Corporate Vocabulary Field Guide

What “Boil the Ocean” Actually Means

To attempt an impossibly broad or large-scale task.

What it actually means
What you proposed is too ambitious and I don't want to do it. Also I don't want to say no directly.
Surface meaning: To attempt an impossibly broad or large-scale task.
If someone just said “Boil the Ocean” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
IC: We could just rebuild the whole pipeline. Director: Let's not boil the ocean.
How to respond

Ask: 'What's the smallest version that delivers value?' Force the conversation off the ocean and onto a teakettle.

Origin

Older than the corporate version. Used at least since the 1940s, popularized by consulting.

FAQ
What does "Boil the Ocean" actually mean?
What you proposed is too ambitious and I don't want to do it. Also I don't want to say no directly.
Where did the phrase "Boil the Ocean" come from?
Older than the corporate version. Used at least since the 1940s, popularized by consulting.
How should I respond when someone says "Boil the Ocean"?
Ask: 'What's the smallest version that delivers value?' Force the conversation off the ocean and onto a teakettle.
Related corporate vocabulary
Blue-Sky Thinking→Low-Hanging Fruit→Move the Needle→30,000-Foot View→Table Stakes→
Next in the glossary
Open the Kimono→Run It Up the Flagpole→Per My Last Email→

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