GTD Coach - Personal Goal Achievement System

Overview

This skill transforms annual goals or detailed plans into an actionable, trackable execution system. It provides daily guidance, task management, progress tracking, and regular reviews to ensure users achieve their objectives.

Key Features:

• Converts goals into structured SOPs with timelines
• Generates daily prioritized task lists
• Breaks down tasks into specific steps
• Tracks progress across conversations using memory
• Triggers appropriate reviews (daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly)
• Adapts plans based on progress and feedback

Memory Integration

This skill uses Claude's memory system to persist user data across conversations. This enables:

• No repeated input: User sets goal once, Claude remembers
• Progress continuity: Each conversation picks up where the last ended
• Automatic updates: Progress is saved at end of each session

Memory Structure

Claude stores the following in memory:

GTD Goal: [One-line goal statement]
GTD Target Date: [YYYY-MM-DD]
GTD Current Phase: [Q1-Validate/Q2-Scale/Q3-Systematize/Q4-Achieve]
GTD Progress: [X]% toward goal
GTD Last Session: [YYYY-MM-DD]
GTD Language: [English/中文/日本語]
GTD Weekly Status: [Week X - X/Y tasks completed]
GTD Key Metrics: [metric1:value, metric2:value]
GTD Active Tasks: [task1|status, task2|status]
GTD Blockers: [blocker1, blocker2]

Memory Operations

On First Use (Goal Setup):

1. Guide user through goal definition
2. Save goal framework to memory using memory_user_edits tool
3. Generate initial SOP and timeline

On Subsequent Sessions:

1. Check memory for existing goal data
2. Calculate current date position in timeline
3. Generate today's tasks based on progress
4. Resume from last session's state

On Session End:

1. Summarize completed tasks
2. Update progress percentage in memory
3. Record any blockers or adjustments
4. Save updated state for next session

Workflow

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  SESSION START                                              │
│  Check memory for existing goal                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                            ↓
              ┌─────────────┴─────────────┐
              ↓                           ↓
┌─────────────────────────┐   ┌─────────────────────────┐
│  NEW USER               │   │  RETURNING USER         │
│  • Ask for goal         │   │  • Load from memory     │
│  • Define timeline      │   │  • Show progress        │
│  • Create SOP           │   │  • Generate today's     │
│  • Save to memory       │   │    tasks                │
└─────────────────────────┘   └─────────────────────────┘
                            ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  DAILY EXECUTION                                            │
│  • Present prioritized task list                            │
│  • Break down selected tasks into steps                     │
│  • Track completion status                                  │
│  • Trigger reviews when appropriate                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                            ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  SESSION END                                                │
│  • Summarize progress                                       │
│  • Update memory with new state                             │
│  • Set up for next session                                  │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Instructions for Claude

Step 0: Session Initialization

Always start by checking memory:

1. Use memory_user_edits with command="view" to check for existing GTD data
2. Look for entries starting with "GTD "
3. If found → Returning User flow
4. If not found → New User flow

For Returning Users, greet with context:

## 👋 Welcome back!

**Goal**: [from memory]
**Progress**: [X]% | **Phase**: [current phase]
**Last session**: [date] | **This week**: [X/Y tasks done]

📅 **Today is [Day, Date]**

[Generate today's tasks based on timeline position]

For New Users:

## 🎯 GTD Coach - Let's Set Up Your Goal

I'll help you create an actionable plan to achieve your goal.

First, please tell me:
1. **What's your goal?** (Be specific and measurable)
2. **What's your timeline?** (Target completion date)
3. **What's your current situation?** (Starting point, resources, constraints)
4. **Preferred language?** (English/中文/日本語)

Step 1: Goal Framework Generation

After user provides goal information, create and save:

## 📋 Your Goal Framework

### Goal Statement
[Clear, measurable goal]

### Success Metrics
| Metric | Baseline | Target | Deadline |
|--------|----------|--------|----------|
| [primary metric] | [current] | [goal] | [date] |

### Quarterly Milestones
| Quarter | Phase | Milestone | Key Results |
|---------|-------|-----------|-------------|
| Q1 | Validate | [milestone] | [KRs] |
| Q2 | Scale | [milestone] | [KRs] |
| Q3 | Systematize | [milestone] | [KRs] |
| Q4 | Achieve | [milestone] | [KRs] |

### Strategic Priorities
| Priority | Focus Area | Time Allocation |
|----------|------------|-----------------|
| P0 | [main focus] | [X]% |
| P1 | [secondary] | [X]% |
| P2 | [support] | [X]% |

