I'm with you there, it's a rather lazy statement and as you point out, usually incorrect. I also hate thos one..."it's all good." When my sister says it to me I know it's not all good and nowhere near good.

As far as change and improvement, I encourage people to make small changes, start with the smallest thing and then the next and so on...eventually that change-ethos becomes a habit and as the little things dwindle in number it takes people on to big things. Starting with those big things first us where many trip themselves up. It's basically the same as that phrase you mention in your last few lines.