Growth Lessons from Time’s Person of the Year: Taylor Swift

Did you know that Taylor Swift was Time’s Person of the Year 2023??

The prestigious institution awards a person/group who has done the most to influence the events of the year in the world!

The past winners are some of the most influential figures you know today including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos.

So why Taylor Swift? Why this often disregarded, misunderstood female pop/country artist? What did she do in 2023 that was so special??

In March 2023, Swift embarked on?the Eras Tour, covering all her 10 studio albums. The Eras Tour became?the highest-grossing tour in history, collecting over $1 billion;?its concert film, became the highest-grossing?concert film?ever, with over $250 million earned worldwide, and was nominated for the?Golden Globe Award?for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement (Excerpt from Wikipedia)

Not too bad for a ‘simple’ pop/country star yeah?

Once I learned this, I immediately went into research mode.

Even if you are not a fan of Taylor or even music, I promise there’s a lesson or two for you here:

??Connect with your Tribe

From openly discussing industry struggles to delving into personal heartbreaks, Taylor embraces vulnerability in a way few superstars dare. This vulnerability resonates with millions (it’s also good publicity too tbh)

We are in times where connecting emotionally is no longer a sign of weakness.?

Growth often requires taking off masks and allowing ourselves and our brand to be seen, imperfections and all. Be strong but open and honest. It's easier to connect with people that way.

?? Embrace the Innovation in your Industry?

I didn’t get to attend, but from critic reviews, it is said the Eras Tour has become a case study in innovation within the music industry.

The tour is autobiographical of her last 10 albums, so imagine nostalgia blended with immersive, interactive experiences for the fans.

The growth lesson here is to embrace innovation and think beyond the “status quo” to captivate audiences in a rapidly changing world.

?? Hardwork is ‘Hard’ to Replace

I know we all love the idea of smart work over handwork, but let’s be honest here, the latter only works best where there is REAL, consistent hard work and discipline in place.

Taylor is running 151 shows in 5 continents!?

She is also the number 1 artist on Spotify and the most-played artist of the year 2023.

Do you see the blend?

It is said that this achievement is an accumulation of 10 years of slow but steady cultural and commercial influence.

This kind of sustainable impact can only be possible by consistency in hard work.

?? Don’t be Afraid to Start from Scratch

A few years back, Taylor lost the rights to her first 6 albums to her former record label. This could be bad enough to wreck any artist.

You know what she did? She recorded all of them again. ALL 6!

Some people thought she was crazy.

But... old fans were excited to revisit the songs from the years past, and new fans rediscovered her music in a new and unique way.

Imagine a fusion of old millennial fans with new Generation Z fans.

Sometimes going back is the best way to move forward, sometimes setbacks set the stage for a better future when we choose to find the diamond in the rough.

This is not a Taylor Swift appreciation post (I’ve much outgrown that phase), it’s a post to reflect some light from someone who has grown and won so much in the past year.

Her ability to persevere, innovate, adapt, connect authentically, and build a supportive community showcases a holistic approach to growth which I personally find inspiring.

We also see that true success is not just about breaking records but about evolving, overcoming challenges, and leaving an undeniable mark on the world.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing.

Thanks for reading this article!

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Keep Growing and Exploring!

Joke Shalom Akintara

Growth Product Manager | Curator of "Growth Notes"