We were lucky to catch up with Annie Koehler recently and have shared our conversation below.
Annie, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
From the beginning, I’ve always wanted to do things a bit differently. Some might call me stubborn or independent, and sure I’m both of those, but I also like to pave my own path. I like to buck the trend. I like to be unique. Because of this approach, I have to be good at what I’m doing, otherwise I’ll have to rethink my approach to any decision making and that goes against my nature. I’m basically challenging myself to do good when no one else is.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Annie Koehler and I’m a landscape contractor, gardener, business owner, and mother.
Out of college, I took jobs that crossed my path. Then I became a mother at a fairly young age and quickly fell out of the workforce after my third son was born. Over the years I kept a garden and enjoyed my time getting in the dirt, but I never realized I was uniquely good at it. Then came Covid, and while I was thankful to not have a job, the time at home with my kids made me crave something new. My partner and I came up with the idea to coach people on growing their own edible garden. The word spread and I was quickly designing, maintaining, and building gardens. A mentor I found on social media encouraged me to get licensed and within a year, I went from gardening for friends and family to building my designs and having people find me online. I networked with anyone I could find and my business continues to grow and expand.
I would say I’m unique because I wear a lot of different hats, where most people in my industry wear one or two. I do the design, the install, and the maintenance of gardens. I actually do the work and pride myself on my physical ability to do so.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As a kid growing up on a cranberry farm, I witnessed my father working outside day after day. Maybe my work ethic came from my parents, I’m not sure, but I did learn how to physically work from a young age.
In my field, it’s important to be physically strong, but also reliable. One of the biggest factors for why I am where I am is because I communicate clearly with my clients and show up when I say I’m going to show up. Contractors are notoriously known for being flaky and I’m trying to buck that trend.
Another skill I have is determination. Born out of being a mother and mostly at home with my children, my craving for doing something for myself became very evident. I needed to feel fulfilled and proud of myself.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
I used to have imposter syndrome. Unlike most people in my industry, I didn’t go to school for this type of work. I’ve needed to figure out every step along the way and the feeling of being an imposter was strong from the beginning. In the last few months, my confidence has come a long ways. My decision-making is quicker, I trust my nose when it comes to my clients and if they’re a good fit for me, and I’m branching out into new ways to run and operate projects.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gardendesignpdx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardendesignpdx/
