I think this line (from the ever-famous Evil Overlord List) perfectly sums up what UX is in many instances:
12. One of my advisors will be an average five-year-old child. Any flaws in my plan that he is able to spot will be corrected before implementation.
Granted, there’s a lot more to it than just being an average five-year-old child, but it’s amazing what happens when you have someone who just have a perspective from outside of the business.
Oh, and I would love to say that all these flaws “will be corrected before implementation” all the time. I guess that’s the differentiator between successful businesses / evil overlords and unsuccessful ones.