If you establish a company-wide rule, backed by punishment, that you never fail, then you have, de facto, established an unwritten rule that no one in your company will ever take a risk again.

FORBES: We Never Fail

Additionally, if you fail to file a return, the statute never runs.

FORBES: Taxes From A To Z (2013): S Is For Statute Of Limitations

"It's good to know that we're upgrading and doing something better for the public of New York City ... but if you're going to spend the money on a system, this system should never fail, " Roper said.

WSJ: Glitches in new NYC 911 system

Call it simplistic, but the single greatest fix for the banks would be a scrapping of all regulations that have never worked to begin with, followed by a one line law: If you fail, we will not cushion your failure.

FORBES: Book Review: John Allison's The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure