At 5 feet tall, Dolly Parton was larger than life. Coming from humble beginnings, growing up \u201cdirt poor\u201d <\/em><\/strong>and \u201cwearing rags\u201d<\/em><\/strong> on a farm in a 2-bed cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, as one of 12 children (6 boys, 6 girls), she taught us a masterclass of what it means to be a success.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton was more than an entertainer and outstanding human with Southern charm- she was a bold and brilliant businesswoman.\u00a0<\/p>\n Through her sense of humor and bold faith, Dolly Parton shared battle-tested wisdom that she used to rewrite the success playbook. So, to honor the memory of a fellow petite woman who, like me, grew up in poverty and beat the odds, I decided to share some of Dolly Parton\u2019s most inspirational quotes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dolly Parton quotes aren\u2019t motivational fluff; they\u2019re proven, hard-earned truths that shaped her 60-year career and that we can use to shape our own.<\/p>\n From early childhood and throughout our lives, we are told who we should be, and we\u2019re expected to fit someone else\u2019s mold. Dolly flipped that script early, refusing to edit her personality.\u00a0<\/p>\n Loud, colorful, and unashamed, she\u2019d tell the story of who she wanted to become:<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve told this story before, but it\u2019s the honest truth. I grew up way back in the mountains, and we only got to go to town every once in a while. But every time we would, there was this woman they called the town tramp. I didn\u2019t know what any of that meant.<\/em> I would just see this woman with this peroxide yellow hair piled on her head, bright red lipstick, long red nails, high-heeled shoes, and short tight skirts, and I thought she was the prettiest thing I\u2019d ever seen. I said to my mom, \u2018Oh, she\u2019s so gorgeous.\u2019 Mom said, \u2018Oh, she\u2019s just trash.\u2019\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n And I thought to myself, \u2018See, that\u2019s what I want to be when I grow up.\u2019 Cause I thought that was a word for how she looked, so I grew up to look just like it.<\/em><\/p>\n I think women were really jealous of her.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n If you want to succeed in the world of business, lean into your authenticity and build your brand around it. When you are clear about your identity and let your true colors shine, you become irreplaceable. In contrast, when you dilute yourself by playing it safe, you become forgettable.\u00a0<\/p>\n You cannot build a lasting career, business, or brand on borrowed personality. Dolly Parton proved this- she was a unique blend of soft and strong, funny and serious, feminine and fierce, all at once. Her strategic authenticity made her one of the most successful women in the history of entertainment.\u00a0<\/p>\n When you know exactly who you are, what you stand for, and what you will not tolerate, decision-making becomes simple. You don\u2019t waste time on opportunities that don\u2019t fit, and you do not second-guess those that do: you give yourself permission to move. As you refuse to shrink, the world will make room for you.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton has many funny quotes, but I think they are all insightful because she expressed herself unapologetically.<\/p>\n She once talked about how her signature look landed her the title \u201cworst dressed of all time<\/em>.\u201d Her reply:<\/p>\n \u201cYou know what? That\u2019s all right with me. I have a good time. I bet I\u2019m happier than that guy who wrote that. And I\u2019m glad that he came out of his closet long enough to look in mine.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The big hair, 5- or 6-inch high heels, glitter, rhinestones, push-up bras, and every cosmetic surgery were not about vanity \u2013 they were about branding.\u00a0<\/p>\n Every performance, interview, and business decision aligned with the memorable brand she intentionally built.\u00a0<\/p>\n She\u2019s known for saying, \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing I was born a girl, otherwise I\u2019d be a drag queen<\/em>\u201d <\/strong>and\u00a0\u201cI look just like the girl next door\u2026 if you happen to live next door to an amusement park.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n She knew many people thought she was over-the-top and theatrical, but she didn\u2019t try to tone it down or make it more palatable; she played full-out, doubled down, and used it to her advantage. Being fully herself and letting the right people find her (without trying to be everything to everyone) was her competitive advantage.\u00a0<\/p>\n I once saw an interview with Barbara Walters (her interviews haven\u2019t aged well, have they?), where Dolly Parton tells her she\u2019s not interested in fitting in. She never apologized for how she looked, dressed, or spoke.\u00a0<\/p>\n Her \u201ccheap look\u201d was featured in the\u00a0\u201cDiamond in a Rhinestone World: The Costumes of Dolly Parton\u201d<\/em>\u00a0exhibition hosted at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles back in 2019.<\/p>\n Her image was a business decision\u2026 based on originality, not conformity\u2026 and it worked! Dolly Parton inspired us to stop watering ourselves down to appeal to people who will never buy from us, hire us, or respect us.<\/p>\n When you know exactly who you are, other people\u2019s opinions have no weight.