Was anyone else shocked by the death of Dolly Parton this week? It just felt way too sudden. For those of us who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s, Parton was a near-ubiquitous part of American culture for our whole lives, timeless, un-aging. Parton just was, and you somehow thought she always would be. 

Admittedly, my knowledge of Parton was about as surface as it comes, limited to her role as a rhinestone totem of American entertainment: Johnny Carson, Joline, 9-to-5 and, like everyone else, getting choked up listening to Coat of Many Colors.  

Then I spent time with a great, nine-part podcast last year called Dolly Parton’s America. It details not only her rise from excruciating poverty to global stardom, but also how she became one of the most successful entertainer-entrepreneurs of the past 50 years, with a net worth Forbes pegs at nearly a half-billion dollars.  

It’s well worth a listen. My biggest takeaway, at least when it comes to entrepreneurial leadership, was that her secret superpower was her indomitable attitude. She was a survivor, she chose gratitude, and she could access and control her emotions, empathy and responses to the world in a near-Buddhist way. That’s a powerful toolbox for a songwriter—and a CEO. Lucky for the rest of us, it’s something we can all emulate. 

Here are a few a few Dolly-isms (via Southern Living)—she was incredibly quotable—that I share as a way of remembering and honoring a uniquely talented American, but also worth meditating on as we all try to get better at what we do, striving to be more Dolly. Perhaps you’ll find them useful as well: 

• “I make a point to appreciate all the little things in my life. I go out and smell the air after a good, hard rain. These small actions help remind me that there are so many great, glorious pieces of good in the world.”
• “Find out who you are. And do it on purpose.”
• “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”
• “When someone shows you their true colors, believe them.”
• “I’ve always tried to never step on anybody to get where I am. I’ve had to walk around a few people, jump over a few of ‘em now and then, but I think you’re a true success when you’ve seen your dreams come true and you can take pride in how you did it, and take pride in and respect and appreciate the people that helped you get there.”
• “Above everything else I’ve done, I’ve always said I’ve had more guts than I’ve got talent.”
• “You always want your people to be proud of what you have accomplished.” 

And finally, my favorite, probably because it’s the most important one and the one that’s easiest to forget: “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” RIP, Dolly Parton. Thank you.