The Real Reason Your Efforts Feel So Frustrating
Sometimes the hardest work produces the least change.
Have you ever worked incredibly hard at something… only to realize later that all that effort didn’t actually solve the problem?
I learned that lesson when I was 11 years old.
Life on the farm was a stark contrast to the city life my brother and I were used to before moving to North Bradner. Cleaning barns, feeding chickens, and working on fixing up the old farmhouse quickly became part of our daily routine.
Every summer, my dad would write out a list of chores for my brother and me. His list usually contained the heavy-lifting jobs, while mine often seemed to include the “easier” tasks.
Like the summer I was 11.
At the top of my list was an instruction to head out to the back field, the one with the single cedar tree standing in the middle, and “clear out all the thistles”.
Being the dutiful daughter that I was, I grabbed a pair of thick leather gloves and walked down to the field to get started. I could see right away that the thistles were taking over the valuable grass the cows needed for grazing, so the task made sense.
So, I got down on my hands and knees and started pulling.
And tugging.
And wrestling those stubborn weeds out of the ground, one by one…
All. Summer. Long.
Darned if those thistles did not give up easily!
Even with gloves on, they managed to painfully scratch me; they were nasty things. But slowly, bit by bit, I began to see progress.
I don’t think I cleared the entire area, but I made a dent. And I remember feeling proud of that, satisfied that all that blood, sweat, and effort had made a difference.
At least, that’s what I thought.
By the following spring, the pasture looked exactly the same as before I started the previous summer.
Not only were the thistles back, but they also seemed to be thriving! Almost as if all the space I’d created had given them room to flourish.
Turns out, thistles have an incredibly tenacious root system. Leave even the tiniest piece of root behind, and it can grow into an entirely new plant.
All that work, all that effort, and the problem hadn’t been solved at all.
To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I was downright pissed.
I didn’t understand any of that when I was 11.
All I knew was that I had worked incredibly hard… and nothing had really changed.
Years later, as a farm-girl-turned-business owner, I started noticing a surprisingly similar pattern in the way many entrepreneurs approach their marketing.
They’re putting in an enormous amount of effort.
They’re doing everything they’ve been told they should be doing…
Posting on social media.
Trying new tactics and strategies.
Experimenting with tools like ChatGPT or Claude.
They’re working harder and harder to “pull the weeds”, yet the results they want never quite seem to materialize.
Because often the real issue isn’t the visible activity above the surface.
It’s the structure underneath.
If the foundational roots aren’t dealt with, the same problems have a way of returning year after year… no matter how much effort we put in.
Which makes me wonder…
Have you ever poured a ton of effort into your marketing, only to realize later that it wasn’t actually fixing the real problem?
When did you realize it?
Until next time, I’m Susan Friesen, your small business brand positioning strategist, inviting you to stay clear, stay focused, and stand out.
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About the Author, Susan Friesen
Located in the lower mainland of B.C., Susan Friesen is a visionary brand strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of British Columbia’s premiere boutique web development and digital marketing agency, eVision Media.
With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she is an expert in helping businesses establish their online presence and create a strong brand identity.
Her passion for empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners to succeed in the digital world has earned her a reputation as a leading authority in the branding and marketing industry.
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