Fans of Parks and Recreation begin the show appreciating the hilarity of the everyday mundanity that seems an entrenched philosophy for the department they work for, the generalized apathy that constantly undermines the ambitions of Leslie Knope is the source of many of the early season’s comedy. However, over time a palpable shift is felt both for the viewer, and the characters on screen—they start to genuinely care. What begins as a group of employees focused on doing the bare minimum, and doing it poorly in many cases for the sake of the joke, ends as a group of friends aspiring to be better, and to do better for their city.
This isn’t achieved quickly, and it isn’t realized for each character in the same manner over time, but through a change of perception in what is possible for them. Or further, a change in what they want and where they want to be. Naturally, Leslie was never one to be held back by the constraints of her work, but this infectious optimism creates avenues for the rest of the cast to go from employees to public servants.
This growth as both people and employees isn’t just something to inspire the viewers, but something we can all emulate if we look to the advice on each character’s journey.
Learning to Inspire Yourself
This is something we all need to hear once in a while—that we can do it. Leslie’s ambitions introduce her to a multitude of successes, but plenty of failures as well. However, her ability to constantly push herself, stay motivated, to realize her own abilities is what helps her excel. Sure, like she says she can be a bit stubborn sometimes, but if she pushes too hard it’s because she cares, and because she wants to get things done. This is only possible, though, because of that same stubborn belief that through teamwork, achieving your goals isn’t just a possibility, it’s a necessity. That work ethic is what defined her as an inspiration to so many over the course of the show.
Being Willing to Take a Chance
Alright fine, maybe this lesson is technically a lesson from the notorious Jean-Ralphio Saperstein, but it signaled a critical shift in the way Ben Wyatt sees the world. While he may not always be the most poignant or professional, here Jean Ralphio finally helps a struggling Ben realize that there is more to life than getting the job done, but if you’re lucky—loving what you do. A career accountant, Ben has always enjoyed his work and excelled at his job (as long as we don’t mention Ice Town) but after losing his job, he finally found the courage to take some time to himself. Being able to reflect on what you want in a career isn’t a sign of stasis, but a critical step in moving forward and finding joy in your profession.
Accepting Change
As the show progresses, April Ludgate begins to realize maybe being in the Parks and Recreation Department isn’t where she wants to end up. She spends the rest of the time on a search to find something she believes can be fulfilling, and at one point decides that Veterinary School is going to be that answer. But after a visit, she decides that this isn’t what she wants either. While the way she gets there may not work for everyone, her willingness to change her mind and accepting nature is illuminating, and something we can all learn from. Professional and personal growth are complicated processes of trial and error, and sometimes it’s okay to change your mind.
Embracing Your Inner Leader
Tom may not be the paragon for fiscal stability and long-term business strategy, but he certainly he is a great example of being willing to fail. And although it takes time, he is finally able to take those lessons learned and translate them into another success as an author. But the true secret to Tom is his inability to settle for mediocrity, and courage to constantly aspire to the entrepreneurial spirit inside. It may not always work out, but it doesn’t ever stop him from trying one more time, and constantly letting his creativity flourish in new endeavors.
Give It Your All
Ron Swanson may not always be the man to go to for professional wisdom, but his insights are applicable to just about anything—and this is no different. Whatever you are doing in your career, give it everything you have, and you won’t be disappointed. At the end of the day if you are going to put your name on something, it should be something you are proud of. And frankly, this won’t always be something you want to do, but developing a strong work ethic for something you maybe aren’t as enthusiastic about will position for the next step, to take on and succeed in the thing you care about most.