goal-setter

What this skill does

# Goal Setter

Transform vague or precise objectives into structured, actionable goals.

## Operating Model

Goals are the **primary** operating mode for LeanOS. All work should be goal-driven.

```
PROACTIVE (primary):  Goal → Plan → Threads → Artifacts → Learning → Canvas
REACTIVE (fallback):  Signal → Thread → Link to Goal (or create new goal)
```

**Goal-setter reads:**
- Canvas (`strategy/canvas/*`) - strategic context, assumptions, constraints
- Existing goals (`strategy/goals/active/*`) - avoid conflicts, find linkages

**Goal-setter does NOT read:**
- Threads (execution output, not input)
- Artifacts (deliverables, not context)

## Canvas Reference

Goal-setter uses Canvas sections for context, constraints, and success criteria alignment.

### Canvas Sections (15 files)

| Section | Purpose | Goal-setter Use |
|---------|---------|-----------------|
| `00.mode.md` | VENTURE/BOOTSTRAP mode | **Required** - determines metrics, decomposition |
| `01.context.md` | Product, market context (KBOS) | Goal alignment check |
| `02.constraints.md` | Budget, time, resources | Goal constraints |
| `03.opportunity.md` | TAM/SAM/SOM, timing | Business goal sizing |
| `04.segments.md` | Customer segments | Target audience for goals |
| `05.problem.md` | Top 3 problems | Problem-focused goals |
| `06.competitive.md` | Competitors, positioning | Competitive goals |
| `07.uvp.md` | Unique Value Proposition | Messaging alignment |
| `08.unfair.md` | Unfair advantages, moats | Strategic goals |
| `09.solution.md` | MVP features | Product goals |
| `10.assumptions.md` | Hypotheses, validation status | **Key** - link goals to assumptions |
| `11.channels.md` | Acquisition channels | Channel strategy |
| `12.revenue.md` | Revenue model, tiers | Revenue goal targets |
| `13.metrics.md` | Key metrics, targets | Success criteria source |
| `14.costs.md` | Cost structure, burn | Profitability constraints |
| `15.gtm.md` | GTM strategy | Marketing/sales goals |

### Canvas Reading by Goal Type

```
business goals:
  Required: 00-mode, 11-pricing, 12-costs, 13-metrics
  Context:  01-context, 03-opportunity, 04-segments
  Link to:  10-assumptions (revenue/growth hypotheses)

brand goals:
  Required: 01-context, 07-uvp
  Context:  04-segments, 14-growth
  Link to:  10-assumptions (audience/positioning hypotheses)

product goals:
  Required: 09-solution, 05-problem
  Context:  01-context, 02-constraints
  Link to:  10-assumptions (product/market fit hypotheses)

learning goals:
  Context:  01-context (what skills needed)
  Link to:  10-assumptions (capability hypotheses)
```

### Linking Goals to Canvas Assumptions

Every goal should link to Canvas assumptions (`10.assumptions.md`):

```markdown
## Canvas Links

**Validates assumptions:**
- A3: "Enterprise customers will pay $500/month" (10.assumptions.md)
- A7: "Content marketing drives qualified leads" (10.assumptions.md)

**Informs sections:**
- 13.metrics.md (success updates metrics)
- 12.revenue.md (if revenue assumption validated)
```

When goal completes:
1. Update linked assumption status in `10.assumptions.md`
2. Update relevant Canvas section if assumption validated/invalidated
3. Log learning in goal file

## Type Signature

```
GoalSetter : Objective × CanvasContext × Mode × ExistingGoals → Goal

Where:
  Objective     : string (user's stated intent)
  CanvasContext : strategy/canvas/* (beliefs, constraints, segments)
  Mode          : VENTURE | BOOTSTRAP (from strategy/canvas/00.mode.md)
  ExistingGoals : strategy/goals/active/* (avoid conflicts)
  Goal          : Objective × SuccessCriteria × Plan × Autonomy × State
  Plan          : [Subgoal] × [Milestone] × [Dependency]
  Subgoal       : Objective × SuccessCriterion × ThreadType
```

## When to Use

- User expresses intent: "I want to...", "Goal is to...", "Need to achieve..."
- Starting a new initiative without clear structure
- Breaking down a large objective into actionable pieces
- Reviewing/refining existing goals

