How to Climb a Tree

An Allegory for Small Business Owners.

The tree stood tall. It had been there a long time, its branches thick and strong, but its roots dug deep into the earth, into the struggle. The small business owner saw the tree, knew it was there, and felt it was time to climb.

The first step is simple: You reach out. The bark is rough, the first branch is low. You grab it with both hands, your fingers finding their grip. It feels secure. But as you pull yourself up, you realize it isn’t always steady. The branch wavers, the bark scratches your palms. It isn’t as easy as it looked from the ground.

You step carefully, placing your foot on the trunk. It holds. Just. You push yourself up, but you feel the weight. The climb isn’t quick. It isn’t easy. It never promised to be. There are moments when you wonder if you should stop, when your muscles ache, when the ground feels like it might be safer. But you don’t stop. Not yet.

You reach for the next branch, higher now. It’s further away, but it’s within reach. You take a breath. It’s your next move. Your next decision. You trust that the tree will hold, even when it feels like it might give way. But you’ve got no choice but to keep moving. You pull yourself up again. The climb is slow, but steady. You can’t afford to lose focus. You keep going, one hand after another, one foot after another.

The wind begins to pick up. The leaves rustle around you. You look down. The ground seems farther now, but it no longer matters. There’s no going back. The climb, like the business, has a direction now, and it’s up to you to push higher, even when the way gets hard.

At times, the tree fights back. The branches bend, the leaves block the light, and the wind makes you question if you’re wasting your time. But you know the struggle. You know it’s part of the journey. It’s how you grow. The branches will bend, but they won’t break. You will rise, or you will fall, but either way, the climb continues.

Finally, you reach a higher branch, a place to rest. You stop for a moment. You look around. The view is different now. You can see things you couldn’t before. The work has made you stronger, wiser. The struggle has paid off in small ways. You are farther than you were yesterday. The climb is hard, but it’s yours.

The tree doesn’t care how long it takes or whether you make it to the top. It’s not judging. It just is. Your success isn’t guaranteed, but you know that every branch you grab, every step you take, is one step closer. Every day on the climb matters.

And when the climb is done, when you’ve reached as high as you can for today, you know you’ll come back tomorrow. The tree will still be there, and you’ll climb again. Because the climb is the business. The struggle is the reward. And the view is always worth it.