sys-activating-goals

name	sys-activating-goals
description	Creates execution threads for goals using the 6-stage causal flow pattern. Links threads to goals, initializes 1-input.md with goal context, and routes to appropriate agent for execution. Transforms defined goals into actionable work.
triggers	activate goal, start goal, execute goal, create thread for goal
allowed-tools	Read, Write, Glob, Grep
license	Complete terms in LICENSE.txt

Goal Activating

Transform a defined goal into an active execution thread.

Responsibility

Create an execution thread for a goal using the causal flow pattern. Link the thread to the goal and route to the appropriate agent.

Quick Start

1. Read goal from strategy/goals/active/{goal-id}.md
2. Determine thread location based on goal category
3. Create thread directory with causal flow structure
4. Initialize 1-input.md with goal context
5. Update goal file with thread link
6. Route to appropriate agent

Causal Flow Structure

Every execution thread follows this structure:

threads/{domain}/{thread-name}/
└── 1-input.md          # Goal context, constraints, success criteria
                        # Stages 2-6 created by sys-executing-threads when agents write output

Thread Location Mapping

Goal Category	Thread Domain	Agent
revenue	revops	rop-allocator
activity	marketing or sales	mkt-campaign-manager or sls-outbound-manager
content	marketing	mkt-content-manager
efficiency	revops	rop-evaluator
retention	customer	cst-lifecycle-manager

Detailed Routing

Revenue Goals:
├── Pipeline target → threads/revops/ → rop-allocator
├── Bookings target → threads/sales/ → sls-strategist
└── Expansion target → threads/customer/ → cst-growth-manager

Activity Goals:
├── Meeting target → threads/sales/ → sls-outbound-manager
├── Outreach target → threads/sales/ → sls-outbound-manager
├── MQL target → threads/marketing/ → mkt-inbound-manager
└── Demo target → threads/sales/ → sls-outbound-manager

Content Goals:
├── Production target → threads/marketing/ → mkt-content-manager
├── Traffic target → threads/marketing/ → mkt-campaign-manager
└── SEO target → threads/marketing/ → mkt-content-manager

Efficiency Goals:
├── Conversion rate → threads/revops/ → rop-calibrator
├── Cycle time → threads/sales/ → sls-strategist
└── CAC optimization → threads/revops/ → rop-evaluator

Retention Goals:
├── Churn reduction → threads/customer/ → cst-lifecycle-manager
├── NRR target → threads/customer/ → cst-growth-manager
└── Renewal rate → threads/customer/ → cst-lifecycle-manager

Thread Naming

Format: {goal-metric}_{period-short}

Examples:

• pipeline_2026q1
• meetings_2026m01
• content-production_2026q1
• churn-reduction_2026q1

Output Structure

Thread Directory

threads/{domain}/{thread-name}/
└── 1-input.md    # Only file created by this skill
                  # 2-6 created by sys-executing-threads

1-input.md Format

---
thread_id: {domain}_{thread-name}
goal_id: {linked goal id}
created: {YYYY-MM-DD}
owner: {agent name}
status: active
---

# {Goal Name} Execution

## Goal Link

**Goal:** strategy/goals/active/{goal-id}.md
**Target:** {target_value} {unit}
**Deadline:** {period_end}
**Gap:** {current gap to close}

## Context

### Current State

{baseline_value} {unit} as of {baseline_date}

### Constraints

| Constraint | Value |
|------------|-------|
| Budget | {amount or "None"} |
| Headcount | {count or "None"} |
| Capacity | {description or "None"} |

### Assumptions

| Assumption | Value | Source |
|------------|-------|--------|
| {name} | {value} | {source} |

## Success Criteria

| Metric | Target | Current | Gap |
|--------|--------|---------|-----|
| {primary metric} | {target} | {current} | {gap} |

## Milestones

| Date | Target | Status |
|------|--------|--------|
| {date_1} | {value_1} | pending |
| {date_2} | {value_2} | pending |

## Dependencies

### Requires

- {upstream goals or resources}

### Enables

- {downstream goals}

## Risk Factors

- {risk_1}
- {risk_2}

## Routing

**Assigned Agent:** {agent-name}
**Reason:** {category-based routing logic}

Stages 2-6

Templates for stages 2-6 are defined in sys-executing-threads. This skill does NOT create them. Agents produce output, then call sys-executing-threads to write the stage files.

