cc: Cascading Consequences

Lawyers juggle a lot:
Competing deadlines.
Multiple principals.
The cc.
The occasional bcc.

The default is survival: just get it over the line.

But the lawyers who stay useful - who quietly build trust and influence - make time for something else:
They look past the immediate.
They ask: If this happens - what changes next?

We’re trained to think in straight lines:
Issue → Advice → Move on.
Deal → Close → Done.

But real judgment isn’t just about managing risk.
It’s about spotting opportunity.

Decision-makers don’t always expect this from their lawyers.
But when they get it, they remember.

Take GLP-1 drugs.
Originally used to manage diabetes.
Now also used for weight loss.
That’s the headline.

The cascade?
Snack brands scramble.
Wellness services shift.
Investment patterns change.
Opportunity isn’t just in the first consequence - it’s also in the ripple effects.

Whether you advise clients or work in-house, the skill is the same:
To look around the corner.
To help businesses move before others react.

✍️ Note to self:
First-order thinking protects you.
Second-order thinking moves you forward.