What's missing in these cases is context:

ie "Fail fast" vs "be persistent"

"Be persistent" applies to your overall goal - business success - whereas "fail fast" applies to methods you use to achieve that goal.

Sometimes people doggedly pursue something that others would have 'failed fast' with, and it works out for them in the long run. Many times, it doesn't.

There's some merit to all of these ideas, but the real trick is knowing when to apply them and when not to. They aren't iron rules.

    What's missing in these cases is context

I agree that they need context and a bunch of other stuff, which I suppose is why this is Welton's law of trite business advice!

I think the more you add context and statistics, the more you find a variety of methods and outcomes, which is why you get the equal and opposite bits of advice; no one thing works in all cases.

If Rands [in Repose] ever comes across this article, he could spontaneously self-destruct.