setup

Create an Obsidian Chief of Staff vault with YAML frontmatter and a first briefing.

89|13|Updated Apr 15, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/jdpolasky/ai-chief-of-staff --skill setup-jdpolasky
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: setup
Source: https://github.com/jdpolasky/ai-chief-of-staff/tree/main/.claude/skills/setup
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/jdpolasky/ai-chief-of-staff --skill setup-jdpolasky

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

It solves the friction of getting a fresh Chief of Staff system working for a non-coder, including creating a working Obsidian vault and delivering the first briefing so you can immediately use the loop.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • First-time conversational onboarding: Guides a new user through the minimum set of questions to generate a usable system, while letting them skip optional sections.
  • Safe, validated file and vault generation: Checks the vault path, tests write access, avoids overwriting an existing install without explicit confirmation, and builds the required vault files and initial memory content.
  • Instant first briefing: Produces a Must/Should/Could briefing right after setup to demonstrate the system’s operation and drive initial action.

Quick Start

Tell your AI to run the setup flow for you by asking: “Set up my Chief of Staff vault. I’ll answer your questions and then deliver my first briefing.”

Frequently Asked Questions about setup

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I set up a productivity system in Obsidian for non-coders?

An Obsidian productivity system for non-coders is set up through a conversational onboarding flow that collects your identity and priorities, then automatically generates the required vault files and memory layer without manual coding.

Can I initialize an Obsidian vault and Claude memory layer without overwriting an existing install?

Yes, initializing an Obsidian vault and Claude memory layer validates your vault path and write permissions, and prevents accidental overwrites of an existing install by requiring explicit confirmation before writing files.

How do I generate a Must/Should/Could daily briefing from a new Obsidian vault?

A Must/Should/Could daily briefing is generated immediately after the setup wizard creates your vault files, using your initialized priorities and memory layer to deliver an actionable task list right away.

What do I need to create a Chief of Staff vault and start generating briefings?

To create a Chief of Staff vault you need a valid vault path with write access, plus your identity, priority lanes, and optional working preferences, which the setup wizard collects to generate the system files.

Does the setup wizard support conversational onboarding for skipping optional preferences?

Yes, the setup wizard supports conversational onboarding by asking the minimum questions needed to generate a usable system, allowing you to skip optional sections like working and procrastination preferences.

Why does my Obsidian vault setup require YAML frontmatter for file generation?

Obsidian vault setup requires mandatory YAML frontmatter containing name and description fields to properly structure the generated system files and initialize the Claude memory layer for your briefings.