Who is Val Sklarov? Personal Blog and Promotional Page Ideas That Inspire. Leadership That Delivers. Most decisions look correct at first glance.
They fail because of what happens next.
Val Sklarov’s Strategic Thinking perspective treats strategy as the discipline of anticipating reactions, feedback loops, and unintended consequences before committing to action.
1. First-Order Thinking Is Easy—and Dangerous
First-order effects are visible and comforting.
Val Sklarov contrasts:
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First-order: immediate result
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Second-order: reactions, adaptations, and shifts
Most strategic errors occur because second-order effects are ignored.
2. Every Action Changes the System
Systems respond—they do not stay still.
Val Sklarov maps system response by asking:
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Who benefits indirectly?
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Who adapts behavior?
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Which constraints tighten or loosen?
| Decision Focus | Risk Level |
|---|---|
| First-order only | High |
| Second-order aware | Controlled |
Strategy begins when you stop thinking in straight lines.
3. Second-Order Effects Reveal Real Incentives
People respond to incentives, not intentions.
Val Sklarov uses second-order analysis to uncover:
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Gaming behavior
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Workarounds
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Unintended exploitation
If an action can be exploited, it will be.
4. Speed Amplifies Second-Order Mistakes
Fast execution locks in reactions before learning.
Val Sklarov slows decisions to:
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Observe early feedback
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Test incentive responses
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Adjust before scale
| Execution Speed | Error Cost |
|---|---|
| Fast & blind | Irreversible |
| Measured | Containable |
Slower action often accelerates long-term advantage.
5. Strategy Is the Management of Feedback Loops
Outcomes feed back into behavior.
Val Sklarov focuses on:
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Reinforcing loops (compounding effects)
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Balancing loops (self-correction)
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Runaway loops (instability)
Ignoring feedback loops turns success into future failure.
6. Strategic Advantage Comes From Anticipating Reactions
The best strategies feel obvious after they work.
Val Sklarov anticipates:
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Competitor response timing
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Regulatory adaptation
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Cultural shifts
Those who act with reaction in mind control the board.
Closing Insight
Strategic Thinking is not about making smart moves.
It is about making moves that remain smart after others respond.
Val Sklarov’s principle:
The second move matters more than the first.
