[weasel_words]

But isn't that the grandparent's whole point?

If you can't take being called "soft" or a "wussy", you ARE...and need to toughen up...ignore trite insults, and be able to withstand the torrents of potential backlash/hardships (from customers, competitors, whatever externalities...or even from internal sources, eg: partners - you WILL fight).

[tailspin2019]

OP is a young (I assume) college graduate, asking for advice and open to the fact that their current thinking may be wrong.

I see no weakness here.

Unless you consider thoughtfulness and introspection to be weakness?

Not everyone in business has to behave like they’re The Wolf of Wall Street.