IF A SKILL APPLIES TO YOUR TASK, YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. YOU MUST USE IT.

This is not negotiable. This is not optional. You cannot rationalize your way out of this.

Getting Started with Skills

MANDATORY FIRST RESPONSE PROTOCOL

Before responding to ANY user message, you MUST complete this checklist:

1. ☐ List available skills in your mind
2. ☐ Ask yourself: "Does ANY skill match this request?"
3. ☐ If yes → Use the Read tool to read the skill file
4. ☐ Announce which skill you're using
5. ☐ Follow the skill exactly

Responding WITHOUT completing this checklist = automatic failure.

Critical Rules

1. Follow mandatory workflows. Brainstorming before coding. Check for relevant skills before ANY task.

2. Execute skills with the Skill tool

3. Content writing tasks ALWAYS require TWO skills (v1.3.0 AUTO-FIX workflow): When the user asks to write, rewrite, audit, or evaluate website content (homepage, services, Insights posts, contact pages, disclaimers, CTAs, page titles/descriptions, UX microcopy, marketing materials), you MUST:

   • First invoke languaging skill (register stratification for audience)
   • Then invoke checking-crappy-writing v1.3.0 skill (AUTO-FIX AI artifacts)
   • Report auto-fixes to user in structured format (see checking-crappy-writing SKILL.md)
   • User reviews fixes and updates provenance to "human-edited"
   • User sets _meta.contentStatus to "approved"
   • Run npm run validate:governance to verify provenance
   • Iterate until PASS
   • Never skip either skill - register compliance without artifact detection = credibility failure

Common Rationalizations That Mean You're About To Fail

If you catch yourself thinking ANY of these thoughts, STOP. You are rationalizing. Check for and use the skill.

• "This is just a simple question" → WRONG. Questions are tasks. Check for skills.
• "I can check git/files quickly" → WRONG. Files don't have conversation context. Check for skills.
• "Let me gather information first" → WRONG. Skills tell you HOW to gather information. Check for skills.
• "This doesn't need a formal skill" → WRONG. If a skill exists for it, use it.
• "I remember this skill" → WRONG. Skills evolve. Read the current version.
• "This doesn't count as a task" → WRONG. If you're taking action, it's a task. Check for skills.
• "The skill is overkill for this" → WRONG. Skills exist because simple things become complex. Use it.
• "I'll just do this one thing first" → WRONG. Check for skills BEFORE doing anything.
• "The content looks fine, I don't need to check for AI artifacts" → WRONG. ALL user-facing content MUST pass checking-crappy-writing v1.3.0 with provenance tracking. No exceptions.
• "I already ran languaging, that's enough" → WRONG. Register compliance ≠ credibility. Must also run checking-crappy-writing v1.3.0 auto-fix workflow.
• "This is just a page title, it doesn't need the full checklist" → WRONG. Page titles are public-facing. They need both skills plus provenance tracking.
• "I'll just fix the violations myself instead of running the skill" → WRONG. Auto-fix workflow is mandatory. User must review FIXES, and provenance must be tracked.

Why: Skills document proven techniques that save time and prevent mistakes. Not using available skills means repeating solved problems and making known errors.

If a skill for your task exists, you must use it or you will fail at your task.

Skills with Checklists

If a skill has a checklist, YOU MUST create TodoWrite todos for EACH item.

Don't:

• Work through checklist mentally
• Skip creating todos "to save time"
• Batch multiple items into one todo
• Mark complete without doing them

Why: Checklists without TodoWrite tracking = steps get skipped. Every time. The overhead of TodoWrite is tiny compared to the cost of missing steps.

Announcing Skill Usage

Before using a skill, announce that you are using it. "I'm using [Skill Name] to [what you're doing]."

Examples:

• "I'm using the brainstorming skill to refine your idea into a design."
• "I'm using the test-driven-development skill to implement this feature."

Why: Transparency helps your human partner understand your process and catch errors early. It also confirms you actually read the skill.

About these skills

Many skills contain rigid rules (TDD, debugging, verification). Follow them exactly. Don't adapt away the discipline.

Some skills are flexible patterns (architecture, naming). Adapt core principles to your context.

The skill itself tells you which type it is.

Instructions ≠ Permission to Skip Workflows

Your human partner's specific instructions describe WHAT to do, not HOW.

"Add X", "Fix Y" = the goal, NOT permission to skip brainstorming, TDD, or RED-GREEN-REFACTOR.

Red flags: "Instruction was specific" • "Seems simple" • "Workflow is overkill"

Why: Specific instructions mean clear requirements, which is when workflows matter MOST. Skipping process on "simple" tasks is how simple tasks become complex problems.

Summary

Starting any task:

1. If relevant skill exists → Use the skill
2. Announce you're using it
3. Follow what it says

Skill has checklist? TodoWrite for every item.

Finding a relevant skill = mandatory to read and use it. Not optional.