Doing Good Is Not Always Simple

Editor's Note: Since 2018, The Patterson Foundation (TPF) has collaborated with Indiana University Indianapolis Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (LFSOP) through its Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative. Recognizing the value of academic and professional educational experiences offered by LFSOP, the Foundation is providing opportunities for its staff and consultants to enroll in LFSOP graduate and professional development courses through its Tuition/Fees Reimbursement Program. TPFers, including Lyndsey Smith, Carrie Miley, Alicia Exantus, Josephine Eisenberg, and Stacy Sternberg, are pushing beyond their respective professional and personal comfort levels and are successfully completing challenging LFSOP courses. 

One of my last assignments before completing my graduate studies at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy was reading the New York Times bestseller How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur. I had no idea what to expect. I knew it would be funny because it was written by Michael Schur. I knew it was a gentle introduction to moral philosophy that explored ethical traditions from around the world. And what I knew for sure was that doing “homework” now meant I could get cozy on the couch with my favorite blanket and read a good book. This book came highly recommended by my favorite professor, Dr. Kathi Badertscher, so I knew the message would be powerful.

Here are a few questions from the book that give you an example of how incredibly thought-provoking it is. Try answering them quickly. It is not as easy as it seems.

• Can I still enjoy great art if it was created by terrible people?
• Am I allowed to break rules if I’m a good person, or if the rules are dumb?
• What is the smallest, nicest thing you do for other people on a regular basis?

My biggest takeaway from this book is that being a good person isn’t about always making the right choices! It’s about being willing to think deeply about the choices we make. The questions above are difficult to answer quickly and require us to slow down and do some reflecting. The ethical questions and virtues we encounter in everyday life can be quite complex.

One of the ideas that stood out to me was the idea that virtue is something we practice, which Shur refers to as habituation. Being ethical is not about a single heroic act or always getting things right. It is about the small decisions we make every day and the habits those decisions create over time. In many ways, who we become is shaped by what we repeatedly do.

Because I read this book as an assignment for my master’s degree in philanthropic studies, I could not help but connect its ethical lessons to the work of helping others. Philanthropy is often rooted in the desire to do good, but determining what “doing good” looks like is not always straightforward. Strengthening people and communities requires us to carefully consider different perspectives and approach our work with humility and compassion. The ethical virtues discussed throughout the book provide a valuable framework for making decisions that align with our values while recognizing that there is not always one perfect answer.

Another thought-provoking theme is the role of chance in our lives. We often attribute success entirely to hard work and talent, but the book reminds us that timing, opportunity, and circumstances beyond our control also play a role. Recognizing this does not diminish achievement. It encourages humility and empathy toward others whose paths may have been different.

I also appreciated the humor Schur brings throughout the book. His humor helps remove the pressure of moral perfection. Instead, he invites us to become more intentional, reflective, and compassionate.

Shur reminds us that being a good person is not about having all the answers. It is about asking the questions, examining our choices, learning from our mistakes, and continuing to try. One of my favorite lines of the book is “To demand perfection or to hold people to impossible standards is to deny the simple and beautiful reality that nobody is perfect”.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever wondered how to navigate life's ethical gray areas. For me, this book was a reminder that the goal is not perfection. The goal is to keep paying attention and keep trying to make choices that reflect the kind of person, professional, and community member we hope to become.