Jessica Pettitt – Author of “Almost Doing Good: Doing the Best That You Can With What You Have Some of the Time”

Jessica Pettitt: Owning Your Flaws and Doing Good Enough

Mike interviews Jessica Pettitt.

On this episode of Million Dollar Stories, Jessica Pettitt, a DEI consultant, speaker, and author of the incredible book Almost Doing Good: Doing the Best That You Can With What You Have Some of the Time, shared her insights. It’s not just a title—it’s a philosophy that hits home for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by the pressures of perfectionism or society’s endless demands.

Jessica doesn’t just dabble in complex ideas; she dives headfirst, breaks them down, and makes them relatable. From meritocracy to diversity, we tackled it all—with a healthy dose of humour and real-world practicality.

SUMMARY

Jessica brings a unique angle to the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conversation. Now, Merit is often about ensuring the best person for the job takes the lead. It’s not about checkboxes or quotas but skill, dedication, and trust. However, Jessica helped me see another layer in this discussion. She pointed out that hiring is not just about identifying who’s best for a job but also about defining what the job requires.

Take a team leader position, for example. Traditionally, we might look for someone with years of experience in that role. But what about transferable skills? Jessica shared an eye-opening analogy: imagine Trump’s cabinet choices—some were criticized for lacking expertise within specific systems but chosen for loyalty and a fresh perspective. Whether or not you agree with the choices, it’s a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Jessica emphasizes that DEI isn’t about tokenism—nobody wants to be “that diversity hire.” It’s about recognizing that people’s lived experiences shape how they approach challenges. A diverse team is better equipped to solve problems because it draws from a wider pool of perspectives. And, as she aptly put it, “the best leaders are the ones who are comfortable recognizing problems they don’t experience themselves.”

One of the standout moments in our conversation was unpacking the central message of her book, Almost Doing Good. Jessica doesn’t pretend to be perfect, and that’s precisely why her message resonates. She believes that the key to personal or professional progress is doing the best you can with the resources you have right now. It’s about embracing imperfection as part of the process.

This isn’t just feel-good talk; it’s actionable advice. Jessica shared a powerful insight about equity in the workplace. Imagine you bring your dog to work, but someone on your team has a severe dog allergy. Equity isn’t about banning dogs entirely or dismissing the allergy. It’s about finding solutions that acknowledge and balance everyone’s needs. It’s a metaphor for leadership—being adaptable and inclusive without compromising the bigger picture.

One of the most thought-provoking parts of our discussion was the emotional weight tied to how people perceive their roles. Jessica challenged listeners to consider how people feel about why they were chosen for a position. If someone suspects they were hired just to meet a diversity metric, it can undermine their confidence and long-term performance. That’s why clarity and transparency are crucial in leadership. When people know they’re chosen for their skills and character and fit within the company’s vision, it builds trust and loyalty—two values that should be non-negotiable in any business.

As entrepreneurs, we constantly juggle priorities—building a great team, scaling operations, and staying true to our core principles. Jessica’s insights offer a roadmap for aligning those priorities with the messy reality of running a business. It’s not about perfecting it; it’s about doing good enough now and improving as you go.

Take her concept of “doing the best with what you have.” It’s a reminder to stop obsessing over what’s missing and leverage what’s already in front of you. Whether it’s hiring the right people, launching that following product, or just taking a risk, action beats paralysis every time.

Mike Fallat and Jessica Pettitt talk about the book Almost Doing Good: Doing the Best That You Can With What You Have Some of the Time.

Jessica Pettitt’s approach to DEI and leadership challenges us to think beyond traditional success metrics. Her book isn’t just for HR professionals or consultants—it’s for anyone who wants to lead with integrity and build a team that thrives on trust and mutual respect.

So, grab a copy of Almost Doing Good if you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or just someone looking to break free from the chains of perfectionism. Jessica’s clear message is that you don’t have to figure it all out. Start where you are, do your best, and trust that progress is better than perfection.

As our conversation wrapped up, I couldn’t help but admire Jessica’s authenticity. She’s the real deal—a straight shooter who doesn’t sugarcoat leadership challenges but doesn’t let those challenges stop her from making a difference.

To all entrepreneurs, don’t let the fear of imperfection hold you back. Like Jessica says, you’re already doing well enough—now go out there and make it great.

Get her book here:

About Mike Fallat

Mike Fallat, aka The BookMan, is the owner of Dreamstarters Publishing and the Million Dollar Book Agency. They have helped 300+ entrepreneurs become bestselling authors. His goal is to help 1,000 entrepreneurs publish books and teach them how to use their books as a gateway to generating 7-figures.

Visit website for more information: https://www.milliondollarbookagency.com/

About Dreamstarters Publishing


Dreamstarters Publishing offers ghostwriting, cover design, and everything that is required to take an idea to a finished book (kindle, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook).


The Million Dollar Book Agency is the ultimate marketing CRM system for author-preneurs. Services include automated funnels, lead generation campaigns, book fulfillment, podcast management, press releases, virtual assistants, course development, and more.

Mike also hosts a podcast known as Million Dollar Stories and runs a membership-based site known as Million Dollar Circle. In addition to owning the book business, he invests in self storage real estate.

https://dreamstarterspublishing.com/

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