How Can We Live a Life of Impact?

Taking a few lessons from the life of Dolly Parton

Do you ever think about what you’ll leave behind in the years after you draw your last breath? Will this world be any different for me having walked through it?

In the aftermath of Dolly Parton’s passing last month, we saw nationwide grieving that is rare at best. Can you remember another person whose death sparked such a reaction across political, geographic, and societal spectrums?

For Dolly, the stories have been more about the person than the extended career in the entertainment industry. And that got me to thinking, “What was it about Dolly’s life that made such an impact, and what can we learn from it?”

Here are some thoughts:

You can be popular without being polarizing. Dolly was arguably one of the most recognized personalities in show business. Yet she didn’t use this visibility to take sides and drive wedges. She used it to bring people together.

Don’t be ashamed of where you came from. Dolly escaped a life of poverty, but she never ran from the story of her rural Appalachian upbringing. In fact, it was a core part of her story.

Don’t be afraid of hard work. Key to Dolly’s success as an entertainer and entrepreneur was her willingness to outwork anyone in the room. As a female artist, she created opportunities for herself in an industry run by men. She put in the hard work necessary to prove she had a right to be there, and to bring her ideas to reality.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Dolly was told she couldn’t have a successful career without Porter, and that she couldn’t make it in the movie business. Let “you can’t” be the fire that fuels your growing success.

Be grateful. Reflecting on your journey and how blessed you are keeps you humble while pushing you forward.

Be nice to people. There are countless stories about how Dolly treated people, regardless of their stage in life.

Love, don’t judge. Enough said.

Give back. Imagination Library. Helping victims of the Gatlinburg fire. Support for countless charities. Dolly didn’t just make a living for herself, she made a difference in millions of lives.

Thank you, Dolly. These are some lessons to live by.