There was an article in New York Magazine in April about Dolly Parton and the opening of 9-5 on Broadway.   Dolly is a role model for so many – artist, entrepreneur, and good-humored dame.  But the article mentions something about Dolly and her most famous composition (I Will Always Love You) you may not know (I sure didn’t).

Quote:  ”At a time in Dolly’s career when she could still have used the boost and the cash, Elvis offered to record it—but only if she sold him half the rights. With precocious confidence in the value of her work, she refused. The lyric “We both know that I am not what you need” must have seemed especially painful under the circumstances, but as a result of that decision she has made millions of dollars in royalties on the song’s many incarnations, none of which improved on her 1974 original.”

WOW.  Do you get the impact of this?  Dolly, a then-struggling artist and songwriter said NO to The King.  What an easy meal ticket that could have been for her – an Elvis recording, notoriety, cashmoney, royalties.

INSTEAD, she believed in herself and didn’t take the easy way out.  Can you imagine what people said about that decision?  Crazy, nuts, who knows.  Not looking so crazy now though.

What does this mean to you, to any of us?  Be true to yourself, and believe.  Don’t take the easy way out if your gut is telling you otherwise.  Believe in the rewards that will come to you for following your true path, and do not compromise for a short-term win.

Easy to say, hard to do.  If you have any Believe & Be True success stories, I’d love to hear them!