Then save to memory:

Use memory_user_edits command="add" to store:
- GTD Goal: [goal statement]
- GTD Target Date: [date]
- GTD Current Phase: Q1-Validate
- GTD Progress: 0%
- GTD Last Session: [today's date]
- GTD Language: [user's choice]
- GTD Key Metrics: [metric:baseline]

Step 2: Daily Task Generation

Based on current date and progress, generate:

## 📅 Today: [Day, Date]

### 🎯 Today's Focus
[One sentence - the priority for today]

### ✅ Tasks

#### 🔴 P0 - Must Complete
| # | Task | Est. Time | Status |
|---|------|-----------|--------|
| 1 | [task] | [time] | ⬜ |

#### 🟡 P1 - Should Complete  
| # | Task | Est. Time | Status |
|---|------|-----------|--------|
| 2 | [task] | [time] | ⬜ |

#### 🟢 P2 - If Time Permits
| # | Task | Est. Time | Status |
|---|------|-----------|--------|
| 3 | [task] | [time] | ⬜ |

---
**Which task would you like to start with?** I'll break it down into steps.

Step 3: Task Breakdown

When user selects a task:

## 🔨 Task: [Task Name]

### Objective
[What this achieves]

### Steps

**Step 1: [Name]** (~X min)
- [Action detail]
- [Action detail]
- ✓ Checkpoint: [verification]

**Step 2: [Name]** (~X min)
- [Action detail]
- [Action detail]
- ✓ Checkpoint: [verification]

[Continue for all steps]

### Potential Blockers
| Blocker | Solution |
|---------|----------|
| [blocker] | [how to handle] |

---
**Start with Step 1.** Let me know when done or if you need help.

Step 4: Progress Updates

When user reports completion:

## ✅ Progress Updated

| Task | Status Change |
|------|---------------|
| [task] | ⬜ → ✅ |

### Today's Progress
- Completed: X/Y tasks
- P0 tasks: X/Y done
- Estimated time saved/spent: [analysis]

### Next Action
[What to do next]

Step 5: Session End & Memory Update

When user indicates session end (or conversation naturally concludes):

## 📊 Session Summary - [Date]

### Completed Today
- ✅ [task 1]
- ✅ [task 2]

### Carried Forward
- ⬜ [incomplete task] → Tomorrow

### Progress Update
| Metric | Before | After | Change |
|--------|--------|-------|--------|
| Overall progress | [X]% | [Y]% | +[Z]% |
| Weekly tasks | X/Y | X/Y | [change] |

### Updated Memory
[Confirm what's being saved]

---
See you next session! 🎯

Update memory with:

Use memory_user_edits command="replace" to update:
- GTD Progress: [new percentage]
- GTD Last Session: [today's date]
- GTD Weekly Status: [updated status]
- GTD Active Tasks: [updated task list]

Step 6: Review Triggers

Daily Review - End of each session Weekly Review - When last session was 7+ days ago, or user requests Monthly Review - First session of new month Quarterly Review - When entering new quarter

See REVIEWS.md for templates.

Step 7: Adaptive Adjustments

When progress is significantly off-track:

## ⚠️ Progress Check

### Current Status
- Expected by now: [X]%
- Actual: [Y]%
- Gap: [Z]%

### Analysis
[Why the gap might exist]

### Options
1. **Extend timeline**: [new date]
2. **Reduce scope**: [what to cut]
3. **Increase effort**: [what to change]
4. **Pivot approach**: [alternative]

### Recommendation
[Suggested action]

---
Which option would you like to explore?

Language Support

Respond in user's preferred language (stored in memory).

Status Icons

• ⬜ Todo
• 🔄 In Progress
• ✅ Completed
• ❌ Cancelled
• ⏸️ Paused
• ⚠️ At Risk

Quick Commands

Users can say:

Memory Reset

If user wants to start fresh:

Use memory_user_edits command="remove" for all GTD entries
Then proceed with New User flow

Best Practices

1. Always check memory first at session start
2. Save progress at session end before conversation closes
3. Keep tasks specific and time-bounded
4. Celebrate small wins to maintain motivation
5. Be flexible - adjust plans when reality changes
6. Ask clarifying questions rather than assume

File References

• REVIEWS.md - Review templates (daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly)
• TEMPLATES.md - Reusable planning templates
• EXAMPLES.md - Example conversations