If you are anything like me, you have enjoyed watching the 2024 summer Olympic Games in Paris the past couple of weeks. I was fortunate enough to have attended the 1996 summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.  It certainly brought back some thrilling memories!

As I watched the athletes dig deep, celebrating, crying and giving thanks it made me realize that Entrepreneurship and being an Olympian may seem worlds apart, but they share a very similar journey. Both require exceptional levels of grit, perseverance, and a solid support system. Whether you are building a startup or training for the Olympics, the journey demands relentless dedication, resilience in the face of challenges, and a tremendous amount of support.

In my book, Mentoring Moments, 14 Remarkable Women Share Breakthroughs to Success, I talk specifically about grit and perseverance. I believe that they are truly discounted and thought of as soft skills. As I wrote “Running a small business ramps up the need for perseverance and persistence.  The day in a life of an entrepreneur is a roller coaster of emotions filled with doubt, excitement, fulfillment and despair – all in the same day.  It is a range of feelings that have to be fought through, with perseverance.”  That same thought holds true for athletes especially at the elite level of Olympians.

Here are some of the similarities that I see in Entrepreneurs and Olympians:

 Both have to have the Grit to Keep Going!

Grit is the foundation of success. It is the ability to maintain passion and perseverance toward long-term goals, even when the path is filled with obstacles. Just as an Olympian spends years perfecting their skills, techniques, and pushing their physical limits; an entrepreneur must consistently work to refine their business idea, develop strategies, and overcome setbacks.

Similarly, entrepreneurs need grit to navigate the highs and lows of the business world. When a product/service fails, when funding falls through, or when competitors seem all-consuming, it is grit that keeps an entrepreneur moving forward, learning from failures, and evolving.

 Both have to have The Power of Perseverance!

Perseverance is closely linked to grit, but it really refers to the determination to keep going despite the difficulties and delays in achieving success. For both entrepreneurs and Olympians, perseverance is what differentiates the dreamers from the achievers. We saw Olympians so determined that they came from behind and won gold as underdogs just by their sheer will!

NBC shared stories of numerous challenges that so many athletes faced just to compete in Paris. Having perseverance helps to overcomes tough times, allowing them to bounce back stronger, learn from their experiences, and continue striving toward their goals. The same is true for entrepreneurs. The road to building a successful business is rarely smooth. There will be countless setbacks—financial struggles, sales rejections, and operational hurdles. Perseverance is what keeps entrepreneurs in the game, helping them to pivot when necessary, stay committed to their vision, and keep working towards success, even when the odds seem stacked against them.

 Both need Support!

While grit and perseverance are critical, without a strong support system those pillars would collapse. Behind every Olympian is some type of support -coaches, training partners, team members, family, and friends who provide the necessary guidance, resources, and emotional support.

Entrepreneurs require a solid support system too.  This includes mentors who can offer advice and share their experiences, people who believe in their vision, and family and friends who provide emotional support. Building a business is often a lonely and stressful journey, but having people who believe in you and your vision can make all the difference.

The lesson that I continue to learn over-and-over again is that success (which can be defined many ways) come to those who never give up.  Regardless of your title or goals, life’s journey requires grit to stay the course, perseverance to overcome setbacks and a strong support system to provide guidance and encouragement.

 Sonya Ruff Jarvis is a Business & Marketing Consultant; Content Creator & Connection-Maker; Thought Leader & Industry Expert and Book Author & Entrepreneur. Areas of expertise include: Retail; Marketing; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI); and Human Resources. Sonya has been a part of the B2B retail industry for more than 30 years. Interested in Sonya’s books?  They can be found on Amazon or get an author autographed copy at www.jarvisconsultants.com. 

Ways to Work with Jarvis Consultants!

Strategies: We help small to mid-size companies develop business, marketing, and event management strategies.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI): We help companies create DEI strategies and approaches that are implementable and sustainable based on their objectives.

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.

Let’s talk about your next project and how Jarvis Consultants can support your initiatives;

sonya@jarvisconsultants.com.

www.jarvisconsultants.com