asb-carol-keystones

Refines classified product strengths into keystones that identify target market segments.

Updated Nov 15, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/evanish/reusable-PM-templates --skill asb-carol-keystones-evanish
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: asb-carol-keystones
Source: https://github.com/evanish/reusable-PM-templates/tree/main/Templates%20to%20reuse/Work/asb-customer-discovery/asb-carol-keystones
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/evanish/reusable-PM-templates --skill asb-carol-keystones-evanish

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Product teams often have a list of strengths but no clear picture of who actually needs them badly enough to buy. This Skill turns a strengths chart into a keystone chart — the specific customer circumstances that require an extreme version of each strength — revealing which market segments the product is genuinely compelling to. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Strength-by-strength walkthrough: Walks each classified strength (S1, S2, …) one at a time, generating keystone candidates with the user and testing each against a requires-not-prefers bar. - Segment gate enforcement: Cuts any candidate that cannot name a real, significant market segment that typifies it, recording rejected strengths as table stakes with reasoning. - Structured KEYSTONES.md output: Records surviving keystones (K1, K2, …) with [S-number] references, example segments, a table-stakes section, and an honest verdict when one or zero keystones survive. - Use Case: After classifying your product's strengths and weaknesses, run this Skill to discover that "fast website" only becomes a keystone for e-commerce stores where speed measurably moves revenue — sharpening your target market definition. ## Quick Start Read my STRENGTHS-WEAKNESSES.md file and walk me through turning each strength into keystones with real market segments.

Frequently Asked Questions about asb-carol-keystones

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I turn product strengths into a target market definition?

Walk each classified strength and ask what customer circumstance requires an extreme version of it, then name the real market segment that typifies that circumstance. This Skill guides that process one strength at a time and records surviving keystones in KEYSTONES.md.

What is a keystone in ideal customer profile discovery?

A keystone is a customer characteristic, behavior, or circumstance that requires an extreme version of one of your product strengths — strong enough to drive a purchase alone. It differs from the strength itself: "fast website" is a strength, while "e-commerce store where speed measurably moves revenue" is a keystone.

What input does the keystones skill need to start?

It expects a strengths chart, by default a STRENGTHS-WEAKNESSES.md file in the current directory, or a pasted list of classified strengths. If none exists, it offers to run the classification step first or capture a defensible strengths list in chat with caveats.

What happens if no keystones survive the segment gate?

The Skill delivers the verdict plainly: the product is not compelling yet. It records a twofold response — increase marketing where keystones do exist, and use customer research to decide what to build next that would address a real keystone.

When should I not use the keystones step of this method?

Do not use it to classify strengths and weaknesses, which is the previous step, or to derive deal-breakers and the anti-market, which is the next step. It also does not pick which target segment to pursue — that strategic choice comes later in the method.