Patrick Ward 
Business Definition of "Boil the Ocean"
The phrase "boil the ocean" describes attempting a task that is impossibly large or complex. In business, it is typically used as a warning against scope creep or overambitious projects. When someone says "let us not boil the ocean," they mean "let us keep this manageable."
What Does “Boil the Ocean” Mean?
When someone accuses you of trying to boil the ocean, they’re saying your plan is too ambitious to work. You’re trying to solve too many problems at once, address too large a market, or build too much product before validating anything.
It’s a polite way of saying your idea is unrealistic without calling it stupid.
Usage Example
We want to solve scheduling for every industry on day one.
Let’s not boil the ocean. Can we start with dentists and expand from there?
The second speaker is being reasonable. The first speaker is probably a founder who watched too many Steve Jobs documentaries.
Why consultants love this phrase
“Boil the ocean” is a consultant favorite because it sounds smart while saying something obvious. Of course you shouldn’t take on impossible tasks. But framing it as “boiling the ocean” makes the advice feel more strategic.
The phrase is particularly useful when a client asks for something unrealistic. Rather than saying “that’s impossible” or “you can’t afford that,” a consultant can say “we don’t want to boil the ocean here” and suggest a more limited (and achievable) scope.
When “boiling the ocean” is actually the right move
Despite its negative connotation, some of the most successful companies did try to boil the ocean. Amazon wanted to sell everything online. Google wanted to organize all the world’s information. These were absurdly ambitious goals that worked out.
The difference is resources and timeline. If you have unlimited funding and a decade to execute, ocean-boiling might be viable. If you’re a seed-stage startup with 18 months of runway, you need to pick a smaller body of water.
Boil the ocean vs. scope creep
Scope creep is when a project gradually expands beyond its original boundaries. Boiling the ocean is starting with an impossibly large scope from the beginning.
Scope creep happens accidentally. Boiling the ocean is intentional overreach. Both lead to failed projects, but through different mechanisms.
Origin of the term “Boil the Ocean”
The phrase emerged from consulting and management circles, probably in the 1980s. It plays on the obvious impossibility of the literal task. Even if you had infinite fuel, you couldn’t boil the ocean because the heat would dissipate faster than you could add it.
Some attribute the phrase to Will Rogers, the American humorist, though there’s no solid evidence he actually said it. Regardless of origin, it became a staple of business vocabulary by the 1990s.
Synonyms and variations of Boil the Ocean
- Bite off more than you can chew
- Overreach
- Spread too thin
- Try to do too much
- Scope creep (related)
- Moon shot (sometimes used positively)
- Swing for the fences (sometimes used positively)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does boil the ocean mean in business?
Boil the ocean means attempting something that is far too ambitious or complex to achieve. It's used to warn against taking on more than is realistic, similar to the idea of trying to literally boil the entire ocean, which is obviously impossible.
Is boiling the ocean good or bad?
In business, boiling the ocean is considered bad. It refers to wasting time and resources on an impossibly large task when you should focus on something achievable. The phrase is almost always used as a caution against overreaching.
Where does the phrase boil the ocean come from?
The phrase originated in consulting and management circles, likely in the 1980s. It plays on the absurdity of attempting to boil all the water in the ocean, which would require more energy than exists on Earth. The exact origin is unclear, but it became popular in strategy and project management contexts.