breakthrough

Structured creativity when conventional approaches fail.

When to Use

| Trigger | Action | |---------|--------| | "I'm stuck on..." | Run breakthrough | | "Can't figure out..." | Run breakthrough | | "Hitting a wall with..." | Run breakthrough | | "All options seem bad" | Run breakthrough | | Problem is well-defined | Skip (just execute) | | Haven't researched yet | Research first |

Quick Reference: 6 Techniques

| Technique | One-Liner | Best For | |-----------|-----------|----------| | Simplification Cascade | Strip to essence, solve trivial, add back | Problem feels too big | | Scale Game | 1000x smaller? 1000x larger? | Over-engineered solutions | | Meta-Pattern | What class of problem is this? | "This shouldn't be this hard" | | Assumption Inversion | List assumptions, flip each | All options seem bad | | Constraint Removal | Remove constraint, solve, then work within | Stuck on specific constraint | | Fresh Perspective | Explain to duck, draw it, channel expert | Can't see the forest |

Symptom-Based Dispatch

See symptoms.md for full table.

| Symptom | Technique | |---------|-----------| | Problem feels overwhelming | Simplification Cascade | | Solution feels too complex | Scale Game | | "This shouldn't be this hard" | Meta-Pattern Recognition | | Every option has fatal flaws | Assumption Inversion | | One constraint blocking all paths | Constraint Removal | | Lost in details, can't zoom out | Fresh Perspective |

Decision Tree

START: What's the primary symptom?

├─ "Too big / overwhelming"
│  └─ Simplification Cascade
│     └─ If still stuck → Fresh Perspective
│
├─ "Over-engineered / too complex"
│  └─ Scale Game
│     └─ If still stuck → Simplification Cascade
│
├─ "Wrong framing / this shouldn't be hard"
│  └─ Meta-Pattern Recognition
│     └─ If still stuck → Assumption Inversion
│
├─ "All options bad"
│  └─ Assumption Inversion
│     └─ If still stuck → Constraint Removal
│
├─ "Specific constraint blocking"
│  └─ Constraint Removal
│     └─ If still stuck → Meta-Pattern Recognition
│
└─ "Can't see clearly / lost"
   └─ Fresh Perspective
      └─ If still stuck → Simplification Cascade

Protocol

1. Name the Stuck

SYMPTOM: [What exactly is stuck]
TRIED: [What approaches failed]
CONSTRAINT: [What feels immovable]

2. Select Technique

Use symptom dispatch table or decision tree.

3. Apply Technique

Follow detailed steps in techniques.md.

4. Evaluate Result

| Outcome | Action | |---------|--------| | New path visible | Proceed with solution | | Partial clarity | Chain to second technique | | Still stuck | Try opposite technique | | Fundamental blocker | Escalate or reframe problem entirely |

5. Document Learning

If breakthrough succeeds:

PROBLEM: [Original stuck point]
TECHNIQUE: [What worked]
INSIGHT: [What was hidden]
APPLIES TO: [Similar problem class]

Technique Chaining

When single technique insufficient:

| First Try | Chain To | Why | |-----------|----------|-----| | Simplification | Scale Game | Found essence, now find right scale | | Scale Game | Meta-Pattern | Extremes revealed the real problem type | | Meta-Pattern | Assumption Inversion | Know the class, now challenge its constraints | | Assumption Inversion | Constraint Removal | Found hidden assumption, now test removing it | | Constraint Removal | Fresh Perspective | Removed constraint, need new viewpoint | | Fresh Perspective | Simplification | Got distance, now reduce complexity |

When NOT to Use

See when-not-to-use.md.

Problem is well-defined (just execute)
Haven't done basic research
Constraint is truly non-negotiable
Procrastinating on hard work
"Stuck" is actually fear of commitment

Output

## Breakthrough Analysis

### Stuck Point
[Symptom + failed approaches]

### Technique Applied
[Name + key steps taken]

### Insight
[What was hidden / blocking]

### Path Forward
[Specific next action]

### Applies To
[Future problems this pattern solves]