That discount campaign looks like easy revenue today—until it trains buyers to wait for the next markdown and guts margins next quarter. Before you hit “approve,” picture the second and third dominoes your move will knock over; great strategists live 30 days in the future, not just today’s dashboard.
🎯 Try this today: Take one decision on your plate, jot “If we do X, then ___, which leads to ___.” Fill the blanks twice; if domino #2 or #3 hurts more than domino #1 helps, rethink or redesign the plan.
Most project debates die at the first-order win (“Flash sale boosts Q3 revenue”). The pros force a quick sequel: “And then what?”—three times. By round three you’re seeing the downstream drag on margin, support load, and brand positioning that makes a smarter move obvious.
🎯 Try this today: Pick one decision on your plate; ask “And then what?” three successive times and jot the answers. If the third answer stings, revise the plan or decline the task.