott discovered his love for landscaping when he was just a young boy. The family would come home from church every Sunday where he would run and play in his great grandparent’s garden. The gardens reminded him of the Garden of Eden. He discovered his love of digging in the dirt, planting and harvesting from the land. He was later introduced to drafting and the concept of a Landscape Architect. He decided to apply to the University of Guelph Landscape Architect program but did not get accepted. Not one to give up easily Scott enrolled in the Horticulture Program and continued to work towards his dream. Scott went on to graduate with honours from the Landscape Architect program and has not looked back since.

Scott is very passionate about bringing to life the potential of every space and he loves to create beautiful spaces that are to be enjoyed. He has a keen eye for design and every detail matters. Scott is a kind and generous soul that works hard and will put in the time to ensure a successful outcome. He believes in the power of the universe and putting good energy out into the world.

In this episode, Scott and I discuss the following:

• Fostering a passion at a very young age and following it through to build a career you love
• Importance of having positive role models and how they can impact your journey throughout various stages
• Understanding that failure can help get you ready for the next step in your journey
• Importance of knowing your worth, being willing to negotiate for it and being willing to walk away
• How and why Scott decided to start Eden Tree Designs
• Importance of being open to opportunities when they come along
• Being willing to work hard and do whatever it takes to be successful
• The meaning of “Making hay while the sun shines”
• Being great at what you do, understanding the value of repeat customers and getting amazing customer referrals
• The 80/20 rule and how it helps you understand where to focus your time
• The value of being selective and saying no
• Taking the plunge despite the feelings of fear
• Knowing how to make client’s happy
• The challenges of having a business partner and knowing when it is time to walk away
• Knowing when you are ready to hire employees
• Recognizing it is ok to fail as long as you pick yourself back up
• How to overcome mistakes
• Excitement of winning awards when you don’t expect it
• Signs from the Universe and knowing you are on the right path
• Importance of good customer service
• Figuring out what you need to do to be successful and accepting help along the way
• The role of sports in developing risk-taking behaviour and goal setting
• Importance of having supportive parents that give you the opportunity to try a lot of different things
• Challenges of being a gay man, growing up in a small town and coming out to family and friends
• Power of good energy, helping others, and being a nice person
• How to combat seasonal affective disorder
• Taking risks and not being afraid of failure

I loved this conversation with Scott and I hope you do too!

If you would like more information on Scott you can visit:

• Website – https://www.edentreedesign.com/
• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/edentreedesign/
• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/scottmccuaig/