There are as many lies in business as there are people in business.

Another interesting piece from Fast Company, this time from the August/September 1997 issue. “The Five Most Common Lies in Business” by Alice Van Housen reveals the secrets of Paul LaFontaine of Bertelsmann Music Group, who left the company in March 1997 “to advise other businesspeople about radical honesty….Here are his nominees for the five most common lies.”

1. “People are our most important asset.”
2. “This was a rational decision.”
3. “We judge people by their performance.”
4. “This is business, it isn’t personal.”
5. “The customer comes first.”

To read his “truths” and his B.S. Detector analysis, click here.