Process

Step 1: Read Goal

Read: strategy/goals/active/{goal-id}.md
Extract:
  - goal_id
  - name
  - category
  - target_value, target_unit
  - period_start, period_end
  - baseline_value
  - constraints
  - assumptions
  - risk_factors
  - milestones

Step 2: Determine Thread Location

1. Map category to domain
2. Check if parent goal has thread (coordinate)
3. Generate thread name from metric + period
4. Full path: threads/{domain}/{thread-name}/

Step 3: Create Thread Directory

1. Create directory if not exists
2. Create 1-input.md (populated with goal context)
   - Stages 2-6 are NOT created here
   - They are created by sys-executing-threads when agents write output

Step 4: Populate 1-input.md

1. Copy goal context into 1-input.md frontmatter
2. Format success criteria from goal targets
3. Include constraints and assumptions
4. List milestones as checkpoints
5. Note dependencies and risks
6. Assign agent based on routing

Step 5: Update Goal File

Add thread link to goal frontmatter:
  thread: threads/{domain}/{thread-name}

Update status:
  status: activated

Step 6: Route to Agent

Return activation context:
  thread_path: threads/{domain}/{thread-name}
  assigned_agent: {agent-name}
  goal_id: {goal-id}
  priority: {from goal urgency}

Batch Activation

For decomposed goal hierarchies:

1. Identify leaf goals (no children)
2. Sort by dependency order
3. Activate each leaf goal
4. Parent goals activate when children complete

Activation Priority

Condition	Priority
Deadline < 7 days	critical
Deadline < 14 days	high
Deadline < 30 days	medium
Deadline > 30 days	low
Blocking other goals	+1 level

Workflow

1. RECEIVE goal_id to activate

2. READ goal file
   └── Parse frontmatter and body
   └── Extract all goal attributes

3. CHECK activation readiness
   └── Goal status must be "active"
   └── Goal must not already have thread
   └── Dependencies should be met (or flag)

4. DETERMINE thread location
   └── Map category → domain
   └── Generate thread name
   └── Create full path

5. CREATE thread structure
   └── Make directory
   └── Write 1-input.md with goal context
   └── Stages 2-6 created later by sys-executing-threads

6. UPDATE goal file
   └── Add thread link
   └── Update status to "activated"

7. RETURN activation context
   └── thread_path
   └── assigned_agent
   └── priority

Integration

Upstream

• sys-defining-goals: Provides goal to activate
• sys-decomposing-goals: Provides leaf goals to activate

Downstream

• Assigned agent receives thread for execution
• sys-tracking-goals: Monitors thread progress against goal

With Agents

The assigned agent:

1. Reads 1-input.md
2. Fills 2-hypothesis.md with approach
3. Derives 3-implication.md
4. Makes 4-decision.md
5. Executes 5-actions.md
6. Records 6-learning.md

Agents write to stage files via sys-executing-threads skill, which handles frontmatter updates and completion tracking.

Boundaries

This skill provides:

• Thread creation for goals
• Causal flow structure initialization
• Goal-thread linking
• Agent routing

This skill does NOT:

• Define goals (use sys-defining-goals)
• Decompose goals (use sys-decomposing-goals)
• Execute the work (agents do)
• Track progress (use sys-tracking-goals)

Example

Input

Goal: goal_activity_meetings_2026q1

• Category: activity
• Target: 100 meetings
• Period: Q1 2026
• Baseline: 0 (new quarter)

Process

1. Read goal file
2. Map: activity → sales domain
3. Route: meetings → sls-outbound-manager
4. Thread path: threads/sales/meetings_2026q1/
5. Create directory and files
6. Populate 1-input.md with goal context
7. Update goal: thread: threads/sales/meetings_2026q1

Output

Directory created:

threads/sales/meetings_2026q1/
└── 1-input.md      # Populated with goal context

Goal updated:

thread: threads/sales/meetings_2026q1
status: activated

Activation context returned:

thread_path: threads/sales/meetings_2026q1
assigned_agent: sls-outbound-manager
goal_id: goal_activity_meetings_2026q1
priority: medium