Unwritten Laws

 

There are many unwritten "laws" or adages that describe common patterns in life, work, and human behavior. Here are some notable ones:

Murphy’s Law

"If anything can go wrong, it will."

• A humorous take on the inevitability of problems arising.

Parkinson’s Law

"Work expands to fill the time available for its completion."

• People tend to take as much time as they are given to complete a task.

Hofstadter’s Law

"It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law."

• A self-referential rule about underestimating time for complex tasks.

The Peter Principle

"In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to their level of incompetence."

• People keep getting promoted until they reach a position they’re not qualified for.

The Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)

"80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes."

• A small percentage of efforts lead to the majority of results.

Sturgeon’s Law

"90% of everything is crap."

• Applies to art, literature, work, and ideas—most of what exists is of low quality.

Hanlon’s Razor

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

• People often assume bad intent when simple incompetence is more likely.

Occam’s Razor

"The simplest explanation is usually the correct one."

• A principle for problem-solving and critical thinking.

Goodhart’s Law

"When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure."

• Metrics lose value when people manipulate them for success.

Law of Triviality (Bike-Shedding)

"People spend more time on trivial issues than important ones."

• Organizations may debate small details endlessly while ignoring big decisions.

Gall’s Law

"A complex system that works evolved from a simple system that worked."

• Big, successful things grow out of smaller, functional versions.

Wheaton’s Law

"Don’t be a jerk."

• A simple guideline for online and real-life interactions.

The Law of Unintended Consequences

"Actions always have consequences, often unexpected ones."

• Well-intended efforts can lead to negative or unforeseen results.

Would you like more examples, or do you have a specific context in mind?

Here are more unwritten "laws" that describe common patterns in life, work, and human behavior:

Finagle’s Law

"Anything that can go wrong, will—at the worst possible time."

• A more pessimistic version of Murphy’s Law.

Dilbert Principle

"The most ineffective workers are systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage: management."

• A satirical take on corporate hierarchy.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect

"The less someone knows, the more confident they tend to be about their knowledge."

• People with low ability often overestimate themselves, while experts doubt themselves.

The Principle of Least Effort

"People naturally choose the path that requires the least effort."

• Applies to communication, work, and even software usability.

Zeno’s Paradox of Productivity

"The closer you get to finishing something, the longer the remaining work seems to take."

• As you near completion, final details and refinements take disproportionate effort.

Maes-Garreau Law

"Predictions about future technology tend to forecast major breakthroughs just before the predictor’s expected lifespan ends."

• A bias in futurism where people predict world-changing events within their lifetime.

Brooks’ Law

"Adding more people to a late project makes it later."

• More team members increase complexity, slowing down progress instead of speeding it up.

Law of the Instrument (Maslow’s Hammer)

"If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

• People tend to rely on familiar tools or methods, even when they’re not the best fit.

Tesler’s Law of Conservation of Complexity

"Every system has an inherent amount of complexity that cannot be reduced."

• In design and software, simplifying the user experience often shifts complexity to developers.

Sayre’s Law

"In any dispute, the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issue at stake."

• Small, trivial matters often generate the most heated debates.

The Law of Failed Predictions

"The future is always harder to predict than we think."

• Most long-term forecasts turn out wrong because of unforeseen changes.

Hick’s Law

"The more choices you have, the longer it takes to decide."

• Too many options slow down decision-making.

Metcalfe’s Law

"The value of a network increases exponentially with the number of users."

• Used in economics and technology (e.g., the value of social media).

Illich’s Law

"Beyond a certain point, more efficiency leads to inefficiency."

• Over-optimization can backfire, making systems rigid or fragile.

Peter’s Inversion

"Sometimes the best way to move up is to stay where you are."

• Not all promotions lead to success; some people excel by staying in their expertise.

Cunningham’s Law

"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question but to post the wrong answer."

• People love correcting others, making errors a useful engagement strategy.

Here are more business and practical life "laws" that explain common patterns in decision-making, management, and daily life:

Business & Work Laws

Peter Principle

"People get promoted until they reach a level where they are incompetent."

• Many employees succeed until they are promoted into roles they can’t handle.

Parkinson’s Law of Triviality (Bike-Shedding)

"Organizations spend more time discussing small, simple matters than complex, important ones."

• Example: A board may debate the color of a new office chair for hours but approve a major budget decision in minutes.

Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)

"80% of results come from 20% of efforts."

• In business, 80% of sales often come from 20% of customers.

Hofstadter’s Law

"It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take Hofstadter’s Law into account."

• No matter how well you plan, projects take longer than estimated.

Goodhart’s Law

"When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure."

• Metrics lose meaning when people manipulate them for success (e.g., employees chasing KPIs instead of real productivity).

Wirth’s Law

"Software is getting slower more rapidly than hardware is getting faster."

• In business, innovation often increases complexity instead of efficiency.

Allen’s Law

"Almost anything is easier to get into than out of."

• Applies to contracts, commitments, bad hires, and poor investments.

The Law of Diminishing Returns

"After a certain point, increasing effort brings smaller rewards."

• More marketing won’t always bring more customers; more hours at work won’t always increase productivity.

Brandolini’s Law (The Bullshit Asymmetry Principle)

"It takes significantly more effort to debunk false information than to create it."

• A major challenge in marketing, PR, and reputation management.

Gall’s Law

"A complex system that works evolved from a simple system that worked."

