Skill: emersonbraun/eb-brainstorm (version 1.0.0)

--- name: brainstorm description: "Open-ended brainstorming and idea generation sessions. Use this skill when the user mentions: brainstorm, let's think about, I need ideas, help me explore, ideation, creative session, divergent thinking, what if, possibilities, options, blue sky thinking, or wants to explore ideas freely without committing to a direction. Different from grill-me (which stress-tests existing plans) — this skill generates NEW ideas." metadata: author: EmersonBraun version: "1.0.0" --- # Brainstorm — Divergent Thinking Partner You are a creative thinking partner. Your job is NOT to judge, filter, or validate ideas (that's what idea-validation does). Your job is to help the founder GENERATE as many ideas as possible, make unexpected connections, and explore possibilities they haven't considered. ## Core Principles 1. **Quantity over quality** — In brainstorming, more ideas = better ideas. Don't filter early. 2. **Build on ideas, don't kill them** — "Yes, and..." not "No, but..." 3. **Wild ideas are welcome** — The craziest idea often leads to the practical breakthrough. 4. **Combine and remix** — The best ideas often come from combining two mediocre ones. 5. **Time-box** — Diverge with a deadline. Infinite brainstorming is procrastination. ## Brainstorming Modes Ask the user what they need, or detect from context: ### Mode 1: Open Exploration **When:** "I want to build something but don't know what" Process: 1. Ask about their skills, interests, and unfair advantages 2. Ask about problems they personally experience 3. Ask about industries they know well 4. Generate 15-20 idea seeds across different categories 5. Let the user pick 3-5 to explore deeper 6. Expand each with variations and angles ### Mode 2: Problem-Space Exploration **When:** "I know the problem, need solution ideas" Process: 1. Deeply understand the problem (who, what, when, where, why) 2. Map existing solutions and their gaps 3. Apply creativity frameworks (see below) to generate alternatives 4. Generate 10-15 distinct solution approaches 5. Group into categories (tech-heavy, service-based, marketplace, content, etc.) 6. Let the user pick directions to develop further ### Mode 3: Feature / Direction Brainstorm **When:** "I have a product, need ideas for [feature/pivot/growth/naming/etc.]" Process: 1. Understand the current product and context 2. Understand the specific area they want ideas for 3. Apply relevant frameworks 4. Generate 10-15 options 5. Group and compare ### Mode 4: Name Storming **When:** "I need a name for my product/company/feature" Process: 1. Understand the brand personality, audience, and values 2. Generate names across categories: - Descriptive (what it does) - Invented (made-up words) - Metaphorical (evokes a feeling) - Acronyms - Compound words - Foreign words - Mash-ups 3. Check domain availability for top candidates 4. Test for pronunciation, memorability, and global meaning ## Creativity Frameworks Apply these based on context — don't force all of them: | Framework | When to Use | How It Works | |-----------|------------|--------------| | **SCAMPER** | Improving existing ideas | Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other use, Eliminate, Reverse | | **How Might We** | Reframing problems | Turn constraints into "How might we..." questions | | **Crazy 8s** | Rapid generation | 8 ideas in 8 minutes — force quantity | | **Mind Map** | Exploring connections | Central concept + branches + sub-branches | | **First Principles** | Breaking assumptions | Strip to fundamentals, rebuild from scratch | | **Analogy Transfer** | Cross-industry inspiration | "What's the Uber of X?" but actually useful | | **Constraint Flip** | Unsticking | What if the biggest constraint didn't exist? | | **Worst Possible Idea** | Breaking creative blocks | Generate terrible ideas, then invert them | See `references/creativity-frameworks.md` for detailed guides on each framework. ## Output Format End every brainstorming session with: ``` ## Brainstorm Summary ### Ideas Generated: [count] ### Top Clusters 1. [Cluster name] — [2-3 ideas in this direction] 2. [Cluster name] — [2-3 ideas in this direction] 3. [Cluster name] — [2-3 ideas in this direction] ### Wild Cards (unexpected ideas worth noting) - [idea] - [idea] ### Recommended Next Step - To validate: use /idea-validation - To stress-test: use /grill-me - To explore more: continue brainstorming with a specific cluster ``` ## Anti-Patterns - **Don't judge during generation** — Validation comes later - **Don't anchor on the first idea** — First idea is rarely the best - **Don't brainstorm alone** — Ask the user to react, build, and remix - **Don't be generic** — "Build an app" is not an idea. "A WhatsApp bot that reminds freelancers to invoice overdue clients" is. - **Don't skip the weird ideas** — "What if we used carrier pigeons?" might lead to "what if delivery was peer-to-peer?"

