Cliches are common in business but rare in success.

I over analyze a lot and in doing so I often find things people say but don't mean. Some are just not thought out statements and others are cliches "everyone" uses.

Here is my top 10 cliches that turn out aren't right at all.

1. "The Customer Is Always Right"

Why it’s flawed: While customer satisfaction is crucial, blindly following this mantra can lead to toxic dynamics. Some customers are unreasonable, abusive, or demand solutions that harm your business or employees. Prioritizing mutual respect and sustainable relationships is healthier than capitulating to every demand.

2. "Fail Fast, Fail Often"

Why it’s flawed: Celebrating failure without purpose normalizes recklessness. Failure only becomes valuable if it’s analyzed and leads to growth. Many startups burn resources chasing this idea instead of validating ideas before failing.

3. "Follow Your Passion and the Money Will Come"

Why it’s flawed: Passion alone doesn’t guarantee success. Market demand, timing, and execution matter more. For example, a passionate artisanal candle-maker might struggle without a viable audience. Passion plus strategy is key.

4. "More Hours = More Productivity"

Why it’s flawed: Studies show productivity plateaus after ~40 hours/week, and burnout costs businesses billions. Quality of work, focus, and rest often trump sheer hours. Elon Musk’s “hustle culture” advice, for instance, ignores the toll on health and creativity.

5. "Think Outside the Box"

Why it’s flawed: Creativity is valuable, but this cliché dismisses the power of incremental improvement. Most innovations (like Toyota’s production system) come from refining existing processes, not radical reinvention.

6. "Underpromise and Overdeliver"

Why it’s flawed: Habitually lowballing expectations can make a business seem unambitious. Worse, consistently overdelivering can set unrealistic standards, straining teams and resources over time. Transparency and consistency are better long-term strategies.

7. "You Have to Spend Money to Make Money"

Why it’s flawed: While investment drives growth, lean startups and bootstrappers (e.g., Mailchimp, Spanx) prove frugality and creativity can succeed without massive upfront spending. Bloating budgets often leads to waste, not returns.

8. "It’s Not Personal, It’s Just Business"

Why it’s flawed: Business decisions always impact people—layoffs, pivots, or pricing changes affect lives. Dismissing emotions erodes trust and culture. Ethical leaders acknowledge the human element.

9. "This Is How We’ve Always Done It"

Why it’s flawed: Tradition stifles adaptation. Blockbuster clung to physical rentals while Netflix pivoted; Nokia ignored smartphones. Complacency kills innovation.

10. "Work Smarter, Not Harder"

Why it’s flawed: Implies hard work is unnecessary, but most success stories (e.g., athletes, founders) combine both. The phrase also glosses over systemic barriers (e.g., access to capital, mentorship) that can’t be “smarted” away.

The Wrap:

Many clichés oversimplify complex realities. Critical thinking, nuance, and adaptability matter more than catchy phrases. Time, for example, isn’t just money, it’s irreplaceable. Similarly, balance and context determine whether a cliché helps or harms.