## Process

### 1. Capture Objective

Extract from user input:
- **What**: The desired outcome
- **Why**: Motivation/context (optional but valuable)
- **When**: Deadline or timeline (required)
- **Constraints**: Budget, resources, dependencies

**If vague, ask:**
```
What does success look like specifically?
By when do you need this achieved?
What resources/constraints should I know about?
```

### 2. Determine Goal Type

Infer from context or ask:

| Type | Signals | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| `business` | Revenue, customers, growth, market | "Reach $50K MRR" |
| `brand` | Followers, reach, authority, audience | "Build LinkedIn presence" |
| `product` | Features, launches, technical milestones | "Ship v2.0" |
| `learning` | Skills, certifications, knowledge | "Learn Rust" |
| `custom` | Anything else | User-defined |

### 3. Apply Mode (Business Goals)

For `business` type goals, read mode from `strategy/canvas/00.mode.md`:

| Aspect | VENTURE | BOOTSTRAP |
|--------|---------|-----------|
| **Primary metrics** | ARR, MAU, market share, runway | MRR, profit, cash flow, payback |
| **Success focus** | Growth rate, scale | Profitability, sustainability |
| **Decomposition** | Users → Activation → Monetization | Revenue → Margin → Reinvest |
| **Timeline** | 7-10 year exit horizon | Profitable in 3 months |
| **Risk tolerance** | Higher (burn for growth) | Lower (preserve cash) |

**Mode-specific defaults:**

```
VENTURE mode:
  Success criteria emphasize:
  - ARR growth rate (>100% YoY)
  - User/customer acquisition
  - Market share expansion
  - Acceptable burn for growth

  Subgoal order: Acquire → Activate → Retain → Monetize

  Autonomy default: hybrid (speed matters, but stakes high)

BOOTSTRAP mode:
  Success criteria emphasize:
  - MRR and monthly profit
  - Positive cash flow
  - LTV:CAC > 5:1
  - CAC payback < 6 months

  Subgoal order: First revenue → Unit economics → Scale

  Autonomy default: ask (cash preservation critical)
```

**Non-business goals:** Mode has minimal impact on brand, product, learning goals.

### 4. Define Success Criteria

Transform objective into measurable criteria:

**Good criteria:**
- Specific number or state
- Independently verifiable
- Time-bound (inherits from goal deadline)

**Examples:**
```
Objective: "Grow revenue"
Criteria:
- [ ] MRR >= $50,000
- [ ] Customer count >= 10
- [ ] Net revenue retention >= 100%

Objective: "Build LinkedIn presence"
Criteria:
- [ ] Followers >= 10,000
- [ ] Average post impressions >= 5,000
- [ ] 2+ inbound leads/month from content
```

### 5. Decompose into Plan

**Subgoals** - intermediate objectives that lead to main goal:
- Each subgoal has its own success criterion
- Identify dependencies between subgoals
- Link to thread types (business, sales, marketing, engineering)

**Milestones** - checkpoints with dates:
- Evenly distributed toward deadline
- Each milestone = measurable progress marker

**Decomposition reasoning:**
```
Goal: Achieve X by deadline D
  ↓
Ask: What must be true for X to happen?
  ↓
Identify 3-5 necessary conditions (subgoals)
  ↓
For each subgoal: What threads/actions achieve this?
  ↓
Order by dependencies
  ↓
Set milestones at 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% progress points
```

### 6. Set Autonomy Level

| Mode | When to Use | Behavior |
|------|-------------|----------|
| `auto` | Low-risk, well-understood domain | AI creates threads and executes without asking |
| `ask` | High-risk, novel, or user preference | AI recommends, waits for approval |
| `hybrid` | Default | Auto for impact <0.5, ask for impact ≥0.5 |

**Default: `hybrid`** unless user specifies otherwise.

### 7. Initialize State

Create initial state section:
- All metrics start at current values (0 or baseline)
- Gap = target - current
- Trend = "→" (neutral, no data yet)
- Trajectory = "Unknown" (insufficient data)

## Output

Create file: `strategy/goals/active/{goal-id}.md`

### Goal File Schema

```markdown
---
id: g-{kebab-case-short-name}
type: business | brand | produ