Step 0 · first 45 seconds
Hear it, then write 3 lines
"Let me restate: [the prompt in one line]. I'll aim to [read it / diagnose it / design for it]."
Problem: ______________
Who: ______________
Moves: type + 3 beats
TrapSpeaking before writing. Asking "is that correct?" after the restatement.
ExampleProblem: casual players stop after week 1. Who: casual player with spare 5 minutes. Moves: design.
Step 1 · 10 seconds
Name the type
"This sounds like a [type] problem."
Ask yourself: what did they hand me? Pick one below.
IF TWO TYPES FIT, THE VERB IN THE QUESTION WINS
- "What is going on / what do you make of this" → Read
- "Why did it drop / how do you find the cause" → Diagnose
- "How would you increase / improve / design for" → Design
- "Where do you start / from scratch / first week" → 0 to 1
- "What is wrong with / review / compare" → Critique
- "Would you / what do you cut / respond to" → Trade-off
When it goes wrong · say this
- Frozen: "Let me think out loud for a moment." Then name the type again.
- Missing data: "I'll assume X and move on. I'd confirm it with Y."
- Lost the thread: "Let me step back and map what I know."
- Want validation: "My read is X. Tell me if you see it differently."
Never say
- "I feel lost." (Say the line above instead.)
- "Is that correct?" / "my best guess" / "am I missing something?"
- Ask for a hint. State an assumption instead.
- "It's unsolvable." End on the wrap, always.
One scenario takes 4 to 6 minutes. One beat takes 30 to 60 seconds. Solutions get the last 5 minutes, never less.