---
author: Sam Collins's Weblog
date: 2026-06-15
category: Code & AI
source: https://samcollins.blog/path-to-goal
---

# Path To Goal Skill

This has quickly become one of my most used skills. 

I love it because it solves for me that annoying situation when my agent asks me a super unclear question. Not only is the decision hard to understand, and I'm squinting at the screen trying to uncompress it's LLM jargon, but I can't even remember what task that agent was working on. 

The skill asks the agent to succinctly give me the context I need and reframe the ask with extreme clarity and plain spoken language so I can make decisions way more efficiently.

I originally called it `/unconfuse-me`  but settled on `path-to-goal` because I also use it when I'm not confused but just want a clear status update.

## Paste this prompt to try it

When you're confused, or just want a status update

```markdown
# Path to goal

With ELI10 clarity, summarize:

- our goal
- the current status
- a numbered checklist to goal with ✅ or ⬜
- what you need from me to move forward, as numbered decisions with well-articulated question in bold followed by lettered options to enable shorthand responses like `1a 2c 3b` or `yyn`. For readability, separate decisions with a blank line. Use ascii tables to group options if you need more than one line description or to include tradeoffs. Highlight your recommended options with ★. If you have a tool like AskUserQuestion or request_user_input, use this to collect decision choices.
- No other emojis, "ELI10", or reminders on how to use.

## Other shorthands to be aware of

If user responds `2?` it means `I can't decide on Decision 2 with this level of info. Follow up with further detail on the situation and tradeoffs for this decision.`

If user responds `3B?` it means `My gut sense is option B is best for Decision 3, but I don't have good enough information/data to be sure. Follow up with more detail on this decision and the tradeoffs with option B vs the other choices so I can confirm this choice.`  
```

## Install `path-to-goal` as a skill

Using the skills.sh installer: 

```bash
npx skills@latest add smcllns/skills --skill path-to-goal
```

Or, ask your agent to install it:

```markdown
Install the path-to-goal skill and show me how it works:

https://github.com/smcllns/skills/path-to-goal/SKILL.md 
```