Second Order
Request an introduction

For your office

Sample materials

How Second Order communicates once a relationship begins. Every document has the same structure: what needs you, in front; what the team is carrying, behind.

Illustrative examples. Names, dates and details are invented.

01

A short introduction

For someone introducing Second Order to a principal. Copy, adjust, send.

I’d like to introduce you to Second Order. They’re a small private team — a named lead and senior operators — who join a founder’s existing people and take ownership of agreed work across business and personal life, bringing back only the decisions that need you. Their one-page brief is attached. Happy to connect you if it’s useful.

Open the brief to attach

02

The weekly principal note

Sent every Friday by the relationship lead. Decisions first, then what is moving. Readable in two minutes.

Second Order
Friday — week of 10 March

In front — needs you

  • Lisbon: choose between two structures

    Option B recommended. One page enclosed. About ten minutes.

  • Foundation: approve three of seven grants

    Reasons attached for each.

Behind — carried, nothing needed

  • Board pack — both CFO inputs in; final review Tuesday with your chief of staff.
  • Coast house — contractors start on the 21st.
  • Events agency — two finalists; your COO is deciding.
  • Insurance renewals across three properties — consolidated with your broker.

On the record: a call-back to your counsel was a day late. We have changed how call-backs are tracked.

03

A working proposal

Sent after the private conversation. The next commercial document is never a package — it is a mandate written for one principal.

Second Order
Confidential

Prepared for the principal’s office

A proposed working mandate

  1. 1What we heardYour priorities and where the friction is, in your words.
  2. 2AuthorityDecisions that stay with you; authority delegated to your office; what we carry.
  3. 3First mandatesTwo or three pieces of work, each with an objective, a limit and a date.
  4. 4The teamYour relationship lead and deputy by name; team composition; specialists we expect to engage.
  5. 5ConfidentialityNDA, workspace, access list, information handling.
  6. 6CadenceWeekly session, weekly note, urgent channel.
  7. 7Commercial termsStanding-up fee, monthly team, pass-through costs, notice, liability.
  8. 8Day 30How we decide together whether to continue.