I don’t normally binge watch anything, but Parks and Rec has me hooked this summer! I’m currently on season 6 of 7. I have only binge watched 2 shows in my life: Parks and Rec and The Office. Honestly, I feel like that is all I need. As much as I watch Parks and Rec for pure, comedic entertainment, it surprises me how many good life lessons are randomly thrown in.
In an episode I watched yesterday, April is consoling Andy about his job. He feels incompetent at signing his name and performing the work necessary. April leans in, stares Andy in the eyes, and whispers, “Let me tell you a secret. Everyone is winging it. No one knows what they are doing.”
April is right! No one has everything figured out. I once heard someone say that we are all winging it, just some are winging it better than others. Life is just a game where everyone is making up their own path. There isn’t an exact road and rulebook about how to do your job, lead a team, or be a friend. You are making it up as you go.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t know what to do. You aren’t alone. You will never have every piece of information you desire, especially to make big life decisions. You are going to have to wing it. You must go out on a limb. How to Do Life for Dummies isn’t going to tell you what to do.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you don’t know what to do in your job or in a class, ask for help. People won’t know to help you if they don’t know you need help.
Bob Goff says that you don’t need all of the answers to move forward, the most important step is to start. Be willing to take that first step. You have callings on your heart and goals you want to achieve. Don’t wait for everything to be lined up perfectly to go after them. Be willing to take the first step without every other step planned out. Wing it.
People want you to think they know what they’re doing, but humans are great at putting up facades. Just because someone has a special position doesn’t mean they know exactly what they’re doing. They are often winging it just like the new hire. I don’t know exactly what I’m doing in my life. I’m winging a financial analysis/audit for my summer job by just digging through data that I think will lead me in the right direction. I haven’t done this work before and I have zero structure for my position, so I am completely winging it. I am president of the Investment Club where a team of us is putting together an investment portfolio. I don’t know what I’m doing. My team doesn’t have long-standing investment expertise. That didn’t stop us from trying. We are winging it and hoping that our idea will catch on with future finance students.
You don’t need everything to be perfect to move forward. Just start.
You won’t know what you’re doing. Don’t be afraid.
You aren’t the only one who doesn’t have the answers.
Wing it.
I appreciate you.
-JP