When Ego Gets in the Way of the Chainsaw

Our ongoing Palisades fire recovery took a strange and somewhat humbling turn recently – one that had nothing to do with fire.

A few weeks back, the debris removal crew began clearing what was left of our home. I stood nearby, quietly hoping something might surface from the ashes – a photo, a piece of jewelry, anything with some sentimental weight. Nothing did. But as that hope faded, I found myself drawn to the backhoe operator. He moved with such precision – sorting mangled metal from ash, lifting huge appliances and even what was left of our car like it was routine. The whole crew worked in sync. I was genuinely impressed.

Then came Monday. The foreman showed up early, a little irritated because one of the younger guys had missed the morning ride in. While the crew shifted to the next big task – removing the tall palms out front – the latecomer pulled up across the street in a shiny new extended cab pickup. You could tell he was proud of that truck.

In a burst of energy, maybe trying to make up for being late, the young guy grabbed a chainsaw from another worker and jumped into action. He didn’t ask, didn’t plan – just started cutting. And cutting.

A minute later, the palm tree started to fall – just not the way it was supposed to. It leaned, pivoted, and then came crashing down – directly onto the hood of his brand-new truck. Silence. The entire crew turned and just stared. Even the foreman, who’d been barking about permits five minutes earlier, was speechless. I stood there, not quite sure what to say. But in that moment, I realized something that surprised me: I could see myself in that kid.

When I was younger, I had a lot of that same energy. I would rush into situations, eager to prove I could handle whatever was in front of me. I wouldn’t always pause, or ask questions, or wait for the right moment. And more than once, that approach landed me in a mess I could’ve avoided.

That tree on the truck? It was more than just a bad break. It was a reminder of what can happen when ego gets ahead of good judgment.

Another lesson learned – maybe, just maybe, it’s worth taking a second look at which way the tree’s leaning – before you fire up the saw and charge ahead.

By Richard Lombari

Lombari has been in real estate sales for over three decades. Richard is an author, speaker, coach, and trainer. To learn more about Richard, visit

https://lombarirealestatewealthadvisors.com/about, email Richard@TheLombariGroup.com, or call 310-903-6509.