I was, as usual, perusing the internet the other night and came upon a website of Murphy’s Laws. As I was reading I was amazed at how many of the murphy’s laws applied to business … here are just 10 such examples:

1. Everything takes longer than you think

Have you ever heard anyone say that as business owners when we are preparing a quote we tend to underestimate the amount of time something takes? You see now that we are doing the thing that we love the most, we oftentimes don’t realize how long things really take to do. Next time before providing a quotation for a client, do a sample of the work they are looking for and time yourself … you might be amazed at how long it takes you to do the task. Once you start realizing this Murphy Law and applying it your quotation skills will much better balance the actual amount of time things will take you.

2. Whenever you set out to do something, something else must be done first

How many times do emergencies or tasks that need to be handled now in the middle of something else you are working on? You can combat this easily by taking the time to plan your day and work in a contingency to allow yourself for unforeseen situations that may arise within your day.

3. You cannot successfully determine beforehand which side of the bread to butter

In the same respect, it is hard to determine which efforts will have the best results until we try. Also, sometimes the best projects or clients come from the least expected areas or contacts. In order to succeed in business, you must remember to never discount any situation or possibility presented to your business as you never know which will have the best results for your business.

4. You will always find something in the last place you look

This means to me that for those that are patient in business, success will come. Don’t ever give up … just keep plugging … many successful entrepreneurs will tell you that there best successes have come just as they were about to give up.

5. It is never in the last place you look. It is in the first place you look, but never discovered on the first attempt.

I know, I know, almost completely different than the last thought, but remember that sometimes it can take more than one attempt to make something work … again the lesson is to never give up.

6. After you bought a replacement for something you’ve lost and searched for everywhere, you’ll find the original

Well this one is just self explanatory … how many times have you misplaced things and replaced them. However, in business it can be interpreted by some to be a reminder of the importance of having great systems in place and a practical way to handling everything!! Now where did I put my pen (just kidding!!!)

7. Remember the “boomer-rang” effect; Whatever you do will always come back to you.

Have you ever attended a BNI meeting? They act on the philosophy that “givers gain” … start talking about other people’s businesses and spreading the word about other people and you will be amazed at what it will do for your business. If you work to gain referrals for others, they are more likely to want to return the favor.

8. Great ideas are never remembered and dumb statements are never forgotten.

A great reminder to always write things down no matter how big or small they are so that things will not be overlooked. This is also true with those ideas that we come up with. I suggest that you start a folder and jot down those ideas on pieces of paper and put them in the folder as a reminder to yourself at a later date. Secondly, remember that you, as a business owner, truly represent your business now … think twice before you say absolutely ANYTHING … you don’t want to be in a situation of wishing you could “take it back”.

9. The complexity and frustration factor is inversely proportional to how much time you have left to finish and how important it is.

A great reminder about the disaster that can be caused from procrastination … always try to leave yourself plenty of time to finish a project. In my business I try to make it my practice to underpromise and overdeliver so by building that extra time into my projects, I know that I will alleviate some of the stresses that come from leaving a project until the last minute.

10. If anything can go wrong it will.

Oh yes, this one has to be my favourite and perhaps the best know Murphy’s Law. My interpretation of this law as it applies to business is simple … you MUST, MUST, MUST (did I stress that enough) prepare ahead. You absolutely need a contingency plan if you want to grow a thriving business!!