Landscape Management, February 2019

FiveQuestions INTERVIEW BY SETH JONES EDITOR IN CHIEF Matt Nicol OWNER FOUNDER LIGHTSCAPE OUTDOOR LIGHTING COLUMBUS OHIO 1 Why did you start your company I was passionate about landscaping and was an artist but I could never find a way to make a living with my art I thought about doing landscape architecture because I could combine landscaping and artwork Well I went into the military and wasnt able to follow that path and ended up in the corporate world I wanted to get back into landscaping and doing something creative The corporate world was sucking the life out of me I met Joel Mayor with Texas Outdoor Lighting He told me what he did and I said Thats it I love lighting I love landscaping I have an artistic eye so I started on that journey to start my own landscape lighting company 2 What can you tell me about your military career and your connection to the movie Lone Survivor I enlisted in the Army Reserves when I was 17 a junior in high school I followed my dream and became an Army helicopter pilot at age 21 I did that for about 12 years then I wanted to go see the world and do more so I applied for the Air Forces pilot training program I happened to be deployed during a specific time when we lost a high value Navy SEAL team The date was June 29 2005 Some people may recall the date and Operation Red Wing The movie Lone Survivor was created from that incident I didnt remember until the movie came out and the date and incident were detailed in the movie we were assigned one support mission to drop water ammo and MREs to a company of Marines in the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan BEST ADVICE FEBRUARY 2019 that was looking for Marcus Luttrell the Lone Survivor 3 Whats your favorite part of your job I love working with people I cater to a high end clientele and you meet some really fascinating people some really successful people and tackle some very complex lighting jobs on large homes To be out there that first time do the reveal with these clients and see their faces when we light up their homes it is amazing 4 How far and wide will you travel for a lighting job Ill travel anywhere it just depends on the job Im currently working with a client in Blacksburg Va They have a 400 acre farm and very historical home from the Civil War in the mountains of Virginia The owner is a retired Air Force general so with my military Air Force background and the historical significance of the home it really fascinated me One of the nice things about being an entrepreneur is that you can make those decisions If I didnt want to do that job I wouldnt go do it 5 Tell me about the book youve written My book Seize the Night is an autobiography Its subtitled One veterans guide to overcoming darkness and finding a life of purpose Writing a book was something I always wanted and had been encouraged to do The book is aimed at helping those struggling to find themselves and their lifes purpose perhaps as a result of a failed career marriage or other setbacks in life and find their light in times of darkness and seize the night once and for all PHOTO SETH JONES LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET 54 When things get tough a challenge or problem arises in life or in business dont ever quit Keep going The lessons learned the growth and sense of accomplishment achieved when you choose to persevere are critical to our mental health and success in life