IIII
My 7 Laws of Development
By Michael Malak
A practical book for developers, project managers and industry professionals who want to understand the assumptions, decisions and disciplines that shape development outcomes.
"Michael Malak has distilled decades of development and project management experience into a framework that is both simple and profound. An essential read for developers, project leaders and industry professionals."
Michel Najjar, CEO, DASCO
Some project issues become visible too late
Most development problems do not appear suddenly.
They build through early assumptions, unclear alignment, weak follow-through and decisions that are not tested until the cost is already visible.
A feasibility assumption gets carried forward as fact.
A room agrees on the words, but not the outcome.
A decision made early quietly shapes the project for years.
My 7 Laws of Development gives language to those patterns.
Written through the eyes of a project manager, the book reflects what Michael Malak has seen across more than 30 years in construction and property development: where projects hold together, where they drift, and where stronger discipline earlier could have changed the outcome.
IIII
The 7 Laws
3. The Law of Foresight
Project leadership requires seeing many steps ahead before it becomes visible.
4. The Law of Influence
Many critical decisions are shaped by people who don’t have final authority.
2. The Law of Alignment
Agreement doesn’t always mean everyone is working towards the same outcome.
1. The Law of Assumptions
What gets accepted too early can shape the project for years.
6. The Law of Equilibrium
Every force applied to a development creates a reaction somewhere else.
5. The Law of Follow Through
A good decision only matters if it is carried through with discipline.
7. The Law of Legacy
The real measure of a development continues long after completion.
Who should read this book
This book is for developers, project managers, architects, consultants, builders, financiers and industry professionals involved in shaping development outcomes.
It is especially relevant if you carry responsibility for outcomes you do not fully control.
Inside, you will find a practical way to think about:
Assumptions that need to be tested earlier
Alignment that may be weaker than it appears
Pressure that moves through a project
Influence when authority is limited
Follow-through, accountability and decision-making
The long-term legacy of development decisions
The book is grounded in the realities of live development projects, where small decisions, unclear assumptions and delayed follow-through can carry commercial consequences over time.
"Reading Michael’s book is almost like having him there helping steer the direction. It is practical, easy to apply and backed by years of real development experience.
From assessing a project upfront, through construction and completion, Michael’s experience speaks for itself. A genuinely valuable guide for developers, brokers and lenders."
Silvio Morello, Director, Chifley Securities
Apply the 7 Laws to your own project
The 7 Laws Project Scorecard is a free 3-minute pressure check for developers, lenders, brokers and project leaders.
Use it to review a current or upcoming development and identify where unclear assumptions, misalignment or weak follow-through may be allowing pressure to build.
IIII About Michael Malak
Michael Malak is a senior project director, construction professional and Managing Director of Jacquel Australia Project Management (JAPM®), with more than three decades of experience across property and infrastructure projects in Australia, India and the Middle East.
His work spans the full development lifecycle, from early feasibility and planning through to procurement, delivery and final completion, giving him a direct view of how projects actually succeed, where they lose momentum, and what separates a difficult outcome from a strong outcome.
Much of Michael’s career has been shaped by his role as an independent project manager and adviser, working closely with developers, consultants, contractors, financiers and regulatory authorities. This has allowed him to observe the decisions, pressures and assumptions that sit beneath project outcomes.
My 7 Laws of Development brings those observations into a practical framework for people responsible for making development projects work.
Buy the book
My 7 Laws of Development: Through the Eyes of a Project Manager is available on Amazon.
Free 3-minute Project Pressure Check
Put the 7 Laws to work on your own project and identify the two areas that may need closer attention.
“Successful property development requires the management of a complex intersection of commercial, contractual, financial and human elements.
In 'My 7 Laws of Development', Michael Malak provides an experienced practitioner’s perspective on many of the issues that ultimately determine whether a project remains controlled or begins to unravel.
A recurring theme throughout the book is the importance of recognising risk early. Problems in development are rarely completely unforeseen; often the warning signs exist well before they become significant commercial or contractual issues.
Michael also highlights the importance of clarity, accountability and alignment between the multiple parties involved.”
Emanuel Oros, Partner
Sparke Helmore Lawyers
“Development is an industry where experience matters because many of the most important lessons are learnt through projects as well as textbooks.
Michael's book captures many of those lessons and presents them in a way that is easy to relate back to real development situations.
He focuses on the areas that can easily be underestimated, risks that are recognised but not always acted upon, misalignment between stakeholders and the importance of maintaining control as a project becomes increasingly complex.
It is a practical and thought provoking contribution for anyone responsible for managing development risk and delivering successful projects.”
Barney Oros, Development Director
Lindfield Developments
“I have known Michael Malak for almost 35 years, having first had the pleasure of employing Michael in the early ’90s and then watching an impressive career unfold over the decades.
This book captures something that Michael has always understood instinctively: great project and construction management is not about making the simple complicated. In an industry where complexity, jargon and an endless stream of acronyms can sometimes masquerade as expertise, the real skill lies in cutting through the noise and focusing relentlessly on what actually matters.
Keep things simple. Plan early. Identify the issues that matter.”
Ron Frankel, Founder and Managing Director
Charterpac Group of Companies