What Not to Do in Business: Lessons from Entrepreneur Shalom Lamm on Failing Tactics and Finding Purpose

Success stories often highlight what worked—but the most valuable insights sometimes come from recognizing what doesn’t. In the world of business, it’s easy to be seduced by trendy tactics, shortcuts, or aggressive strategies that promise quick results. But more often than not, those tactics do more harm than good.

Shalom Lamm, a veteran entrepreneur and the founder of the nonprofit Operation Benjamin, has seen it all. Over the years, Lamm has built businesses, led organizations, and helped families around the world through meaningful, mission-driven work. And along that journey, he’s identified a crucial truth:

“Knowing what not to do in business is just as important as knowing what to do.”

In this post, we’ll explore several common business tactics that don’t work, as explained through the lens of Shalom Lamm’s experience. These lessons apply whether you’re building a startup, leading a nonprofit, or scaling a long-standing enterprise.

1. Chasing Trends Instead of Building Value

It’s tempting to jump on the latest market trend or tech fad—AI tools, NFTs, viral social media stunts. But according to Shalom Lamm, chasing what’s hot rarely leads to lasting success.

“Business needs roots, not just momentum,” Lamm says. “Trends fade, but value sticks.”

In the early 2000s, Lamm recalls colleagues investing in short-term real estate ventures that looked promising at the time—but were built on shaky ground. When the market shifted, so did their fortunes. Meanwhile, those who focused on long-term planning and community needs weathered the storm.

Why it doesn’t work: Trends are fleeting. If your business isn’t solving a real problem or creating genuine value, your success will be short-lived.

Do this instead: Build products and services with staying power. Focus on solving real problems and developing long-term customer relationships.

2. Overpromising to Clients or Customers

One of the most damaging mistakes a business can make is saying yes to everything—especially when you can’t deliver.

Lamm warns that overpromising is often disguised as optimism or hustle. “It may win you the client today, but it will cost you credibility tomorrow,” he says.

In both for-profit and nonprofit ventures, Lamm emphasizes the power of setting clear, honest expectations. At Operation Benjamin, transparency is essential—especially when dealing with grieving families and complex historical records. “If we can’t help in a case, we’re honest about it,” he explains. “That builds more trust than saying yes and failing to follow through.”

Why it doesn’t work: Overpromising creates disappointment, damages relationships, and leads to reputation loss.

Do this instead: Set realistic expectations. Under-promise and over-deliver to earn long-term trust.

3. Operating Without a Clear Mission

Many businesses focus heavily on tactics—sales funnels, KPIs, growth hacks—but lack a clear guiding purpose. Lamm believes this is a recipe for burnout and misalignment.

“A mission gives your team direction. Without it, you’re just reacting to whatever comes your way,” he explains.

This lesson became especially clear when Lamm co-founded Operation Benjamin, a nonprofit that identifies Jewish American soldiers buried under incorrect headstones and ensures their religious heritage is honored. Without a mission rooted in historical justice and respect, the work could have easily become tangled in bureaucracy or slowed by doubt. But because the mission was clear—and deeply meaningful—every action had purpose.

Why it doesn’t work: Tactics without purpose lead to confusion, inconsistency, and low morale.

Do this instead: Define a clear mission. Let it guide your decisions, from marketing to hiring.

4. Hiring Based on Convenience Over Culture

Building a team is one of the most important parts of running a business. And yet, Lamm notes that too many leaders hire based on convenience—who’s available or cheapest—rather than alignment and integrity.

“I’ve learned the hard way: one bad hire can slow a project by six months,” he says.

In his nonprofit work, Lamm is especially careful about who joins the Operation Benjamin team. The work involves emotionally sensitive conversations with families, deep research, and coordination with military institutions. “We can train skills, but not values,” he says.

Why it doesn’t work: Hiring the wrong people disrupts culture, damages client relationships, and increases turnover.

Do this instead: Prioritize values and cultural fit. Build a team that shares your mission and believes in your vision.

5. Focusing Only on the Bottom Line

Profit is essential. But solely focusing on revenue at the expense of people, purpose, or product quality often backfires.

Shalom Lamm argues that short-term gains should never come at the cost of long-term integrity. “Some of the most profitable years in business came when we weren’t chasing profit—we were chasing impact,” he shares.

Operation Benjamin is a prime example. The nonprofit doesn’t generate revenue, yet the work is “profitable” in a different sense—it earns trust, dignity, and legacy. These are the kinds of returns that can’t be measured in dollars but matter even more.

Why it doesn’t work: Prioritizing profit above all else leads to burnout, poor reputation, and short-lived growth.

Do this instead: Balance profit with purpose. Focus on sustainability and legacy—not just quick wins.

6. Avoiding Difficult Conversations

Too many businesses avoid conflict—postponing feedback, ignoring poor performance, or dancing around client dissatisfaction. But Lamm stresses that difficult conversations are where leadership is proven.

“Growth happens on the edge of discomfort,” he says. “If something isn’t working—internally or externally—you have to address it head-on.”

Whether it’s giving constructive feedback to a team member or communicating tough news to a partner, Lamm encourages leaders to lean into these moments. Operation Benjamin regularly navigates emotionally charged situations with empathy and honesty—a practice that businesses would benefit from adopting.

Why it doesn’t work: Avoiding hard conversations leads to resentment, dysfunction, and missed opportunities for growth.

Do this instead: Embrace transparency. Deliver feedback with empathy and directness.

Final Thoughts: Learn From the Wrong Turns

Business success is rarely about perfection. It’s about learning—especially from what doesn’t work.

Shalom Lamm’s journey as an entrepreneur and nonprofit founder shows that the most valuable insights often come from trial, error, and thoughtful reflection. From avoiding trend-chasing to embracing purpose over profit, his lessons are a roadmap for any business leader seeking more than just financial success.

And perhaps the greatest takeaway from his work with Operation Benjamin is this: when your mission is clear, your values are firm, and your tactics are grounded in integrity, even the hardest work becomes meaningful.

So before you focus on what to do next in business—make sure you know what to avoid.