foundation2-Minute Default Start
Open plan, pick one shipping task, and begin 25-minute timer.
⏱ 2 min⚡ low
Default Workday Protocol
Does this sound familiar?
- Monday starts with too many possible tasks and no clear 'right' move
- Midweek becomes reactive: revisions, messages, 'quick questions' that become scope creep
- Fridays have guilt and cleanup: invoices, follow-ups, loose ends
- You overthink prioritization because you fear choosing wrong
- You delay boundary messages because you want to be liked
- You mistake system-building for actual progress
Old Way
- Endless tool and workflow tweaks
- Open-ended browsing for the 'right' option
- Reactive messaging all day
- Ambiguous 'done' definitions
- Scope creep from unclear boundaries
- Planning to work instead of working
New Way
- Fixed defaults that never change
- 3-option maximum for any decision
- Batched triage with pre-written replies
- Definition-of-Done cards before starting
- Scope boundary scripts ready to deploy
- 2-minute start ritual, then execution
Decision Minimalist
Mechanism
The Five Operating Systems
Click a system to explore its habits
Default Workday Protocol
A fixed opening sequence that eliminates 'what should I do first?' forever.
Bounded Choice Architecture
Caps, limits, and constraints that remove decisions before they happen.
Scope Boundary Defense
Pre-written scripts and triggers that protect your time and income.
Shipping Cadence Rhythm
A weekly structure that ensures deliverables go out, not just get worked on.
Friction Removal Engine
Environmental defaults that make the right choice the easiest choice.
Progression
Habit Tiers
Tier 1
Foundation
Daily defaults: 2-minute start, Rule of Three, 60-second triage, phone exile.
Tier 2
Growth
Weekly rhythms: 5-step opening, Definition-of-Done cards, scope scripts, notification blackout.
Tier 3
Mastery
System refinement: Decision Reset, boundary debriefs, shipping rate reviews, environment audits.
Tier 4Peak
Titan
Stress tests: No-plan emergency mode, constraint sprints, extreme defaults day.
"A small set of rules that make the next action obvious. Defaults that protect focus and boundaries without needing willpower. A steady shipping rhythm that makes income feel less fragile.
Daily priorities
3max
Options per decision
3max
Morning start time
2min
Weekly system session
25min
Inbound triage
60sec
Getting Started
Step01
Install the Default Start
Set up your 2-minute opening ritual: open plan, pick task, start timer. Do this before anything else.
Step02
Adopt the Rule of Three
Each day: one shipping task, one maintenance task, one relationship touch. Everything else waits.
Step03
Build Your Reply Library
Write 5 template responses for common client messages. Stop composing from scratch.
Step04
Schedule the Weekly Reset
Block 25 minutes on Friday to prune options, refresh defaults, and set next week's targets.
Step05
Remove Friction Points
Phone in another room. One tab open. Notifications off. Make the default choice the only choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Protocol Playbooks
Curated sequences of habits designed to be practiced together. Click a playbook to see its cards in the deck below.
5 cards
Morning Ignition
The essential startup sequence to go from 'sitting down' to 'working on the right thing' in under 5 minutes.
2-Minute Default Start
Rule of Three Priorities
Default Choice Setup
+2 more habits
5 cards
Boundary Builder
Scripts and systems to protect your scope, say no gracefully, and stop doing unpaid work.
60-Second Inbound Triage
Default Reply Library
Scope Boundary Script
+2 more habits
5 cards
Weekly Operator
The complete weekly rhythm from Monday planning to Friday reconciliation.
Weekly Shipping Target
Plan-Produce-Deliver Rhythm
Friday Reconciliation
+2 more habits
Quests
Challenges to accelerate your transformation. Click a quest to see its target cards.
Initiation
The Minimalist's Launch
Install seven core foundation habits to automate your start, triage requests, and set shipping targets daily.
"Stop thinking about how to work. Just follow the rails and start shipping."
FOUNDATION tier streak for 7 days
7 cards
View Quest Cards
System Mastery
The Perimeter Lock
Master the Scope Boundary Defense system to triage inbound requests, script your nos, and prevent unpaid work.
"Your time is a finite resource. If you don't defend the perimeter, the work will never end."
