--- description: Solve problems backwards - what would guarantee failure? argument-hint: [goal or leave blank for current context] --- Apply inversion thinking to $ARGUMENTS (or the current discussion if no arguments provided). Instead of asking "How do I succeed?", ask "What would guarantee failure?" then avoid those things. 1. State the goal or desired outcome 2. Invert: "What would guarantee I fail at this?" 3. List all failure modes (be thorough and honest) 4. For each failure mode, identify the avoidance strategy 5. Build success plan by systematically avoiding failure **Goal:** [what success looks like] **Guaranteed Failure Modes:** 1. [Way to fail]: Avoid by [specific action] 2. [Way to fail]: Avoid by [specific action] 3. [Way to fail]: Avoid by [specific action] **Anti-Goals (Never Do):** - [Behavior to eliminate] - [Behavior to eliminate] **Success By Avoidance:** By simply not doing [X, Y, Z], success becomes much more likely because... **Remaining Risk:** [What's left after avoiding obvious failures] - Failure modes are specific and realistic - Avoidance strategies are actionable - Surfaces risks that optimistic planning misses - Creates clear "never do" boundaries - Shows path to success via negativa