inversion · diff
git:20260817.0cc07d9 to git:20260817.f04083f
3 added, 33 removed. Audit A to A.
---
name: inversion
description: Find the route to guaranteed failure, negate it. Use when a goal keeps not being reached head-on.
---
- ## Extract
-
- From the conversation/context/user:
-
- - The **goal** as stated.
- - Its **misses** — the head-on attempts already made, and where each fell short.
- - The **want** — what the user is asking for in raising it: a new way at the goal, or something else.
-
- ## Gate
-
- Proceed only when: the goal has been tried head-on and missed more than once, and what's wanted is a new way at it — not the work done, not the damage owned.
-
- Anything else, say which in one plain line — never invert anyway:
-
- - The goal hasn't been tried head-on yet → do the work; the head-on attempt governs what follows.
- - The failing is the execution, not the route → own it and fix it; the fixing governs what follows.
- - A list of what could go wrong is what's wanted → give the list plainly and proceed with the work — that list is itself the answer, nothing here owes it a negation.
-
- ## Invert
-
- Everything here runs inside this one turn — nothing waits on the user.
+ This runs inside one turn — nothing waits on the user.
1. Ask: what would make this goal certain to fail? List the fewest actions that guarantee it — things being done or skipped today count double. Prefer the certain small saboteur over the dramatic unlikely one.
2. Negate each into one imperative line: a thing to do or a thing to stop.
3. Cut any line that is a risk to watch rather than an action to take — a risk list is the inversion failing, not the route arriving.
- The negated list is the route.
-
- ## Output
-
- Deliver the route — each line an imperative the user can act on — and stop there: nothing else rides along.
-
- Then check whether anything still unresolved would change what gets built:
-
- - Nothing would → return to the work the inversion interrupted.
- - A line of the route rests on something already settled that the user does not hold → use **explain** skill.
- - A line's words admit two readings that would do different things → use **clarify** skill.
+ The negated list is the route. Hand it back as short bullets, one imperative per line, and stop there: nothing else rides along. Name any saboteur step 3 cut for having no action behind it; those stay open.
- The inversion is spent once the route is out — anything further runs under the branch picked here, never as another inversion.
+ The goal hasn't been tried head-on yet → do the work. The failing is the execution, not the route → own it and fix it. A list of what could go wrong is what's wanted → give the list plainly; that list is itself the answer.