Have you ever had that sinking feeling?

You’re new in your real estate career, you’re working hard, and you hit a problem. You think it’s a small one. But as you start to poke at it, you realize it’s not a small problem at all. It’s a massive, tangled, deeply rooted issue that seems to touch everything.

It’s the deal that looks simple until you see the inspection report. It’s the "slow month" that you realize is actually a bone-dry pipeline. It’s the feeling of being completely overwhelmed, and you’re not sure you even have the right tools to fix it.

I know that feeling well. I recently declared victory in a battle I’d been fighting for weeks. My enemy wasn't a difficult client or a bad market; it was the remains of a beautiful maple tree.

And it taught me everything about what to do when a problem is bigger than you ever imagined.

What’s Hiding Under Your Deck?

For 28 years, this tree lived in a planter on our third-story deck. It was beautiful. We loved its fall colors. But unknown to us, it was "secretly overtaking our entire deck".

One day, I saw it: a root escaping from its planter. I had to look twice. Was it the tree?

The strata council was alerted, and I started pulling up the deck tiles.Lifting one 15-inch tile after another was truly back-breaking work. And what I found was shocking.

The roots had escaped through a small pipe. They had spread over 10 feet. They were forming a "web to attach itself to critical parts of our roofing system". We found a 3-foot beardlike web of roots... cascading down the roof drain.

This small, beautiful tree was now threatening thousands of dollars in damage.

Does this sound familiar? In sales and real estate, the problems we ignore are almost always the ones that end up threatening the entire "roofing system" of our business. Issues in our life, when unattended, can become a much bigger problem when we ignore them.

The First Battle: The Wrong Tools and a Sore Back

The solution seemed simple: the tree must be removed. Kill the tree, the roots die, problem solved.

I thought I could just turn the soil, maybe add a stump rot concoction, and it would be done. "So I thought," as I wrote at the time.

What I really did was underestimate the impact this tree was going to have on my life for the next three weeks.

I’ve lived in a condo for years. Never did I think I would need to purchase a Pick Axe. But we bought one.

Swing after swing, I drove that pick into the soil. My "not so young any more body' was pushed to its limit". This wasn't a simple garden project; this was a war against a "stealth web of discouragement".

This is the "hustle and grind" phase of problem-solving. It’s what you do when you’re new and scared. You just grab the heaviest, bluntest tool you can find and start swinging. You make 100 cold calls with a terrible script. You throw money at ads you don't understand. You work 18-hour days, pushing your body and spirit "to its limit", trying to force a result.

And just like me with my pickaxe, you’ll make some progress. But you’ll also get exhausted, fast.

When to Change Your Strategy (And Your Tools)

I finally got down to the stump. It wasn't an 8-inch stump. It was a "solid block of wood about 12 inches in diameter". The roots weren't twigs; they were "as thick as 1 1/2 inches".

I had a moment of clarity. "Clearly, an adjustment in strategy needed to take place". The pickaxe was "now beyond its capabilities as a tool".

So, I got a new tool: a reciprocating saw.

This is the moment many new salespeople miss. They keep swinging the pickaxe, thinking more effort is the answer. Sometimes, it’s not. Sometimes, you need a different tool. Having the right tools will make all the difference in the world.

If your cold calls (pickaxe) aren't working, maybe the tool you need is a better C.R.M. (a saw). Or maybe the tool is a referral script. Or maybe it’s a commitment to your unique strength, like deep, authentic conversations instead of volume-based dialing.

Stop using the tool that’s "beyond its capabilities" just because it’s the one you started with.

The Final Victory: Perspective and Perseverance

Even with the saw, the battle wasn't over. I cut the tangle of roots from the stump, but the stump itself "continued to be rooted in place". It would not release its hold.

My "not so young body screamed out in revolt". I was "tired and discouraged". I thought the stump was going to win. So, I did the smartest thing I could do: I "thought to continue another day".

I stopped. I rested. And the next day? "A new morning and a fresh perspective provided the strategy that ultimately resulted in victory".

Sometimes the most powerful strategic move you can make is to walk away for the night. You cannot find the right solution when you are "tired and discouraged". Your best insights don't come from panic; they come from perspective.

How to Uproot Your Own 'Tree'

That battle with the tree cost me three weeks and (accidentally) one irrigation pipe, but the lessons were worth it.

When you're facing that overwhelming, deeply-rooted problem in your business, remember this:

• Break your problems down. I realized I had to break the task into "smaller components". You can't fix your entire business in one day. But what one root can you cut today?

• Be consistent, not frantic. An hour or two of swinging the pick each day made more progress than trying to do it all at once. It won't get better overnight but with regular and consistent action, you will improve your chance of success. Incremental growth accomplishes much more over time.

• Know when to rest. Don't let your body and spirit "scream out in revolt". A fresh perspective is a tool, just like a pickaxe or a saw. Use it.

• Never, ever give up. Be willing to change your tools, change your strategy, and take a break. But don't quit.

This week, I started rebuilding our garden. I planted new plants in that "once untamed space". In a way, it’s a new creation.

Uprooting that tree was brutal, but it cleared the ground for new things to grow. The "battle" you're in right now might feel the same. It's hard, exhausting work. But by facing it, you are clearing the ground for new growth, new clients, and a stronger business.

Keep going.

If you're staring at a 'tree' in your business and the pickaxe just isn't working, maybe it's time for a fresh perspective and a new set of tools. You don't have to find them alone.

This is the exact kind of overwhelm I help new agents work through. If you're feeling stuck, let's talk.

Click here to book a complimentary, 30-minute discovery session with me. Let’s figure out what's really rooted in your way and find the right tools to clear the ground for good.