When a recommendation goes wrong

Ever recommended a product, film, or restaurant you loved, only to have your friend come back disappointed—or worse, annoyed? Maybe they even said, “Why did you tell me to try that? It was terrible!” Suddenly, you feel guilty, even though you were just trying to share something you enjoyed.

It’s a bit of a letdown, right? You’re thinking, “But I thought it was great!” while they’re wondering what you were even talking about. It feels personal, even though it shouldn’t.

Recommendations are always a gamble—what’s perfect for one person might be a letdown for another.

The truth is, what works for one person might not work for another. We all have different tastes, needs, and preferences. You might love spicy food, but your friend can’t handle heat. That phone that’s perfect for you might lack the battery life they need. We often forget these differences when we’re excited about something.

And when you're really excited, you naturally hype it up. That enthusiasm sets high expectations—so if your friend finds the experience just “okay,” it can feel like a letdown. And since you were the one who recommended it, you get associated with their disappointment.

It’s kind of like raving about the most comfortable shoes you’ve ever worn, only for your friend to try them and find them stiff and awkward. Maybe their feet are different. Maybe they just walk differently. Either way, it doesn't mean your suggestion was wrong—it just wasn’t right for them.

The tricky part? When things don’t go as expected, people often look for someone to blame. If they followed your advice and didn’t love the outcome, it’s easier to say, “Your suggestion was bad,” than to consider their own expectations or needs.

So next time you recommend something, it helps to remember: just because it worked for you doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. That’s not a failure—it’s just human nature.