Thank Goodness It's Monday #349

MURPHY, FINAGLE, BOY SCOUTS

-- AND BREAKING THE LAW 

Had enough o’ the Irish-ness by now? Although March 17 is (finally) behind us, it feels as if St. Patrick’s celebrations have been under way all month, culminating with unprecedented extravaganzas this weekend. 

So do you have “Wearin’-o’-the-Green” fatigue?  

Or is there room for one more story related to a sounds-like-a-son of the Emerald Isle, namely one Edward Aloysius Murphy, Jr.? 

I’m hoping your answer is “Yes” because -- 

Here ‘tis: For all the Irish-soundingness of his name, U.S. Air Force Captain Edward A. Murphy, Jr. (1918-1990) was born in the Panama Canal Zone, raised in New Jersey and was a West Point graduate. And – 

He’s the namesake Murphy of –

Murphy’s Law

One thing that’s always struck me as oddly interesting is – 

Murphy’s Law proves Murphy’s Law. Sort of. 

Huh? Now I’m pretty confident at this point you’ve thought something like, “Murphy’s Law … yea … that goes something like— 

‘Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.’”

(Or, to be funny, “enythink thi’T ken Goh rong willl.”)

And you’re close. 

But no bull’s eye. That “Law” has sparked scores of corollaries and additions linked to the fundamental wisdom, some of which we’ll round up and share in a minute. But first, consider this: 

John Paul Stapp M.D., Ph.D. (1910 - 1999)
during a 421-mph rocket sled run in 1954

Murphy was, in fact, one of the engineers on the rocket-sled experiments that were done by the U.S. Air Force in 1949 to test human acceleration tolerances. One experiment involved a set of 16 accelerometers mounted to different parts of the subject’s body. There were two ways each sensor could be attached and somebody methodically installed all 16 the wrong way around. 

Murphy, it is said, then made the original form of his pronouncement, which the test subject (Major John Paul Stapp) quoted at a news conference a few days later. 

And in that 1949 observation, here’s what he is commonly reported to have said: 

“If there are two or more ways to do something,

and one of those ways can result in a catastrophe,

then someone will do it.” 

The difference between this “original” statement of Murphy’s Law, and the variations of the “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong” statement, demonstrates Murphy’s Law acting on itself. 

A more correct attribution for “Whatever can go wrong…” is Finagle’s Law. (Finagle’s Law is actually fully named Finagle’s Law of Dynamic Negatives and it may have been first published by Francis P. Chisholm in his 1963 essay “The Chisholm Effect”, later reprinted in the classic anthology A Stress Analysis Of A Strapless Evening Gown: And Other Essays For A Scientific Eye. 

More Murphy-isms: 

·         Murphy’s Law fails only when you try to demonstrate it.

·         In nature, nothing is ever right. Therefore, if everything is going right, something is wrong.

·         And then there’s the Unspeakable Law: As soon as you mention something –

… if it’s good, it goes away.

… if it’s bad, it happens.

·         Murphy’s Law gives rise to Murphy’s Philosophy: Smile, tomorrow will be worse.

·         And Murphy’s Philosophy gives rise to O’Malley’s Observation (sometimes cited as Flanagan’s Precept or O’Toole’s Commentary): Murphy was an optimist. 

Interesting. 

Kinda funny. 

But, so what? 

Here’s what: As with Murphy’s Law, the simple fact of life is, very few things go according to plan and unfold without mishap. 

Be a Boy Scout. Be Prepared. One of the best crisis prevention techniques is to keep a wary eye out for Murphy’s Law (in any of its forms) to appear. When it does, smile knowingly because you recognize that there’s a penalty when you break the law and so you’ve prepared. 

Yes, it seems like an oxymoron to say, “Expect the unexpected and plan for it.”  

But, while it doesn’t necessarily mean having a strategy in place for every precise catastrophic occurrence (“Suppose a meteor hits the Camden plant!), it does mean identifying vulnerable areas and facing up to them. 

TGIM ACTION IDEA: Imagine worst-case scenarios and evaluate. Don’t dodge the critical questions that jump to mind. Ask and answer -- 

???  What is likely to go wrong?

???  What’s the likelihood of this happening?

???  When will I know about it?

???  What will I do?

???  Can I live with this? 

When confronted by Murphy’s Law moments your challenge is to be able to make -- and be able to act immediately on -- considered-in-calmer-moments strategies. 

After you’ve weighed the possibilities and vulnerabilities, have backup plans already in mind. (Better yet, write them down and keep two copies in two independent-but-accessible places.) 

TGIM IDEA IN ACTION: Think and prepare your basic resources – money, material, people power, etc. Know your objectives – short-term and the end point. Have a timetable (and expect the Murphy-ish Hofstadter’s Law “It always takes longer than you think, even when you take Hofstadter’s Law into account” to kick in.) Clarify priorities and deadlines. Involve others in the planning and be ready to ask for help in implementing solutions. 

When it hits the fan:

·         Implement the plan, or at least get it underway.

·         Step back, collect your thoughts.

·         Clear the decks for action.

·         Then act.

·         Gather facts from people most likely to be affected.

·         Take quick steps – right or wrong — to solve the most immediate problems.

·         Clarify priorities and deadlines.

·         Be ready to adapt at a moment’s notice. 

Of course, with all these ACTION IDEAS in mind, one final take on Murphy’s Law says: 

“If you perceive that there are four possible ways

in which a procedure can go wrong,

and circumvent these,

then a fifth way,

unprepared for,

will promptly develop.” 

But as pessimistic as that thought may be, even the slightest step toward preparedness puts you one step ahead of the unprepared. And even an unoptimistic Murphy would agree that’s a better place to be. 

That’s it for today’s TGIM: Of course, since I think I’ve covered all my bases for today, Murphy’s Law postulates that I’ve overlooked something. So my plan is to deal with it next Monday if it’s necessary.  

Good idea, right? 

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

8 Depot Square

Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373
tgimguy@gmail.com 

P.S. “Shredded cabbage goes great with shredded carrots and mayonnaise.”

        That’s Cole’s Law.