We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jessica Murrah. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Jessica, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Life coaching isn’t therapy and it isn’t just for people who are struggling.
A common misconception is that life coaching is basically therapy in disguise or that it’s only for people who are lost and need “fixing.” In reality, coaching is different from therapy—it doesn’t dwell on healing the past, but instead focuses on creating the future you want. And it’s not limited to those who feel stuck; many people who are already successful—leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, and everyday individuals—work with coaches to gain clarity, sharpen focus, and reach even higher levels of achievement. Coaching isn’t about fixing what’s broken—it’s about unlocking what’s possible!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jess Murrah and I am the founder of Savvy Skills Coaching. I work with parents who are tired of the daily battles over backtalk, screen time, and homework resistance—and who are quietly wondering, “Am I totally messing this up?”
I combine practical parenting strategies with mindset tools to help parents shift from reactive to calm, connected, and confident—even when their kid is slamming the bedroom door… again.
What makes us different? We ditch the one-size-fits-all advice and dive into your specific parenting challenges. Think of me as the parenting coach who brings empathy, a sense of humor, and zero judgment to the table—because we’ve all had those days where cereal for dinner felt like a win and the goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress and connection.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Kelli Watson – Todd Durkin IMPACT Coach and owner of Scriptor Publishing.
I was attending the Todd Durkin IMPACT conference in San Diego, early in my journey to becoming a life coach, I didn’t know a soul—except Kelli. I recognized her from the training videos, and over the weekend, I soaked in every bit of wisdom that was shared with the attendees. I was a 25-year teaching veteran stepping into the unknown, unsure of who I was becoming.
At dinner on the final night, I went to thank her—nervous, vulnerable, wondering if I really belonged in this new space. She looked me straight in the eye and said, “Jess, there’s something special about you. I don’t know exactly what you’re meant to become, but it’s something great. You’re going to change lives.”
I’ll never forget that moment. I was crying, battling imposter syndrome, and she just hugged me and said, “Keep going. You’re going to make an impact.”
And because she saw me, I started to believe it, too.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me who I really am.
Walking through divorce, becoming a single mom, trying to hold it all together while quietly falling apart. I struggled. I felt like I was barely treading water. And then, in the middle of rebuilding my life, I fell in love again… and suddenly I was navigating a blended “Brady Bunch” family, healing old wounds while trying to hold a new dream together. Oh, and starting an entirely new career—because apparently I don’t do change halfway.
But those hard seasons taught me how to trust myself. How to ask for help. How to hold space for uncertainty and still keep going. They taught me that success isn’t about having it all figured out—it’s about showing up anyway, with messy hair and a hopeful heart.
Suffering carved out the empathy I bring to my work as a coach. It taught me how to sit with others in their struggle, not with advice, but with presence. And that’s something no amount of success could ever teach.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Honestly? People. The ones I love, the ones I coach, the ones who just need someone to sit with them in the mess.
They’d probably tell you I’m the one who shows up. Whether it’s with a pep talk, a hug, or just snacks and a safe place to cry, I’m there. I’ve been through enough to know how much it means to feel seen and supported, and I try to be that person for others.
They’d also say I’m big on growth—like, “let’s unpack this moment and find the lesson” kind of growth. I can’t help it. I believe we’re all here to learn, stretch and evolve, but not just for ourselves. I’m all about turning my own challenges into something useful for others. If I’ve walked through it—divorce, blending a family, starting over—I want to use what I’ve learned to help someone else feel less alone and a little more equipped to handle their own life challenges.
At the end of the day, what matters most to me is connection, honesty, and making people feel like they’re not in it alone.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
For a long time, I did what I was told to do—what was expected. I followed the “safe” path: went to college, became a teacher, checked all the boxes. And while I was good at it, something was always missing. It wasn’t until I walked through my own struggles—divorce, single motherhood, starting over—that I realized I was being called to something deeper. Life coaching wasn’t part of the original plan, but the moment I stepped into it, I knew: this is what I was born to do. Helping others feel seen, supported, and empowered—it’s not just a career, it’s who I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.savvyskillscoaching.com
- Instagram: jessmurrah3
- Linkedin: @JessicaMurrah
- Facebook: @JessicaTownsendMurrah
Image Credits
None
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
