# Promise Debt Tracker Skills

> Promise Debt Tracker

- Skill: `mcltyl/promise-debt-tracker-skills` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add mcltyl/promise-debt-tracker-skills`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/mcltyl/promise-debt-tracker-skills/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: mcltyl (https://skillmd.com/u/mcltyl)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/mcltyl/promise-debt-tracker-skills

---

# Promise Debt Tracker

> "I'll get back to you" — and then you didn't. Surface forgotten micro-commitments before they become reputation damage.

---

## When to Use

- You said "I'll send that over" and it's been 3 days
- Someone asked you something and you said "let me check" — did you?
- You're the person who "always follows through" but lately things are slipping
- You want to catch dropped balls before others notice

**Trigger:** End of day review, or "what did I promise this week?"

---

## The Problem

Most dropped commitments aren't malice. They're **forgotten micro-promises**:
- "I'll look into that"
- "Let me get back to you"
- "I'll send you the link"
- "Remind me and I'll..."

Each one is small. But they accumulate into: **"You can't rely on them."**

---

## The Protocol

### Step 1: Daily Capture (2 minutes, end of day)

Scan your day for commitment language:

**In messages/emails sent today:**
- "I'll..."
- "Let me..."
- "I can..."
- "Will do"
- "On it"
- "I'll follow up"

**In meetings/calls:**
- Anything you said you'd do
- Anything someone asked and you didn't say no

**Prompt:**
> "What did you commit to today? Don't filter — dump everything you said you'd do."

---

### Step 2: Categorize (1 minute)

For each commitment:

| Status | Meaning |
|--------|---------|
| ✅ Done | Completed, no action needed |
| ⏳ In Progress | Working on it, on track |
| 🔴 Overdue | Said you'd do it, haven't |
| 🟡 At Risk | Not started, deadline approaching |
| ❓ Unclear | You don't remember what you meant |

**Focus on 🔴 and 🟡.** Those are your promise debt.

---

### Step 3: Triage the Debt (2 minutes)

For each overdue/at-risk item:

**Option A: Do it now** (if <5 minutes)
> Just do it. Right now. Before you close this.

**Option B: Schedule it** (if >5 minutes)
> Block time tomorrow. Specific time, not "tomorrow sometime."

**Option C: Renegotiate** (if you can't/won't do it)
> Message them: "Hey, I said I'd [X] but I'm not going to be able to. [Alternative or apology]."

**Option D: Write it off** (if it's too late to matter)
> Acknowledge it's dropped. Learn from it. Move on.

---

### Step 4: Prevention (30 seconds)

Before making new promises tomorrow:

> "Can I actually do this? If not, say 'Let me check if I can commit to that' instead of 'I'll do it.'"

**The rule:** Don't say "I'll" unless you're willing to write it down immediately.

---

## Weekly Review (Optional, 5 minutes)

Every Friday or Sunday:

1. **How many promises did I make this week?**
2. **How many did I keep?**
3. **What's my completion rate?** (Target: >90%)
4. **Patterns?**
   - Over-promising in meetings?
   - Forgetting async commitments?
   - Saying yes to avoid awkwardness?

---

## The Commitment Log (Simple Format)

Track in any notes app:

```
## 2026-03-25

| Promise | To Whom | By When | Status |
|---------|---------|---------|--------|
| Send deck | Sarah | EOD | ✅ |
| Review proposal | Mike | Fri | 🟡 |
| "Look into" pricing | Jane | ??? | 🔴 |
```

**Minimum viable tracking:** Just the 🔴 and 🟡 items. Don't over-engineer.

---

## Common Patterns

### "I'll look into it" syndrome
> You said it to end the conversation, not because you planned to do it. Either do it or say "I don't think I'll have time for that."

### Meeting commitment overload
> You say yes in meetings because it's awkward to say no. Write down commitments IN the meeting, then review before it ends.

### The "remind me" trap
> "Remind me and I'll do it" = "I'm making this your responsibility." Stop saying this. Either commit or decline.

---

## Output

By end of session:
1. List of current promise debt (🔴/🟡)
2. Action for each: Do Now / Schedule / Renegotiate / Write Off
3. Any promises closed out
4. Awareness of patterns

---

*For post-meeting commitment capture, see [Post-Meeting Rescue](https://github.com/mcltyl/post-meeting-rescue-skills)*