Career lessons from (the cast of) Schitt’s Creek

Two weeks ago, I binge-watched and fell in love with Schitt’s Creek, a Canadian sitcom which is wonderful for so many reasons and I would recommend you watch, if you haven’t already.

Now, when I really like something, I temporarily become fanatical about it. My obsession with Schitt’s Creek led me to seek out and watch way too many behind the scenes, trivia, and talk show appearance videos. The cast’s stories, and the journeys they had been on, fascinated me… in some instances, I found myself admiring them and thinking that we can learn from them when looking at our own careers.

So here are some things I think we'd do well to keep in mind or learn from the cast:

Take control of your future. When Dan Levy had trouble finding an acting job, he set out and created a solution by writing his own show and creating a role for himself. In the off-screen world, I've seen friends pitching a new job position or sometimes even starting up their own business venture. I myself have advocated for new projects which provided me with experience I wanted while also advancing the business' interests.

Talk about your aspirations! Early on, Emily Hampshire mentioned to Dan Levy that she’d always wanted to play Sally Bowles in Cabaret. He clearly made a note of it, as he wove Cabaret into her character's storyline in a later season. In my own position, mentioning my interest in branding led to me eventually co-leading the company’s branding project.

Add to the role. Catherine O’Hara added to Moira Rose’s character touches that elevated the hilarity and quirkiness of the character (eg- the wigs, her accent, the obscure vocabulary), and arguably became trademark characteristics. Every job is going to have a list of tasks and responsibilities, but it’s when you infuse it with your ideas that it (and you) becomes remarkable.

Ask for help when you need it. Dan Levy turned to his father, Eugene Levy, when getting his show off the ground. It’s hard to ask for help, sometimes even more so when it’s family! To Eugene’s credit, he was wonderful about it. In Dan’s own words, “The fact that I’ve been able to do what I’ve done is in large part because I’ve had the freedom and his good faith and support.” We're not meant to do it all alone, and the people around us generally want to help, so let's invite them to do so every now and then.

Be open to trying something different. As a career comedian, Eugene Levy hadn’t played many “even-keeled straight man” characters like that of Johnny Rose. However, that didn’t keep him from trying it out and delivering what “may be the most brilliant of the actor’s nearly 50-year career—a masterclass in his deadpan gift” (Julie Miller, Vanity Fair, 2019-06). It can be intimidating to step outside of your comfort zone, but who knows? You might just be stepping into greatness.

Create a safe space for your team. Multiple junior cast members shared stories of Catherine O’Hara, an acting and comedic legend, sharing tips, reassuring them, and making space for them to experiment. We’ve heard time and time again that environments and teams with high degrees of psychological safety produce better results and, given Schitt’s Creek indisputable success, it sounds like they did well in that department!

Leave before you’re ready. Dan Levy ended the show on a high note, “because I never wanted it to get stale. [...] And that requires making tough decisions about saying goodbye.” I wholeheartedly agree with this — if you’re in a really good position, don’t settle in and wait until things start going downhill to leave or make a change… step away sooner with your fond memories intact, and preserve the high and momentum. Controlling your exit will also allow you to fit the move into your bigger plan for your life.

Accept that sometimes it’s simply out of your hands. The role of Alexis Rose almost went to somebody else. Thankfully, the originally cast actress had a scheduling conflict and the part went to Annie Murphy because I can’t imagine anybody else doing it better. Nonetheless, it’s worth remembering along the way that there will always be an element of timing and luck. I found my current job through a friend who I happened to message out of the blue and who happened to have recently seen the role posted by somebody he’d worked with previously. Three years later, I’m still with the company and so grateful for that happy string of coincidences.

There’s so much to be said for the show itself and the wisdom it imparts, but that’s for another musing. In the meantime, perhaps, by following the steps that the Schitt’s Creek cast took, you’ll find your very own Schitt’s Creek, the “slice of paradise that [Moira Rose] likes to call, ‘the town where I currently am.’”

??

#schittscreek #careerlessons #careerinspiration