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dolly Parton once shared:<\/p>\n \u201cThe night I graduated from<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>Sevier County High School in Sevierville, Tennessee, back in 1964, we were all asked to stand up and talk about what we were gonna do with the rest of our lives. Everybody had a different story, and when it came my time, I stood right up there and said, \u2018I\u2019m going to Nashville, and I\u2019m going to be a star.\u2019 Well, the whole place laughed out loud. I was so embarrassed. How odd, why is everyone laughing \u2013 cos that\u2019s what I\u2019m gonna do. As bad as I felt, it didn\u2019t shake me from my dreams, so I guess I showed them, huh?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n She sure did. Dolly Parton got on a Greyhound bus the next day, at age eighteen, to move to Nashville. That same day she met Carl Dean (who would two years later become her husband of 58 years) at Nashville\u2019s Wishy Washy Laundromat. Soon, she became the \u201cuniversal star\u201d and \u201csuperstar\u201d she always said she would be, since she started singing at age five.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI just sensed there was something greater for me,<\/strong><\/em>\u201d she often said.<\/p>\n Here are 3 examples she gave us:<\/strong><\/p>\n When you are secure in who you are, people can laugh at you, call you names, and judge or criticize you, and though it stings, you remind yourself that it\u2019s just static!<\/p>\n When Dolly Parton gave us 9 to 5, she gave us permission to pour ourselves \u201ca cup of ambition<\/strong><\/em>.\u201d I know she meant coffee, and I don\u2019t drink coffee, but let\u2019s take it literally. Ambition is not a sin, but without boundaries, it leads to emptiness.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton wrote over 3,000 songs, recorded global hits, performed on stages worldwide, was interviewed on the most popular shows, starred in movies and TV shows, produced albums, built for-profit and non-profit businesses, and had a beautiful and lasting love life with her husband, Carl Dean.<\/p>\n She stayed connected to her family, her roots, and her sense of joy. She didn\u2019t fall into the trap of sacrificing her humanity on the altar of productivity.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton showed that:<\/strong><\/p>\n The key is to define success on our own terms instead of adopting someone else\u2019s scorecard. The first step is to ask:\u00a0What would a life I love look like?<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n And then take steps to build it!<\/p>\n We all remember her smile and humor, but this Dolly Parton quote hits deep. This philosophy reminds us to acknowledge and accept that anything worth having comes with a cost, and we must be willing to pay it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dolly Parton said:<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful. Do not confuse dreams with wishes. There is a difference. Dreams are where you visualize yourself being successful at what\u2019s important to you to accomplish. Now, dreams build convictions because you work hard to pay the price to make sure that they come true. Wishes are hoping good things will happen to you, but there\u2019s no fire in your gut that causes you to put everything forth, you know, to overcome all the obstacles. So you have to dream more and never, ever, ever blame somebody else if it doesn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n If we dream of being successful, we must embrace difficulty and be willing to endure it.\u00a0<\/p>\n A while back, Julia Roberts told a story about how everyone was complaining about the heat while filming on set, and she questioned a silent, unbothered Dolly Parton:<\/p>\n \u201cI always dreamed about being rich and famous, and now that I am, I am not going to complain.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Dolly Parton is aware of the heat (and the rain), but she\u2019s going to stay focused and grateful, and turn her life experiences into timeless lyrics instead.<\/p>\n Everyone can agree that Dolly Parton had a magical air about her. But she also believed that everyone has their own magic inside.<\/p>\n Many of us are waiting for<\/strong><\/p>\n Dolly Parton realized she didn\u2019t need any of these \u2013 and reminded us that neither do we.\u00a0<\/p>\n Just like Dolly Parton, we don\u2019t wait for the industry to change; we change it.<\/p>\n Once we focus on the magic within, trust ourselves more than the circumstances and conditions, and apply sheer grit to our dream, we can get through every obstacle, rejection, and closed door.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton didn\u2019t predict the future because no one really can, but as she said:<\/p>\n \u201cOh honey, nobody knows what\u2019s around the corner, but I know one thing: If you keep yourself out of the game for fear of losing, there is no way on this earth you\u2019re going to win<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n This quote reveals the biggest secret to Dolly Parton\u2019s success. Think about it: Dolly Parton did not reinvent herself every five years.\u00a0<\/p>\n What inconsistent people do:<\/strong> Shifting the message based on what is trending or who is in the room. We trusted Dolly Parton because she stayed true to her brand, without chasing fads and algorithms. Her values and her voice stayed steady, becoming a constant in a world that changes every day. That\u2019s iconic, isn\u2019t it?