I recently went through a major life event. It was one that was joyful, meaningful, and something I had been dreaming of for a long time. From the outside, it surely looked like a long-time dream accomplished; and it is! Yet, behind the scenes it was also incredibly stressful.
The truth is, even the most beautiful milestones can be exhausting. Planning, managing emotions and not just mine but everyone else’s too while trying to hold everything together is hard. The toughest part was making sure that I was still present in each and every moment. That takes a lot out of a person if you let it.
And as I reflected on it all, I realized something: what truly carried me through was not strategy, structure, or technical expertise it was what many call soft skills. I talk about these skills a lot especially to my daughter and mentees because these are the skills that will help you rise above any challenge!
You know, the skills that rarely make headlines or resumes: perseverance, determination, and resiliency.
We talk so much about results and output, but not enough about what it takes internally to get there. Soft skills are often dismissed as “nice to have,” but when life throws you a curveball or even a confetti-filled whirlwind these are the traits that keep you standing.
As an entrepreneur, I have come to rely on these qualities daily. This recent life event that I went through reminded me just how vital they are in every part of life, not just in business.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 10% of the American workforce are self-employed entrepreneurs. That number is even higher when you include those who run side hustles or contract-based work. We are a growing part of the economic engine but we are still not the majority.
Which means, when life happens whether it is a joyful milestone or a heartbreaking setback many people have not had to flex the muscles that entrepreneurship forces you to build adapting on the fly, managing stress without a playbook, staying focused on the end goal even when the path is full of unexpected turns.
Entrepreneurs live in that space every single day. So when real life calls for stamina and strength beyond the usual toolkit, those of us who have built something from scratch tend to lean in with a unique kind of resilience.
But this is not just about business. It is about life. We all face moments that test us whether it is launching a company, managing a family, moving across states, or navigating health challenges. What I have learned is that those soft skills the ones no one applauds until things go sideways are what really shape the outcome.
So, if you are in a season of stress even if it is stress wrapped in achieving a dream give yourself credit for showing up. Lean into the perseverance that has gotten you this far. Trust your gut. Do not underestimate the power of your soft skills.
Because sometimes, what gets you through is not just grit or planning. It is the unshakeable belief that you can figure it out and use resilience to keep going until you do! If you need help in figuring out your challenge, please feel free to reach out to me at sonya@jarvisconsultants.com.
About Sonya Ruff Jarvis
Sonya Ruff Jarvis is the Managing Member of Jarvis Consultants, LLC, a strategy and marketing firm she founded in 2013. With over 30 years invested in business strategy, marketing, and relationship development with most of it as a corporate executive. Sonya now partners with small to mid-size companies to create solutions grounded in their real-world challenges. Her work is driven by listening to the client’s perspective, then building tailored programs, processes, and content that drive measurable results. She works closely with senior leaders and is known for forging meaningful connections that move businesses forward. Sonya holds her MBA in Marketing from New York Institute of Technology and a BA in Communications from Hiram College. Now based in North Carolina, Sonya and her husband are enjoying life as new empty nesters while cheering on their daughter in college.
WAYS TO WORK WITH JARVIS CONSULTANTS!
Strategies: We help small to mid-size companies develop business, marketing, and event management strategies.
Business Coaching: We coach Founders of small to medium size businesses who want to take their organization to the next level.
Project Management: We support companies that don’t have the personnel resources internally; we help them create projects from the development stages to implementation; and, a tactical management process.
New Business Development: We help clients research and explore new business opportunities and/or emerging trends that can be optimized and generate incremental revenue including content.
Contact sonya@jarvisconsultants.com