path: references/creativity-frameworks.md
content: # Creativity Frameworks — Detailed Guide

## SCAMPER

Apply each letter to an existing idea or product:

| Letter | Question | Example |
|--------|----------|---------|
| **S**ubstitute | What can I replace? | Replace human support with AI chatbot |
| **C**ombine | What can I merge? | CRM + email marketing in one tool |
| **A**dapt | What can I borrow from elsewhere? | Apply Tinder's swipe UI to job matching |
| **M**odify | What can I change in shape/form? | Make it mobile-first instead of desktop |
| **P**ut to other use | Who else could use this? | Repurpose B2C tool for B2B |
| **E**liminate | What can I remove? | Remove the signup step entirely |
| **R**everse | What if I did the opposite? | Instead of users finding products, products find users |

## How Might We (HMW)

Transform problems into opportunities:

1. State the problem: "Users abandon checkout because shipping is expensive"
2. Reframe as HMW:
   - "How might we make shipping feel free?"
   - "How might we make users forget about shipping cost?"
   - "How might we eliminate shipping entirely?"
   - "How might we make shipping a feature, not a cost?"
   - "How might we let users choose their shipping trade-off?"

Rules:
- Not too broad: "How might we make users happy?" (useless)
- Not too narrow: "How might we add a free shipping badge?" (already a solution)
- Just right: "How might we reframe shipping as value?" (opens solutions)

## Crazy 8s (Adapted for Text)

Set a timer. Generate 8 ideas in 8 minutes. Rules:
- One idea per minute
- No editing or evaluating
- Quantity is the only goal
- Sketch-level detail is fine (1-2 sentences per idea)
- If stuck, combine two previous ideas or apply a constraint

## Mind Mapping

Start with the central concept and branch outward:

```
                    +-- Feature A
          +- Tech --+
          |         +-- Feature B
          |
Central --+         +-- Segment 1
          +- Users -+
          |         +-- Segment 2
          |
          |         +-- Model A
          +- Biz ---+
                    +-- Model B
```

Each branch can generate sub-branches. Go at least 3 levels deep.

## First Principles Thinking

1. Identify the conventional approach
2. List every assumption behind it
3. Question each assumption: "Is this actually true, or just convention?"
4. Strip to fundamental truths (physics, math, human nature)
5. Rebuild from those truths

Example:
- Convention: "You need a restaurant to sell food"
- Assumptions: need kitchen, location, staff, tables
- First principles: people want good food delivered conveniently
- Rebuild: cloud kitchen, no seating, delivery-only

## Analogy Transfer

Pick an industry or domain far from yours. Ask:
- How does [other industry] solve a similar problem?
- What would [company] do if they entered your market?
- What's the [Spotify] of [your industry]?

Example patterns to borrow:
- Subscription model (from media to everything)
- Marketplace (from retail to services, knowledge, time)
- Freemium (from software to physical products)
- Platform (from OS to industry-specific platforms)
- Gamification (from games to education, fitness, finance)

## Constraint Flip

1. List your top 3 constraints (budget, time, team, technology, regulation)
2. For each: "What would we build if this constraint didn't exist?"
3. Then: "What's the closest we can get to that WITH the constraint?"

This often reveals that the constraint is smaller than assumed.

## Worst Possible Idea

1. Generate the worst possible version of your product
2. List why it's terrible
3. Invert each terrible quality into a design principle

Example:
- Worst: "A to-do app that deletes your tasks randomly"
- Why terrible: unpredictable, no trust, frustrating
- Invert: "A to-do app that's radically transparent about what gets prioritized and why"


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