Dolly Parton: Achieving Greater Business Success

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” John C. Maxwell

“In order to be a good leader, there are two things to remember. Lead from the Front and always set the Example. From these two leadership principles, everything else will fall into place.”

Make sure each goal has a priority that way your goal isn't to overwhelming for you. Make realistic goals, make your own goals. If someone puts goals on you they may be unrealistic because those goals are based on what they

By the age of 6 I knew I wanted to sing and that is what I did. Everyone knows me as the girl with the blond wig but what about the person behind the wig? When I was growing up it was really hard becauseof the fact that my family lived in poverty. I always wanted to do music and by the age of 6 I was singing live on WIVK. In high school I was in the marching band. By the time I finished school I went straight into music by moving to Nashville to follow my dream. I wanted to be a well known singer in country music. I may be a famous country singer but did you know I also had depression and thought about killing myself? However, that did not stop me from singing and making music.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." This inspirational quote came from the sixth president of the United States of America named, John Quincy Adams.

My father and uncles’ instilled a statement in my head from a young age that I will never forget. This statement is closely related to the Law of Legacy and very relevant to being a leader in the modern business world. The statement only consists of a few words, but these words are very powerful and if this statement is followed, your reputation as a leader will be respected and hopefully emulated. The statement is, “Lead by example, do what is right, be the best you can be, and treat others the way you would like to be treated.”

Dolly Parton is known to the world as one of the most sought after country music stars in the entertainment industry. Everyone just loves Dolly. She has been in the entertainment business for a long time and seems to be enjoying herself and her success. She is a world-renowned singer/songwriter/musician, she’s an actress, writer and an entrepreneur who is part owner of Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Today, she has thousands of dollars to her name, but things weren’t always this simple.

For many years, I have been told by teachers, family, and friends that I am a good leader. Until fairly recently, I had never truly thought about what it means to be a good leader and just took it as a compliment. Leadership is an intangible concept which cannot be properly outlined in a dictionary, but one which must be formed and explained only through one’s own philosophies and experiences.

“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done, because he wants to do it”. -34th President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Do you really believe you can do what you set out to do? There is an old adage, "If you don’t believe that you are good enough, certainly no one else will." If you constantly talk down about yourself and have "negative conversations" with yourself, then you are sabotaging your success. Black Enterprise suggests that you "Give yourself a fighting chance by starting a new, more encouraging dialogue with yourself today and every day." You don't have to go as far as SNL's Stuart Smalley, but even that is better than self-doubt and depreciation.

In order for a leader to be a leader he/she must begin with the assumption that you are the one who matters most. As a leader you have to possess that level of confidence in yourself that you are capable of leading yourself “before you can lead others”. And when you develop this belief then you are better able of affirmative influence “on others”.

I believe that to be a good leader doesn’t necessarily define as someone who sets a goal and directs people to achieve it, but as someone who may have to adapt to change based off their surroundings and situations. A leader should be someone who is able to guide with not only direction but also logic, understanding, and an open mind. Oskar Schindler proved with continued leadership that even the most dismal situations may be able to change your values and based off those values change your actions and the direction in which you choose to lead and how you influence.

With a field that is based on “getting out what you put in” there is minimal room for a lack of enthusiasm but rather requires self-propelled success. You are the exact determinate to your success or failure when getting yourself involved. I have learned that being successful in business relates a lot to what type of person you are. With something as risky as trying to start up a business, as an individual, you must be willing to take on any risk. Your personality comes into play with business as well because of the connections that must be built to insure cushion for your business. Getting yourself out into the business world and creating endless connections is the epitome of a great businessperson. Another aspect to the great businessperson is the comfort level of risk to their ideas. All ideas you create should be

“Leadership is influencing others by your character, humility, and example. It is recognizable when others follow in word and deed without obligation or coercion”.( Sonny Newman, president of contract manufacturer EE Technologies)