To Hell with Murphy: Fixing What Goes Wrong

Learn how embracing Peter’s Laws can lead to breakthroughs and overcome obstacles in any organization.

Image courtesy of the author

August 2, 2024

Alright, y’all, pull up a chair, grab a biscuit, and let’s chat about a little something called Peter’s Laws. Now, everyone and their grandma knows Murphy’s Law—the one that’s all doom and gloom, predicting anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. But Peter’s Laws? They’re the rebel yell against that pessimism, the Rocky Balboa of rules. They say, “If anything can go wrong, fix it! … to hell with Murphy!” And boy, do they flip the script on ol’ Murphy.

Peter’s Laws aren’t just words; they’re a mindset, a way of tackling the chaos of life with the finesse of a dancer and the grit of a linebacker. Elon Musk, that wizard of the future, practically has these laws tattooed on his brain. You can see them in every rocket launch, every self-driving car, and every solar panel he births into existence. It’s the playbook for innovators, disruptors, and anyone with a pulse who wants to make waves in this big ol’ ocean of a world.

Now, I gotta say, Peter’s Laws are mostly spot on, but there’s one that needs a bit of tweaking: “Perfection is not optional.” Yeah, sure, it’s nice to aim high, but let’s be real here—chasing perfection is like trying to catch a greased pig at the county fair. I’d swap that for “Speed over Perfection.” Perfection’s a luxury we can’t always afford, and sometimes, good enough is, well, good enough. The Pareto principle tells us that last 20% of perfection comes with 80% of the work. And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be 80% fabulous than 100% burnt out.

One of my personal favorites is “Fail early, fail often.” Now, nobody likes to fail. It’s like biting into a chocolate chip cookie only to find out it’s raisin. But failing fast means you learn quicker, you iterate, you grow. It’s like planting more seeds in the garden; you don’t know which ones will sprout, but the more you plant, the better your odds.

And let’s not forget, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” That’s pure gold, folks. You’ve got to keep your eye on the ball, track those KPIs like a hawk. Otherwise, you’re just floundering around in the dark hoping you’ll hit the jackpot.

Back in the day, I had a poster of these laws hanging on my project room wall. It was my north star, my guiding light. But now, with my tweaks, it’s time for a new poster—Walter’s Way, if you will. And hey, if there’s interest, maybe I’ll whip up a few extras for y’all.

Here’s the full, uncut version of Peter’s Laws, with my special sauce sprinkled in:

1. If anything can go wrong, Fix It!… to hell with Murphy!

2. When given a choice… take both!!

3. Multiple projects lead to multiple successes.

4. Start at the top then work your way up.

5. Do it by the book … but be the author!

6. When forced to compromise, ask for more.

7. If you can’t win, change the rules.

8. If you can’t change the rules, then ignore them.

9. Perfection is not optional. Speed over Perfection.

10. When faced without a challenge, make one.

11. “No” simply means begin again at one level higher.

12. Don’t walk when you can run.

13. When in doubt: THINK!