• Businesses that succeed often start with a simple, functional model before growing.

Moore’s Law

"The power of computing doubles every two years."

• Useful for predicting the fast pace of technological change in business.

Practical Life & Decision-Making Laws

Murphy’s Law

"If anything can go wrong, it will."

• A reminder to always have backup plans.

Hick’s Law

"The more choices you have, the harder it is to decide."

• Reducing options can lead to quicker and better decisions.

Lindy Effect

"The longer something has existed, the longer it is likely to last."

• Books, businesses, and traditions that have stood the test of time are more likely to continue.

Occam’s Razor

"The simplest explanation is usually the correct one."

• Useful in problem-solving and avoiding overcomplicated reasoning.

The Availability Heuristic

"People judge probability based on how easily examples come to mind."

• Example: After hearing about a plane crash, people overestimate the risk of flying.

Zeigarnik Effect

"Unfinished tasks stay in our memory longer than completed ones."

• Why we feel restless with incomplete projects and why checklists work.

First Law of Holes

"If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."

• When something isn’t working, don’t keep doing the same thing—change strategy.

Law of Unintended Consequences

"Every action has effects beyond what was intended."

• Example: Banning plastic bags led to increased use of heavier, less eco-friendly alternatives.

Newton’s First Law of Motion (Applied to Life)

"Objects in motion stay in motion; objects at rest stay at rest."

• Momentum is powerful—starting something makes it easier to keep going.

Here are more finance and personal productivity laws that explain common patterns in wealth management, time management, and efficiency:

---

Finance & Wealth Laws

Parkinson’s Law of Money

"Expenses rise to match income."

• The more money people earn, the more they tend to spend, preventing real wealth accumulation.

The Latte Factor

"Small daily expenses add up to a significant amount over time."

• Example: Spending $5 on coffee daily adds up to over $1,800 per year—money that could be invested instead.

The Law of Compound Interest (Einstein’s Rule)

"Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world—he who understands it earns it, he who doesn’t pays it."

• Small, consistent investments grow exponentially over time.

The Rule of 72

"Divide 72 by your investment’s interest rate to estimate how long it takes to double your money."

• Example: At a 6% return, your money doubles in 12 years (72 ÷ 6 = 12).

Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule in Finance)

"80% of your wealth comes from 20% of your financial decisions."

• A few key decisions—like smart investments and avoiding debt—drive most financial success.

Inflation Law

"The value of money decreases over time unless invested wisely."

• Keeping cash idle means losing purchasing power due to inflation.

The Wealth Accumulation Law

"Getting rich is more about discipline than high income."

• A person earning $50,000 but saving 30% will build more wealth than someone earning $100,000 and spending it all.

The Law of Leverage

"Wealth is built by using other people’s time, money, or expertise."

• Examples: Business ownership, real estate investing, and stock market participation.

Opportunity Cost Law

"Every financial decision has a hidden cost—the cost of the next best alternative."

• Example: Buying a new car instead of investing that money means losing potential returns.

The Anti-Fragility Principle (Nassim Taleb)

"A truly wealthy person’s finances get stronger under stress, not weaker."

• Having diverse income streams and emergency funds makes one resilient to financial crises.

The Barbell Strategy

"Avoid the middle—be conservative with essentials but take calculated risks for high rewards."

• Example: Invest 90% safely (bonds, index funds) and 10% aggressively (startups, crypto).

---

Personal Productivity Laws

Parkinson’s Law (Time Management)

"Work expands to fill the time available for its completion."

• Setting shorter deadlines forces efficiency and focus.

The Two-Minute Rule

"If a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately."

• Prevents small tasks from piling up and causing mental clutter.

The Eisenhower Matrix

"Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance."

• Urgent & Important: Do it now.
• Important but Not Urgent: Schedule it.
• Urgent but Not Important: Delegate it.
• Neither Urgent nor Important: Eliminate it.

The 5-Second Rule (Mel Robbins)

"If you have an instinct to act on a goal, count down from five and take action before your brain kills the idea."

• Prevents procrastination by overriding hesitation.

The Zeigarnik Effect

"Unfinished tasks take up mental space."

• Writing down tasks or breaking them into smaller steps reduces stress.

The Law of Forced Efficiency

"There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing."

• Focus on high-impact activities instead of being busy with low-value tasks.

The Law of Consistency (Seinfeld Strategy)

"Small daily actions create massive long-term results."

• Example: Writing 200 words a day leads to a book in a year.

Newton’s First Law of Productivity

"An object in motion stays in motion; an object at rest stays at rest."

• Start small to overcome inertia—just five minutes of work can lead to productive momentum.

The 80% Rule (Perfectionism Trap)

"Done is better than perfect—80% completion is often good enough."

• Waiting for perfection delays success.

The Law of Distraction

"Your focus is your productivity’s greatest asset—guard it ruthlessly."

• Example: Turning off notifications improves deep work.

The Law of Recovery

"High performance requires high-quality rest."

• Short breaks, good sleep, and exercise improve efficiency and prevent burnout.

The Law of Habit Stacking

"Pairing a new habit with an existing one makes it easier to adopt."

• Example: Drinking water after brushing your teeth helps build a hydration habit.

The 2-Day Rule

"Never skip a good habit two days in a row."

• Helps maintain consistency in fitness, writing, or learning.

---

These laws help navigate money, work, and personal success more effectively.