‘Stop Spit Polishing a Landmine’ - Jess Pettitt on Meaningful Workplace Inclusion

I’m not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work. Devin: What is your superpower? Jess: Well, I love this question because I think there are different kinds of superpowers. The one that makes everybody laugh the most—because one of my superpowers is being able to make people laugh—is that I know how to fold a fitted sheet. And that is only impressive to the people who don't know how to fold a fitted sheet. Creating workplaces that truly foster belonging requires more than superficial gestures or simply ticking diversity boxes. In today’s episode of Superpowers for Good, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jess Pettitt, author of Almost Doing Good, who shared insights into why even well-intentioned inclusion efforts can sometimes backfire. Jess’s approach begins with a powerful metaphor: “Stop spit polishing a landmine.” She uses this phrase to caution against pouring energy into ineffective or even harmful initiatives. “You could be very good at it,” she notes, “but doing it harder or better if it is the wrong activity is not helping, and in this case, it’s actually making it even more dangerous.” Her message resonates with the reality that real progress requires alignment between intention and the specific needs of the workplace culture rather than pursuing blanket solutions. During our conversation, Jess emphasized that many organizations hesitate to take decisive, meaningful action because they are “not the worst” when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Yet, this complacency stifles the momentum needed for real change. Her advice is simple but profound: recognize problems you don’t experience yourself. This means cultivating a culture where it’s safe to ask questions about unfamiliar challenges and invite perspectives that may feel uncomfortable but ultimately lead to growth. Through humor and a focus on honest, probing questions, Jess’s approach to workplace inclusion inspires us to think beyond the surface and strive for sustainable impact. For those of us committed to creating positive change, her insights serve as a vital reminder: only when we stop polishing the landmine can we start to make real progress. tl;dr: * In today’s episode, Jess Pettitt shares insights from her new book, Almost Doing Good, exploring how well-intentioned efforts in workplaces often falter due to unpreparedness or knee-jerk reactions. * Jess emphasizes the importance of recognizing “problems you don’t experience,” encouraging leaders to approach challenges they may not personally face with empathy and understanding. * To make lasting impact, Jess advocates for thoughtful, prepared responses rather than relying on superficial, one-size-fits-all solutions that can cause more harm than good. * Humor, Jess’s superpower, becomes a powerful tool to bridge understanding and ease tension, especially around sensitive topics like diversity, equity, and inclusion. * Jess uses relatable humor to invite people into uncomfortable conversations, transforming resistance and defensiveness into openness and genuine curiosity. How to Develop Humor and Connection As a Superpower Jess Pettitt’s superpower is her ability to use humor to connect with people and shift even the heaviest of situations toward openness and understanding. By finding humor in everyday challenges and serious topics alike, Jess creates an environment where people feel safe to engage deeply without defensiveness or fear, bridging gaps and inviting constructive dialogue. One memorable example Jess shared was from her work as an emcee. She was tasked with following a speaker who had delivered somber, heavy news to the audience. When Jess took the stage, she broke the tension by saying, “So, y’all been talking about anything important lately?” This light-hearted comment sparked laughter, diffusing the tension and setting a new tone for the event. Her humor allowed the audience to reset, making them receptive to her positive energy. Tips for Developing Humor as a Strength * Recognize Humor in Dark Places: Embrace humor even around difficult or sensitive topics, as it can ease discomfort and open up meaningful conversations. * Make Unlikely Connections: Practice linking two unrelated things to create a humorous perspective. Look for similarities in seemingly disconnected ideas. * Use Humor to Break Tension: Address the elephant in the room with humor to reset the tone and connect with your audience. * Embrace Imperfection: Jess believes in being “good enough now,” focusing on doing the best with what you’ve got. Apply humor in a way that feels authentic rather than perfect. By following Jess Pettitt’s example and advice, you can make humor and connection a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world. Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you! Guest Profile Jess Pettitt (she/her): Speaker/Consultant/Author/Cheese Lover, Good Enough Now About Good Enough Now: Consulting/Speaking organization run by 3 rescue mutts and myself Website: www.GoodEnoughNow.com Company Facebook Page: I am Good Enough Now Other URL: almostdoinggood.com Biographical Information: Perhaps it’s her Texas roots, but Jess Pettitt, MBA, M.Ed., CSP, believes that to really thrive in this world, you have to ride two horses—one of giving and one of receiving. For Jess, the giving horse is her passion for service, and the receiving horse is the high she rides entertaining audiences.For almost 10 years, Jess rode one horse by day, serving as an administrator in student affairs for university Diversity and Inclusion programs, and the other by night, performing and hosting three times a week doing stand-up in New York City’s most popular comedy clubs (ask her about George Carlin’s nickname for her or sharing an eggroll birthday cake with Bob Newhart).Eventually, Jess discovered she could ride both horses at the same time in the same career, and a speaker in the DEI space was born. Now, nearly 20 years and half a million audience members later, Jess gallops from coast to coast delivering her “Good Enough Now” message to anyone willing to take the leap toward creating a much more inclusive (read: much more effective) organization. Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/JessPettitt Instagram Handle: @GoodEnoughNow Max-Impact Members The following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support to keep us operating: Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name Here Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual. * SuperCrowd Mastermind Group, twice monthly on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at noon Eastern. This group is for entrepreneurs and small business owners interested in raising money from the crowd. Attend your first meeting free! * Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on November 19, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. 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