Goal Defining

Responsibility

sys-decomposing-goals

Quick Start

1. Classify input (canvas, natural language, hybrid)
2. Extract strategic intent
3. Identify canvas gaps (prompt if blocking)
4. Derive target using formulas
5. Create goal directory and write

   strategy/goals/active/{goal-dir}/goal.md

Input Classification

Canvas Input

• References

  strategy/canvas/*.md

  files
• Contains structured frontmatter
• Uses canvas terminology (mode, segments, GTM)
• Contains metric targets from canvas

Natural Language Input

• Conversational phrasing ("I want to...", "We need to...")
• Vague quantifiers ("more", "better", "increase")
• Missing time bounds or baselines
• No canvas file references

Hybrid Input

• References canvas with verbal context
• Partial data with narrative
• Mode awareness with conversational goals

Intent Extraction

From Natural Language

From Canvas

00.mode.md

04.segments.md

08.pricing.md

13.metrics.md

15.gtm.md

Canvas Dependencies

Required (blocking if missing)

strategy/canvas/00.mode.md

strategy/canvas/13.metrics.md

Recommended (use defaults if missing)

strategy/canvas/08.pricing.md

strategy/canvas/07.uvp.md

strategy/canvas/15.gtm.md

Target Derivation

Revenue Targets

• Formula:

  target_revenue / win_rate

• Default win_rate: 0.25
• Example: $1M / 0.25 = $4M pipeline

• Formula:

  pipeline / (opp_rate × avg_deal_size)

• Default opp_rate: 0.30, avg_deal: $50K
• Example: $4M / (0.30 × $50K) = 267 meetings

Activity Targets

• Formula:

  meetings / meeting_rate

• Default meeting_rate: 0.02
• Example: 267 / 0.02 = 13,350 touches

• Formula:

  sql_target / mql_to_sql_rate

• Default mql_to_sql: 0.40

Efficiency Targets

• Formula:

  current_rate + improvement_target

• Default improvement: 5 percentage points

• Formula:

  current_days × (1 - reduction_pct)

• Default reduction: 15%

Output

Directory Structure

strategy/goals/active/

strategy/goals/active/{goal-dir}/
└── goal.md          # Parent goal definition

sys-decomposing-goals

Goal Directory and ID Format

{short-name}-{period}

• ea-revenue-q1

  →

  strategy/goals/active/ea-revenue-q1/goal.md

• distribution-q1

  →

  strategy/goals/active/distribution-q1/goal.md

• conversion-q1

  →

  strategy/goals/active/conversion-q1/goal.md

File Structure

---
goal_id: {goal_id}
name: {human readable name}
category: {revenue|activity|content|efficiency|retention}
target_value: {number}
target_unit: {currency|count|percentage|days}
target_direction: {maximize|minimize}
period_start: {YYYY-MM-DD}
period_end: {YYYY-MM-DD}
period_type: {quarterly|monthly|weekly|annual}
baseline_value: {number}
baseline_source: {file path or "user_provided"}
baseline_date: {YYYY-MM-DD}
parent_goal: {goal_id|null}
child_goals: []
thread: null
derivation_formula: {formula name}
derivation_assumptions: [{name}: {value}]
ownership_accountable: {role}
ownership_contributors: [{roles}]
constraints_budget: {number|null}
constraints_headcount: {number|null}
constraints_capacity: {description|null}
confidence_score: {0.0-1.0}
status: active
created: {YYYY-MM-DD}
---

# {Goal Name}

## Target

{target_value} {unit} by {period_end}

## Current State

{baseline_value} {unit} as of {baseline_date}

## Gap Analysis

- **Absolute Gap:** {target - baseline} {unit}
- **Relative Gap:** {gap_percentage}%
- **Required Pace:** {daily_required} {unit}/day

## Derivation

**Source:** {parent_goal or "Direct input"}
**Formula:** {formula_description}

### Assumptions

| Assumption | Value | Source |
|------------|-------|--------|
| {name} | {value} | {canvas section or default} |

## Milestones

| Date | Target | Status |
|------|--------|--------|
| {milestone_1_date} | {value} | pending |
| {milestone_2_date} | {value} | pending |
| {milestone_3_date} | {value} | pending |

## Risk Factors

- {risk_1}
- {risk_2}

## Constraints

- **Budget:** {amount or "None"}
- **Headcount:** {count or "None"}
- **Capacity:** {description or "None"}

Milestone Generation

Linear Distribution

• Formula:

  baseline + (gap × milestone_fraction)

• Use when: Steady-state activity

Front-Loaded

• Distribution: [40%, 30%, 30%]
• Use when: Building momentum

Back-Loaded

• Distribution: [20%, 30%, 50%]
• Use when: Ramp-up required

Workflow

1. RECEIVE input (canvas reference, NL, or hybrid)

2. CLASSIFY input type
   └── Canvas: Read files, extract structured values
   └── NL: Extract intent, ask clarifying questions
   └── Hybrid: Extract structured first, supplement

3. CHECK canvas dependencies
   └── Required missing: STOP, prompt user
   └── Recommended missing: Use defaults, flag

4. DERIVE target
   └── Apply appropriate formula
   └── Record assumptions used

5. CALCULATE milestones
   └── Determine distribution pattern
   └── Generate milestone dates and values

6. WRITE goal file
   └── Create directory: strategy/goals/active/{goal-dir}/
   └── Write: strategy/goals/active/{goal-dir}/goal.md
   └── Format: Frontmatter + prose (no inline YAML)

7. UPDATE index
   └── Add to strategy/goals/index.md

8. RETURN goal_id for downstream use

Integration

Upstream

• Human input (conversational or structured)
• Canvas files for baseline data

Downstream

• sys-decomposing-goals

  : Break into subgoals

• sys-activating-goals

  : Create execution thread

• sys-tracking-goals

  : Monitor progress

Boundaries

• Input classification
• Intent extraction
• Canvas gap detection
• Single goal derivation
• Goal file generation

• Decompose goals into subgoals (use

  sys-decomposing-goals

  )
• Create execution threads (use

  sys-activating-goals

  )
• Track progress (use

  sys-tracking-goals

  )
• Modify canvas sections

Examples

Example 1: Canvas Input

Set Q1 revenue goal based on strategy/canvas/13.metrics.md

1. Read 13.metrics.md → current_arr: $650K
2. Read 00.mode.md → VENTURE mode, ARR focus
3. Apply 30% growth default → target: $845K
4. Create directory and write goal file

strategy/goals/active/arr-q1/
└── goal.md

Example 2: Natural Language Input

I want to hit $1M ARR by end of Q1

1. Extract: intent=target_arr, value=$1M, period=Q1
2. Ask: "What's your current ARR baseline?"
3. User: "$650K"
4. Calculate gap: $350K (35%)
5. Create directory and write goal file

strategy/goals/active/arr-q1/
└── goal.md

Example 3: Hybrid Input

Based on our bootstrap mode and current metrics,
I want to add 50 new customers this quarter

1. Read 00.mode.md → BOOTSTRAP confirmed
2. Read 13.metrics.md → current_customers: 120
3. Target: 170 customers (+50)
4. Create directory and write goal file

strategy/goals/active/customers-q1/
└── goal.md