But then I woke up when I realized it was never about whatever nararative I had practiced struggling to use the right words and inflection in my voice.  

It may take several such experiments to get something that can be replicated in all markets.I heard for years that buyer's agents wouldn't show flat fee listings or reduced commissions.

If she wants it to be real estate related (which isn't crazy, rents hit an upwards inflection point a few months ago due to rising consumer-facing mortgage rates and how "substitute goods" work, and all the real estate builders switching from SFR to multifamily tells you where they think the football is going to be in 2-3 years+), look at shares of some of the Wall Street megacorporation landlords that everyone loves to hate.

I've had a couple of my own burn-the-ships moments, although in hindsight, I think of them as career inflection points.Normally, I'm a ladder climber ("never give up a good grip until you have secured another good grip with the other hand").

You are around that inflection point. 

It's hard for tone and inflection to come across clearly via text. 

I think the answer is some combination of non-qualifying loans and that there is some inflection point beyond which you're no longer an amateur and so your finances are evaluated differently, but I'm having a hard time understanding how it works. 

If your the type that is totally self motivated and can learn on line.. then most of what you get other than inflection is available on line at numerous web sites and companies including this website. 

I feel like I'm making good strides, but I'm at a point of inflection right now.

They also put a lot of money down on these things just to break even for 13 years & finally reach the inflection point at year 14.