Knope

My latest TV show hit has been the wonderful Parks and Recreation set in Pawnee, Indiana. This show chronicles the adventures of Leslie Knope, an at-times over-eager political leader who simply wants to do the right thing, going to great lengths to do just so. Throughout the show she is widely acclaimed as being the best at what she does.

What do you do? Are you a student? Teacher? Worker? No matter what it is you do, strive for excellence. Are you the Leslie Knope?
Teddy Roosevelt once said something to the effect that the best thing anyone can do is the right thing, the second best thing anyone can do is the wrong thing and the worst thing you can do is nothing. All Leslie Knope wants to do is what is best for her beloved city of Pawnee. Even though at times this zealousness gets her in trouble, she never loses sight of what is important. Whatever it is you do, do it with excellence and a keen eye to what is right. Do this, and you can't go wrong.

One

Today's Thought comes from the character that is Ron Swanson of the television show that is Parks & Recreation. I apologize if anyone is upset by the language present in this piece, but I believe it is a great message.

How many times do we multi-task in life? Tonight at my fraternity's meeting, one of our advisors spoke a few words on the idea of multi-tasking. I'm not sure of the exact text of her speech, but it had something to do with this idea of doing too many things at once. When we divide our attention, we don't do any of our tasks justice. We must devote our full attention to one thing at a time.

Do you 'whole-ass' one thing? Or are you more of a person to nibble around the edges of multiple projects? I know in my life I have struggled at times to maintain the balance. At those times nothing that I was working on turned out very well. Correspondingly, when I focused my entire attention on one thing, it turned out pretty good. Don't divide your attention. Do one thing and do it all in.

Greatness

Today's Thought comes courtesy of Ron Swanson, of Parks and Recreation.  Throughout this show, he is highlighted as a gruff, well-meaning man's man.  He often talks in terms of being great, as in this quote.

What is greatness?  While I do believe it can be the best form of revenge, I also believe it is incredibly important to think of oneself as being 'great'.  Not in an arrogant or condescending way, but in a quiet confidence that shows you know you've 'got it'.  The truth is, greatness means something different to everyone.

In my fraternity, we welcome all the new members by doing a series of interviews.  These interviews are meant for them to get to know us and us, them.  One of the final questions that is always raised is a goal you have.  In my mind, this question inspires thoughts of grandeur - leading the charge on a breakthrough technology, being a world renowned 'expert'.  However, my answer that I tell these new brothers is very different.  I tell them how I want to be a good man: a good father, neighbor, brother, and friend.  See, when it comes down it, this is what it truly means to be great.  It doesn't matter what awards you win or how many people know your name.  Simply, greatness means to be the kind of person that you would look up to.  If you know you are being that kind of person, nothing else matters.  I'll leave you with this thought: Are you achieving greatness?