I'm not a Swiftie, but I'm watching and learning.

Did you watch the Grammys last night? Between that, KC Chiefs Football and her 2023 feature in TIME, there are 3 things I have recently learned from Taylor that are worth thinking about.

While my husband has met Taylor Swift personally at a concert, I can't say I've ever played a song of hers from start to finish. That said, I am GIRL POWER all the way, a Taylor is definitely taking us to school lately. 

Let's dive in.

MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY

With social media, we live in a world where we are increasingly the writers of our own stories. Taylor shows us that taking control of your own narrative, both internally and externally, no matter what era you are in (see what I did there), has a payoff. Taylor Swift is a masterful storyteller, who has narrated her own life and continues to do so over and over. In her mind, “it is a movie now.” With social media, we live in a world where we are more and more the writers of our own stories. Taylor shows that taking control of your own narrative, both internally and externally, no matter what era you are in (see what I did there), has a payoff. Even when receiving the Grammy on Sunday night, she stayed focused to thank her fans and drop a huge bomb – her new album is launching soon that no one knew she was currently recording. She’s the master of controlling the narrative to her benefit. Genius.

ABUNDANCE MENTALITY

Industries are always going to try to pit great women against each other—but there’s enough space for all of us. I've seen Taylor cheer for other women so hard. And I've seen other women not return the favor. She cheers anyway.

Taylor knows all too well that not everyone is thrilled with her success. And it seems the media tries to capitalize on this and turn others against her (or her against others). As she stated in the Time Magazine piece, “There were so many stadium tours this summer, but the only ones that were compared were me and Beyoncé.” While Taylor understands that it is lucrative for the media to pit her and Beyoncé (or any other female artists) against one another. And she doesn’t seem super fazed by that part. Her point was about the cultural fixation on supposed “feuds” between two women which greatly takes away from the other high-quality work being done. Both Taylor and Beyoncé have only responded to these comparisons with grace and utmost support of one another.  Their responses should be an example for us all. Just like many of you reading this, I have had women cheer to my face but tear me down the first chance they got. Hard working successful people are a subset of individuals that people love to hate. Challenge yourself to process any jealousy or competitive feelings you are having and not point daggers at an undeserving woman caught in the crosshairs. We owe it to each other.

FEEL THE FEELINGS

“She gives people, many of them women, particularly girls, who have been conditioned to accept dismissal, gaslighting, and mistreatment from a society that treats their emotions as inconsequential, permission to believe that their interior lives matter.” -Person of the Year article

There is a quote from Lansky’s piece in the 2023 Time Magazine Person of the year feature which speaks to the very core of Taylor’s impact. He writes, “She gives people, many of them women, particularly girls, who have been conditioned to accept dismissal, gaslighting, and mistreatment from a society that treats their emotions as inconsequential, permission to believe that their interior lives matter.”

This permission to experience and display emotion is where her cultural impact cannot be overstated. Many of us grew up in a society that told us we had to do away with emotion, interiority, softness, and, yes, femininity, to succeed. Taylor’s nearly immeasurable success in 2023 is a step towards giving hundreds of thousands of young women the opportunity to grow up in a society that tells them differently. Unlike the strong emotions I fought back in corporate culture, in my home, on the field or court in sports, etc. the younger woman is less afraid to shed a tear. And I’m here for it.

Here's the Time article if you want to read the entire thing.

I watched one of my favorite rappers take a shot at her last night from the stage after she was awarded Album of the year. Can't a girl get a congrats? Regardless, in her speech, she strategically took the time to thank her fans and announce her new album. You can't stop her. And while I know she has feelings, she's so good at staying focused and getting what she wants. And wow. I'm cheering that she meets every single one of her goals, despite it all. 

May we all be able to rise above, like Taylor.

— Kerri