\u00a0<\/p>\n Through fame and fortune, she stayed rooted in her identity and became a timeless icon with lifelong loyal fans.\u00a0<\/p>\n It reminds me of a quote that I once read:<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t ever change yourself to impress someone, because they should be impressed that you don\u2019t change to please others.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Consistency is an underrated success skill that breeds trust. And trust is the foundation of every long-term career.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton left home at 18 with no plan, no connections, and no safety to fall back on. Actually, she seemingly had nothing but a guitar and a dream.\u00a0<\/p>\n As someone who left home at 15 to pursue my dreams, I know that she had more than enough: courage and conviction.\u00a0<\/p>\n We all love what she said: \u201cIf you spend all your time worrying about the bees, you\u2019re never gonna get a chance to taste the honey<\/em>.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n This Dolly Parton quote doesn\u2019t mean she was fearless. Fear will come up, and that\u2019s normal.\u00a0<\/p>\n I relate to Dolly when she said:<\/p>\n \u201cI love cemeteries. When I was growing up, it was one of the best-kept places, like a golf course. It\u2019s like a peaceful, quiet place to go where Nobody but weirdos like me like to go hang out there. \u00a0I don\u2019t go there just to hang out with the dead. \u00a0The dead don\u2019t scare me; it\u2019s the living. I love sitting under trees. I walk around, and I read the stories.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Some people and situations can seem scary and be risky in business and every area of life. Dolly Parton left behind the life she always knew and the people she loved to make a name for herself, which led her to face industry rejection, sexism, public scrutiny, and everything that comes with being a celebrity.<\/p>\n I know by experience that the stings might be inevitable, but the honey will be worth it.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton was put down and underestimated. She heard that she was too flashy to be a serious actor, that she didn\u2019t have the background to run a business, that she was too country to do pop or rock, that she should stay in her lane\u2026 and all sorts of messages to dull her shine.\u00a0<\/p>\n With self-belief, she never let other people\u2019s ceiling become her floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n What others think is impossible is not our business. Their feedback comes from projection, not from proof.\u00a0<\/p>\n People can\u2019t fathom how a mountain girl can become a global superstar or a slum girl can become a global keynote speaker -and that\u2019s okay. They cannot imagine doing what you are trying to do \u2013 and that\u2019s okay. We don\u2019t need their approval, their permission, or their validation. We just need to move on and trust the vision that was given to us.<\/p>\n Like Dolly Parton, let\u2019s bet on ourselves and listen to our Creator more than we listen to our critics \u2013 even when they mean well.<\/p>\n As I always say: Don\u2019t ask for directions from people who haven\u2019t been where you are going. The moment you accept someone else\u2019s definition of what is possible for you, you cap your own potential.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton was always real. You knew that she was going to be honest, not perfect, and that was her power. Her vulnerability created relatability, respect, and trust. She laughed at herself and made us laugh right along with her.\u00a0<\/p>\n Her authenticity made her an excellent leader. Her kind and gentle approach has made her one of the most beloved and influential figures in entertainment.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dolly Parton built Dollywood into one of the most successful theme parks in the United States to bring joy and fun to others. The butterfly on the Dollywood logo was inspired by her philosophy that \u201clove is like a butterfly\u2026 colorful and gentle.<\/strong><\/em>\u201d This is how everyone describes Dolly Parton.<\/p>\n And maybe some think, who wouldn\u2019t be smiling all the time when you\u2019re rich, famous, won 11 Grammys, and have astonishing success? But Dolly Parton went through very hard times.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think one of the biggest mistakes that people can make about the stars is the fact that they deny them the right to be human.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n At one point, struggling with the inability to conceive, hormonal changes in middle age, and other family and emotional issues, Dolly Parton fell into a deep depression and even contemplated suicide.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI looked at it a long time. Then, just as I picked it up, just to hold it and look at it for a moment, our little dog, Popeye, came running up the stairs. The tap-tap of his paws jolted me back to reality; I suddenly froze, and I put the gun down and prayed. I don\u2019t think I\u2019d have done it, killed myself, but I can\u2019t say for sure. Now that I\u2019ve gone through that terrible moment, I can certainly understand the possibilities, even for someone solid like me, if the pain gets bad enough.