try to think in terms of statistical models, rather than absolute statements. Imagine a continuum in which things you mention receive a numerical score. Growt

try to think in terms of statistical models, rather than absolute statements. Imagine a continuum in which things you mention receive a numerical score. Growth is a number. It is a number which will have a non-zero correlation with the numerical scores of the things you mention. You can also build models that try to forecast growth based on those scores, and vice versa, forecast those scores based on growth. Once you think in those terms, you can dispense with terminology such as "irrelevant", "useless", "absolutely nothing", etc.