sys-activating-goals
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
- Read goal from
strategy/goals/active/{goal-id}.md - Determine thread location based on goal category
- Create thread directory with causal flow structure
- Initialize
1-input.mdwith goal context - Update goal file with thread link
- 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_2026q1meetings_2026m01content-production_2026q1churn-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 activatesys-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:
- Reads
1-input.md - Fills
2-hypothesis.mdwith approach - Derives
3-implication.md - Makes
4-decision.md - Executes
5-actions.md - 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
- Read goal file
- Map: activity → sales domain
- Route: meetings → sls-outbound-manager
- Thread path:
threads/sales/meetings_2026q1/ - Create directory and files
- Populate 1-input.md with goal context
- 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