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Dolly Parton shared that her Boston terrier was a \u201cspiritual messenger from God<\/strong>,<\/em>\u201d and, I think we can all agree, so was Dolly Parton \u2013 so many people\u2019s angel.\u00a0<\/p>\n We can all be messengers of God for others by sharing a smile, a kind word, or the ministry of our presence<\/a>.<\/p>\n Two stories stand out as remarkable for me from Dolly Parton\u2019s life:\u00a0<\/p>\n I always say that anything that requires you to abandon yourself is not loyalty; it\u2019s slavery.\u00a0<\/p>\n Even though Dolly Parton was grateful to Porter Wagoner for the platform he provided for her, and even though the honor of Elvis recording her song was almost an irresistible offer, she put her foot down\u2026 and chose herself.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton modeled how every decision, choice, or opportunity we make in business needs to align with our brand, values, and vision.\u00a0<\/p>\n Saying NO is necessary to protect our time, energy, and reputation. We need to be selective with our YESes. Every YES needs to be a YES to ourselves \u2013 not out of fear, obligation, or people-pleasing.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m old enough and cranky enough now that if someone tried to tell me what to do, I\u2019d tell them where to put it.<\/em>\u201c<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n When you say NO to what doesn\u2019t serve your long-term vision, you don\u2019t dilute or overextend yourself. You can commit to that which only you can do because it\u2019s your zone of genius. Boundaries help you execute at the highest level.<\/p>\n As you get clear on your mission, you start to filter every offer through this question:\u00a0Does this serve that mission or distract from it?<\/em><\/p>\n This is probably the most popular Dolly Parton quote, and it explains her 60-year career.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been through every possible adversity (even dying), and there are two truths that I can attest to within this analogy:<\/p>\n Storms shake us, break us, and take part of us, and some of us are blessed enough to still be standing.\u00a0<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know how Dolly Parton meant this quote to go down in history, but my interpretation is not to be grateful for the storms, but to be grateful for our own strength to survive them.<\/p>\n When we recognize what we\u2019ve been through and invest in our own healing, we can take deeper roots. We can stand solid in our identity and purpose and, slowly, rebuild and grow.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton proved that no matter what our gift is, we can use it and its fruits to bless others.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dolly Parton grew up with a religious upbringing and credited her faith and her upbringing for much of her success. She was the granddaughter of Rev. Jake Owens, a Pentecostal preacher, and she sang in his congregation in the hills of Tennessee.\u00a0<\/p>\n Though Dolly Parton was outspoken about her Christian beliefs, and her songs and interviews reflected her faith throughout her career, she is most remembered for how she lived them: \u201cI just try to live it and be it.<\/em>\u201c<\/strong> She \u201cpreached\u201d acceptance and practiced kindness and forgiveness.\u00a0<\/p>\n She beautifully said, \u201cYou don\u2019t even have to believe in anything to be good to people. You should just know you should be a good human being<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about the intent of the heart and the deeds. I\u2019m not religious as much as I am bonded to that God that is so much part of me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Dolly Parton used her music to spread healing:<\/p>\n \u201cAbove all, I think the main thing a musician can do is to give people hope<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Dolly Parton didn\u2019t write songs to be a commercial success, but to move people, evoke emotions, and share meaning. Her timeless songs still resonate, and she used her success to create a legacy of advocacy and philanthropy.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEvery day I ask God to lead me, to direct me, and to bring all the right things and people in my life and take all the wrong ones out.\u00a0<\/em>I\u2019m no angel, I\u2019m no saint. I am just a seeker, just like everyone else. I just try to do my best, love people, find the God light, the goodness in people, and try to put whatever is good in me out there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Dolly Parton changed the music industry with her creativity and authenticity. Without asking for or waiting for permission, she became the undisputed Queen of Country Music.<\/p>\n The most successful people create their own opportunities and their own legacy.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton became a cultural icon who has influenced generations of artists, entrepreneurs, and leaders who came after her. She\u2019s been praised and covered by Carrie Underwood, Casey Musgraves, Pink, Beyonc\u00e9, Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, and, of course, her goddaughter Destiny Hope, whom we all know as Miley Cyrus. Reba McEntire called her her hero over and over.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton often said,\u00a0\u201cI look like a woman, and I think like a man,<\/em>\u201d <\/strong>because she negotiated publishing rights, diversified revenue streams, and used branding to create a lasting empire beyond music.