As of last week, Bob Dylan can add Nobel Peace Prize recipient to his long list of lifetime achievements. While many in the literary world were shocked and vocal about their disappointment in the selection, the lifelong Dylan fan in me was thrilled to hear the news. He may not have churned out an epic 500-page novel, but the impact of Dylan’s powerful songwriting and lyrics extend far beyond just the music industry. In fact, as an English major in college we even studied Bob Dylan’s writing as a form of poetry. Dylan’s consequent ambivalence and blatant disinterest at receiving the prestigious award has been widely reported on and criticized, but I actually think that there is a lesson we can learn. Bob Dylan never has and never will care about receiving awards or honors because that isn’t what he is trying to do. He has never been after greatness or displayed any interest at being known as the best; instead, he has consistently produced great work and recognition has followed (whether he wants it or not). Ultimately, Dylan’s expansive career is a direct testament to the success you can find when you let your talent drive you, rather than ambition and competitiveness.
I’ve been listening to Bob Dylan since I was a kid (thanks for the awesome music taste, Dad!), so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to share a few of my favorite quotes and lyrics, as well as my 2 cents on how we can apply them to our lives – both professional and personal.
- “I try my best to be just like I am, but everybody wants you to be just like them.” Also known as the most poetic way to say stay true to who you are despite what others think or say. This is a classic and important message to remember both in your professional career and in your personal life.
- “So when you see your neighbor carrying something, help him with his load and don’t go mistaking paradise for that home across the road.” Again, Dylan’s one-of-a-kind songwriting skills are highlighted when he finds the most eloquent way to rephrase simple life lessons that we’ve been taught since were kids. Help someone when they need help, and don’t fall prey to the tempting thought that the grass is greener on the other side.
- “Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen, and keep your eyes wide the chance won’t come again. And don’t speak too soon for the wheel’s still in spin, the times they are a-changing.” This is a lyric from my all-time favorite Bob Dylan song, which was written in response to the turbulent political climate of the 1960’s. It’s a great reminder to not speak before you have all the details and to adapt your thought process to align with the evolution of society. Often, we will judge and state our opinions without knowing the full story or without taking into consideration outside variables, and this lyric is a great warning to always keep your eyes, ears and mind open.
- “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” A great lyric that reminds us you don’t need others to teach you something you can learn on your own. For us PR pros, this can be implemented into our professional lives as a reminder to always be proactive and trust yourself and your instincts to make executive decisions.
- “I ain’t saying you treated me unkind, you could have done better but I don’t mind. You just kinda wasted my precious time, but don’t think twice it’s all right.” This is always something great to tell yourself when someone doesn’t treat you the way you deserve. To me, this is basically Bob Dylan’s version of Taylor Swift’s Shake it Off (yes, I just compared Bob Dylan to Taylor Swift). You gotta just shake it off, not let it get to you and remind yourself that everything is all right.
- “Don’t criticize what you can’t understand.” Basically, don’t jump to conclusions and don’t pass judgment on a situation if you don’t have the full story.
