(Image By RCA Records – eBayfrontback, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=198249472)
Content creators, me included, like to hop on ANY trendy bandwagon as long as it applies to our business purpose.
And even if the trend does NOT apply to our business purpose, but that’s a topic for another day.
But the Freelancers Union, despite being in New York City, has apparently heard of the passing of Dolly Parton. (Something I noted earlier, although hobbled by Google Gemini image generation restrictions.)
See the Union’s blog post, “3 Lessons Freelancers Can Learn from Dolly Parton.”
What the heck does Parton have to do with freelancing? Well, an email I received reminds us:
“After all, Dolly was a freelancer, too.”
True. I don’t know about the details of Parton’s contracts, but I assume she was not an employee of her record label, and therefore contracted with the label…perhaps as an individual entity, or possibly as a self-owned corporation.
But what were the Union’s three lessons that Parton imparted to us?
- “Some things can be just for you.” In Parton’s case, it was her marriage to her husband Carl Dean, who kept a low profile. I also keep a low profile on some things.
- “Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate.” Parton not only collaborated musically, but also in other areas. Her movie “9 to 5” is a prime example. Another example is Dollywood, co-owned by Herschend Family Entertainment, who brought the theme park experience necessary to bring Parton’s vision to life.
- “Know your worth.” Over the last few days the story of Elvis Presley’s desire to record “I Will Always Love You” has been frequently shared. As was the catch: Colonel Tom Parker insisted that for every song Presley recorded, Presley (and Parker) would get a cut of the publishing rights. Parton knew her worth.
Of course, the Freelancers Union wants us freelancers to apply these lessons to our own businesses.
Do I know my worth?
Bredemarket 