# 190-how_4fe83d90 > Coordinates a goal lifecycle: define, decompose, activate, track, and execute goals using a set of system skills that write markdown files. - Skill: `tools-only/190-how-4fe83d90` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add tools-only/190-how-4fe83d90` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tools-only/190-how-4fe83d90/raw - Safety review: PASS (external: skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Productivity, Task Management - Tags: Goal Management, Goal Tracking, Markdown, Planning - Author: tools-only (https://skillmd.com/u/tools-only) - Updated: 2026-08-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tools-only/190-how-4fe83d90 --- # System Workflow How to use the goal lifecycle skills to define, decompose, activate, track, and execute goals. --- ## Overview ``` +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | SYSTEM SKILLS | | 6 skills | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | GOAL LIFECYCLE | | +----------------------------------------------------------+ | | | sys-defining-goals Define ONE measurable goal | | | | sys-decomposing-goals Break into subgoal hierarchies | | | | sys-activating-goals Create execution thread | | | | sys-tracking-goals Monitor progress, generate alerts | | | | sys-executing-threads Write agent outputs to stages | | | +----------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | UTILITY | | +----------------------------------------------------------+ | | | sys-indexing-directories Generate index.md navigation | | | +----------------------------------------------------------+ | | | +---------------------------------------------------------------+ ``` --- ## Goal System Architecture ``` User Input (Canvas / Natural Language / Hybrid) | v +-------------------------------------+ | sys-defining-goals | Define ONE goal | Input --> Derive --> Write | --> strategy/goals/active/{id}.md +-------------------------------------+ | v (optional) +-------------------------------------+ | sys-decomposing-goals | Break into subgoals | Parent --> Formulas --> Children | --> multiple linked goal files +-------------------------------------+ | v +-------------------------------------+ | sys-activating-goals | Create execution thread | Goal --> Thread --> Route | --> threads/{domain}/{name}/ +-------------------------------------+ | v +-------------------------------------+ | sys-executing-threads | Write outputs to stages | Agent output --> Stage files | --> 2-hypothesis through 6-learning +-------------------------------------+ | v +-------------------------------------+ | sys-tracking-goals | Monitor and alert | Goals --> Gaps --> Alerts | --> artifacts/system/alerts/ +-------------------------------------+ ``` --- ## Workflow: Define a Goal **When:** Setting a new objective. **Skill:** `sys-defining-goals` ``` 1. CLASSIFY INPUT +-- Canvas: 00.mode.md, 13.metrics.md present +-- Natural Language: "I want to..." +-- Hybrid: Partial canvas + verbal context 2. EXTRACT INTENT +-- Category: revenue | activity | content | efficiency | retention +-- Metric: arr, customers, meetings, posts, etc. +-- Direction: maximize | minimize 3. CHECK CANVAS DEPENDENCIES +-- Required (blocking): 00.mode.md +-- Recommended (use defaults if missing): pricing, metrics 4. DERIVE TARGET (using formulas) 5. CALCULATE MILESTONES +-- Linear: even distribution +-- Front-loaded: 60/40 +-- Back-loaded: 40/60 6. WRITE GOAL FILE --> strategy/goals/active/{goal_id}.md ``` --- ## Workflow: Decompose a Goal **When:** Breaking a high-level goal into actionable subgoals. **Skill:** `sys-decomposing-goals` ``` 1. READ PARENT GOAL 2. DETERMINE HIERARCHY LEVEL +-- Business Goal (annual) --> System Goals (quarterly) +-- System Goal (quarterly) --> Operational Goals (monthly) +-- Operational Goal (monthly) --> Tactical Goals (weekly) 3. APPLY DECOMPOSITION PATTERN Revenue cascade: Revenue Target +-- Pipeline = Revenue / Win Rate | +-- Opportunities = Pipeline / Avg Deal | +-- Meetings = Opps / Opp Rate +-- Expansion = Existing ARR x Expansion Rate +-- Retention = 100% - Churn Rate 4. ALLOCATE CONSTRAINTS proportionally 5. CREATE SUBGOAL FILES --> strategy/goals/active/{parent_id}_sub_{metric}.md 6. UPDATE PARENT with child_goals list 7. VALIDATE: children derive parent, periods align, constraints fit ``` --- ## Workflow: Activate a Goal **When:** Ready to begin execution. **Skill:** `sys-activating-goals` ``` 1. READ GOAL FILE 2. DETERMINE THREAD NAME --> {goal-metric}_{period-short} 3. CREATE THREAD DIRECTORY --> threads/{domain}/{thread-name}/ 4. WRITE CAUSAL FLOW FILES 1-input.md (populated with goal context) 2-hypothesis.md (template) 3-implication.md (template) 4-decision.md (template) 5-actions.md (template) 6-learning.md (template) 5. UPDATE GOAL FILE --> thread: threads/{domain}/{name} --> status: activated 6. RETURN activation context ``` --- ## Workflow: Execute Thread Stages **When:** Agent has produced outputs and needs to write them to thread files. **Skill:** `sys-executing-threads` ``` 1. VALIDATE thread exists (1-input.md present) 2. DETERMINE stages to write from agent type 3. WRITE stage files with frontmatter: - status: completed - completed_by: {agent_name} - completed_at: {date} 4. VERIFY all mapped stages written ``` --- ## Workflow: Track Goals **When:** Monitoring progress of active goals. **Skill:** `sys-tracking-goals` ``` 1. SCAN ACTIVE GOALS --> strategy/goals/active/*.md 2. FOR EACH GOAL: a. CALCULATE GAPS Absolute: target - current Relative: gap / target Trajectory: current + (velocity x days_remaining) - target b. SCORE URGENCY - critical: gap > 50% AND days < 7 - high: gap > 30% AND days < 14 - medium: on pace but tight - low: on track c. ASSESS ACHIEVABILITY Historical (40%) + Resources (30%) + Trajectory (20%) + External (10%) 3. GENERATE ALERTS --> artifacts/system/alerts/{alert-id}.md 4. UPDATE DASHBOARD --> artifacts/system/goal-dashboard.md ``` --- ## Workflow: Index Directories **When:** Need navigation index for documentation. **Skill:** `sys-indexing-directories` ``` 1. SCAN directory for .md files 2. EXTRACT title and description from each 3. GENERATE index.md with links 4. WRITE to {directory}/index.md ``` --- ## Planning Cycle **When:** Starting a new quarter or project. ``` Phase 1: Canvas (Foundations) fnd-architect --> fnd-researcher --> strategy/canvas/ populated | v Phase 2: Goal Definition INVOKE sys-defining-goals --> strategy/goals/active/{id}.md | v Phase 3: Goal Decomposition (optional) INVOKE sys-decomposing-goals --> subgoal hierarchy | v Phase 4: Activation INVOKE sys-activating-goals --> threads/{domain}/{name}/ | v Phase 5: Execution Work within threads, causal flow INVOKE sys-executing-threads to write outputs | v Phase 6: Tracking sys-tracking-goals (continuous) --> monitor, alert, adjust | v Phase 7: Learning Fill 6-learning.md --> feed next planning cycle ``` --- ## Error Handling | Error | Action | |-------|--------| | Missing required canvas | Block, request canvas completion | | Goal already activated | Return existing thread | | Child targets exceed parent | Reject, show constraint | | No current metrics for tracking | Alert, request update | --- ## Artifact Structure ``` strategy/ +-- canvas/ # Business canvas (populated by fnd-architect + fnd-researcher) +-- goals/ +-- active/ # Live goals +-- achieved/ # Completed goals +-- index.md threads/ +-- {domain}/ # Created by sys-activating-goals +-- {name}/ +-- 1-input.md through 6-learning.md artifacts/ +-- system/ +-- alerts/ # Generated by sys-tracking-goals +-- goal-dashboard.md ```