I like laws but not most of the ones Congress writes. I like the type of “laws” that are used to explain a complex topic, repetitive issue or human characteristics in a clear, easy to understand way. I like rules of thumb.
Over time, I have come across quite a few and started noting the ones I like because they can be a helpful lens through which to examine things and have helped me many times to get to the heart of an issue.
I thought it may be interesting to share them with you in case you find them helpful, too.
Occam’s razor: “The simplest explanation is usually the right one” (or at least the best place to start). We all should begin with fewer assumptions, think on a basic level and build (if needed) from there. This feels like a rule our industry practices daily. You see a problem, identify the issue, fix it and move onto the next problem. If a ceiling shows a small drip, you most likely think it’s a loose flashing or failed sealant not a mysterious structural failure. Check the simple stuff before tearing off half the roof.
Sayre’s law: “In any dispute, the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake.” We have the biggest fights over the smallest things. A crew argues for 20 minutes about a menial task while a $300,000 project schedule is slipping behind. How about we stop doing stuff like this? I heard a brilliant twist on this concept from a standup comedian: “Would you rather be happy or right?” When I ask my wife this question while she’s dwelling on something, she always answers “Both.” I never reply to that response because I’d rather be happy!
Hanlon’s razor: “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” I find this a shortcut to reducing drama; it brings a less emotional lens on someone’s annoying or problematic behavior. It doesn’t mean the behavior is OK and should be ignored or tolerated; it means it’s not deliberate, which stings less. Inartful phrasing, absentmindedness or lack of attention are far more likely a result of poor behavior than someone deliberately seeking to do harm. The building engineer or new employee didn’t pull the drain plug during a flood test because he wanted to sabotage the job. He just didn’t know better or forgot. Train first; blame later.
Murphy’s law: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” This is probably the OG rule of thumb—the one that started them all. It’s at work the day you tear off a full section without staging tarps and a pop-up thunderstorm hits at 2 p.m.; when guys don’t call and don’t show on a big job that’s already behind; or when half the materials are late and the half you have is unusable until you get the first.
A corollary to Murphy’s law (we should call this Roofer’s law): “Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.” The tiny defect you didn’t notice will be the one that causes trouble. Water finds a way. Ninety-nine seams are perfect, but the one pinhole in the corner flashing is exactly where water finds its way in.
Evans’ and Bjorn’s law: “No matter what goes wrong, there is always somebody who knew it would.” You know the person who claims to have predicted the whole mess? After a crane delivery is late and the crew stands around idle, someone says: “I told you we should have scheduled it for yesterday.” If this person is in a position of leadership, they have a responsibility to lead and not blame. If this person isn’t in a position of leadership, they are not helping the team and most of the team probably doesn’t like them.
A corollary to Murphy’s law (we should call this Roofer’s law): 'Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.’
Law of suspended judgement: “Assumption is the mother of all screw-ups.” You should anticipate the unexpected instead of assuming the obvious. Assuming a roof deck is solid leads to discovering rotten plywood halfway through the job and a costly change order or, worse, a fall and an injured crew member.
Law of the conservation of filth: “In order for something to become clean, something else must become dirty.” During a tear-off, a roof gets clean, but the yard, driveway and trash area look like a war zone. Asphalt streaks appear all over your dryer tub after washing work clothes, or your shop sink is filthy from rinsing tools clean. The dirt never disappears; it just goes somewhere else!
Freeman’s extension: “But you can get everything dirty without getting anything clean.”This is one of life’s ironies.
Procrastination rule of thumb: “There’s no time like the present for postponing what you don’t want to do.” And its related rule: “Any task worth doing was worth doing yesterday.” Putting off ordering materials until the last minute guarantees you’ll be waiting on supplies while jobs sit unfinished. Don’t slip into the bad pre-pandemic habits of last-minute orders. Manufacturers have reported contractors doing this, and even if manufacturers can provide great service, why court the risk? Abraham Lincoln wrote to young lawyers saying, “Leave nothing for tomorrow that which can be done today.” Amen. Reduce the variables. Get the bird-in-hand. The earlier you do a task, the less likely things get messy. Ordering materials and permits early lowers the risk of panic calls, rushed freight charges or idle crews.
Brandolini’s law: “The amount of energy required to refute BS is an order of magnitude larger than that needed to produce it.” This is a version of “a lie travels halfway around the world while the truth is lacing up its shoes.” Humans love gossip. But as a leader, you have an obligation to not start it, not spread it and correct it if you are able. The amount of time and energy spent dispelling false rumors can be exhausting. Don’t start them.
Political law of physics: “For every policy action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction.” I made this up during my time working in government and politics. The pendulum always swings back. Clinton➜Bush➜Obama➜Trump➜Biden➜Trump … notice anything?
And how does Wisconsin have one of the most conservative senators (Ron Johnson) AND one of the most liberal senators (Tammy Baldwin)? Or how did a Democrat in Texas win a seat by 14 points in a district Trump won by 17 points in 2024? This is the political law of physics at work. It’s what I tell myself as I see businesses go under or struggle because of a lack of workers. It is what I think when I read about the economies of fast-growing states slowing because jobs aren’t getting done because of poor federal immigration policy. Perhaps this year will be the catalyst to swing the pendulum next year to finally address the larger immigration issues at hand. Time will tell. It seems the pendulum swings are getting larger, but that’s a topic for another column.
If you have any rules of thumb or one-liners of wisdom, pass them my way. It’s a complicated world, and anything we can do to make it a bit easier to navigate is welcome!
MCKAY DANIELS
CEO
NRCA
