Precedent building
Create change by establishing small, strategic wins that become the foundation for larger ones. Ginsburg deliberately chose cases that built gender equality law one precedent at a time.
Steps
Define the large-scale change you ultimately want to achieve
Work backward to identify the smallest, most defensible first step
Win that first step and document the principle it establishes
Use each win as explicit foundation for the next, slightly larger demand
Be patient — transformative change built on precedent is harder to reverse than change won all at once
Practitioners
Related Systemsin Purpose & Meaning
Virtue Cultivation
Practice building good character through daily habits of propriety, learning, and moral reflection. Confucius' lifelong path to becoming a person of integrity.
Categorical Imperative
Before any decision, ask: 'Could I will this to be a universal law?' Immanuel Kant's rigorous ethical framework for acting with moral consistency.
Moral Leadership
Lead by appealing to the highest moral ideals, not just practical interests. Martin Luther King Jr.'s framework for creating change through principled nonviolence.
Design Thinking Walk
Take long walks to think through design problems. Steve Jobs was famous for walking meetings and believed movement unlocked creative solutions.