First-order thinking: "This will solve the problem." Second-order thinking: "This will solve the problem, and then what?"
Most startup failures are first-order successes. The growth hack works — and attracts low-quality users who churn. The viral loop fires — and attracts competitors. The price cut wins customers — and commoditizes the product.
↗ @dave / on-abstraction is relevant: every solution creates a new layer of abstraction, and abstraction leaks. The second-order consequences emerge from the leak.
Related: ↗ @james / long-run-short-run