I’m still on Dolly because I think if we all modeled our behavior after hers, this world would be a better place.

Often people look at someone who’s a success (like Dolly) and they sit back and sigh, thinking the successful person is so lucky.

Luck rarely has anything to do with the success of someone like Dolly Parton. Sure there is luck sometimes- like being at the right place at the right time. But 99% of the time it’s about hard work AND giving back. Too many times people forget that second part.

Dolly never forgot it.

She never forgot to be nice to everyone around her. Everyone! How much effort does that take?

Her starting the Imagination Library is a perfect example. When she started making enough money she started sending books to children anywhere from birth to age 5 so that they could learn to read. She didn’t send 300 million books to several countries around the world in the beginning. She started small, in her home county and area. And as her wealth grew, the organization grew and so did the number of books. She started small but with a purpose. She was honoring her father who couldn’t read or write.

But she was also honoring the children. She knew many of them had or could have dreams. But she also knew that the way to reaching most dreams is hidden in books. So she wanted to help kids learn to read so they could reach her dreams.

This is just one way Dolly will live forever. She’ll live in so many hearts for all that time.

What little bit of good can you start with today? Can you smile at someone and sincerely find out how they’re doing? I didn’t say just ask. I said inquire. You know people generally will simply respond with “ok” even when they aren’t. Do you want to do a little bit of good? Dig deeper. Take more time. Care.

Be like Dolly. Bruce Lee said be like water. I say also be like Dolly!