<\/p>\n As the founder of Dollywood Parks & Resorts, her approach was to lead with kindness, empower her team, treat people with respect, and build loyalty through consistency and authenticity.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes I\u2019m the only woman in a whole boardroom of meetings, but I say \u2018get past the boobs,\u2019 and listen to me because I think I can make us a lot of money.\u2019 I believe that whether you are a man or a woman, white, black, green, purple, or alien grey, you should be allowed to be paid and treated with respect in what you\u2019re capable of doing.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n As the philanthropist behind Imagination Library, she was beloved, admired, and respected.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 1987, a Dolly Parton bronze statue portraying her as a young woman playing her guitar was erected in Downtown Sevierville,\u00a0<\/em>and after her death on August 25th, 2026, the Tennessee Governor proposed that the Nashville airport be renamed the Dolly Parton Airport in her honor.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton\u2019s SongTeller Hotel will feature the 20,000-square-foot Dolly\u2019s Life of Many Colors Museum, a massive, permanent installation spanning the entire third floor of the hotel, dedicated to her life and career in the world.<\/p>\n And in 2027, her estate will host DollyFest, held in Nashville and London, and will bring her legacy to life.<\/p>\n When you have the courage to pave your own path, others can walk it, even after you leave this earthly plane. Legacy is not what you build. It is what other people build because of you.<\/p>\n We see so much toxic positivity telling us we can control and create our lives. That\u2019s just not true. The wind didn\u2019t always go the way we want it to.\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s life.<\/p>\n Dolly Parton faced rejection, mockery, loss, betrayal, and mental health challenges. She used songwriting to process her pain and turn it into healing for herself and others.<\/p>\n In \u201cJolene<\/strong>\u201d (1973), we see her facing insecurity and jealousy in marriage;\u00a0<\/p>\n In \u201cCoat of Many Colors<\/strong>\u201d (1971), we see her journey of choosing to see the beauty in what others ridiculed;<\/p>\n In \u201cTennessee Homesick Blues<\/strong>\u201d (1984), we see her loneliness and longing to belong;<\/p>\n Life is not about ignoring or denying the painful parts, but about adjusting, adapting, and pivoting.\u00a0<\/p>\n Control is not only an illusion, but it\u2019s also a delusion. \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Dolly](\"https:\/\/www.thepositivemom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dolly-parton-quotes-for-success.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n1. \u201cFind out who you are and do it on purpose.\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n2. \u201cIt costs a lot of money to look this cheap.<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n3. \u201cI\u2019m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I\u2019m not dumb, and I also know I\u2019m not blonde.<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n
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4. \u201cDon\u2019t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n
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5. \u201cThe way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain<\/em>.\u201d<\/h2>\n
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6. \u201cThe magic is inside you. There ain\u2019t no crystal ball.<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n
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7. \u201cThe biggest compliment I get is when someone tells me, \u2018You have not changed.\u2019<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n
The Dolly Parton way:<\/strong> Saying the same thing in different ways for 60 years.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
8. \u201cYou\u2019ll never do a whole lot unless you\u2019re brave enough to try.<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n
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9.\u201dI\u2019m not going to limit myself just because people won\u2019t accept the fact that I can do something else.\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n10. \u201cIf you see someone without a smile, give them yours.<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n
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11. \u201cI know who I am; I know what I can and can\u2019t do. I know what I will and won\u2019t do. I know what I\u2019m capable of, and I don\u2019t agree to do things that I don\u2019t think I can pull off.<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n
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12. \u201cStorms make trees take deeper roots.<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n13. \u201cI\u2019ve always felt like my music was more of a ministry than a job.<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n
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14. \u201cIf you don\u2019t like the road you\u2019re walking, start paving another one.<\/em>\u201d<\/h2>\n
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And it will live on\u2026<\/h6>\n
15. \u201cWe cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails<\/em>.\u201d<\/h2>\n