Complete Scope Boundary Defense system
6 cards
View Quest Cards
Titan Trial
The Absolute Default
Run an entire day strictly on pre-set defaults and perform a 60-minute constraint sprint without pivoting.
"The ultimate test of your systems. No choices allowed. Only execution."
Complete TITAN tier
2 cards
View Quest Cards
The Full Deck
30 habits across 5 core systems
Systems:
Playbooks:
foundation
foundationOne-Sentence Tomorrow
Write tomorrow’s first task as one sentence; place it visibly.
⏱ 1 min⚡ low
Default Workday Protocol
growth5-Step Opening Sequence
Follow five fixed steps: open plan, pick task, timer, phone silent.
⏱ 5 min⚡ low
Default Workday Protocol
growthMidday Reset Check
Review three priorities at lunch; adjust only if scope changed.
⏱ 3 min⚡ low
Default Workday Protocol
masteryWeekly Decision Reset
Prune stale tasks, confirm weekly targets, and lock defaults every Friday.
⏱ 25 min⚡ medium
Default Workday Protocol
titanNo-Plan Emergency Mode
Choose smallest shippable deliverable; finish it fully; ignore everything else.
⏱ 1 min⚡ low
Default Workday Protocol
foundationRule of Three Priorities
Write one ship, one maintain, one relationship touch before opening apps.
⏱ 2 min⚡ low
Bounded Choice Architecture
foundation3-Option Maximum
List three options, eliminate down to three, pick one, move on.
⏱ 1 min⚡ low
Bounded Choice Architecture
growthDefinition-of-Done Card
Specify three bullets for done; stop work when criteria met.
⏱ 2 min⚡ low
Bounded Choice Architecture
growthNo New Tools Vow
Capture tool ideas in Maybe Later list; defer changes to Friday.
⏱ 0 min⚡ low
Bounded Choice Architecture
masteryDecision Cap Audit
List repeated decisions; install defaults for top three time-wasters this week.
⏱ 10 min⚡ medium
Bounded Choice Architecture
titanConstraint Sprint
Pick one deliverable, one tool, one hour; ship without pivots.
⏱ 60 min⚡ high
Bounded Choice Architecture
foundation60-Second Inbound Triage
Label each request Do, Schedule, Ask, or Decline; don’t act yet.
⏱ 1 min⚡ low
Scope Boundary Defense
foundationDefault Reply Library
Create five message templates; personalize quickly; send without drafting from scratch.
⏱ 5 min⚡ low
Scope Boundary Defense
growthScope Boundary Script
Say scope line aloud; offer separate quote; protect committed work.
⏱ 2 min⚡ medium
Scope Boundary Defense
growthScope Creep Flag
Compare request to original scope document during calls; flag extras early.
⏱ 1 min⚡ low
Scope Boundary Defense
masteryBoundary Debrief
Review unpaid work; write prevention script; add it to reply library.
⏱ 10 min⚡ medium
Scope Boundary Defense
titanProactive Scope Lock
Send three-bullet scope summary; confirm included, excluded, timeline before starting.
⏱ 5 min⚡ medium
Scope Boundary Defense
foundationWeekly Shipping Target
Set one to three deliverables that must ship by Friday.
⏱ 3 min⚡ low
Shipping Cadence Rhythm
foundationDaily Ship Check
Confirm one deliverable shipped today; log blocker if none shipped.
⏱ 1 min⚡ low
Shipping Cadence Rhythm
growthPlan-Produce-Deliver Rhythm
Block week phases: Monday plan, Tue–Thu produce, Friday deliver and reconcile.
⏱ varies⚡ medium
Shipping Cadence Rhythm
growthFriday Reconciliation
Run Friday checklist: invoices, follow-ups, admin clear, next-week prep completed.
⏱ 15 min⚡ medium
Shipping Cadence Rhythm
masteryShipping Rate Review
Count shipped deliverables monthly; assess sustainability; adjust capacity or targets.
⏱ 10 min⚡ medium
Shipping Cadence Rhythm
titanDeadline Compression
Set 24-hour deadline; tell someone; ship whatever’s ready when time ends.
⏱ varies⚡ high
Shipping Cadence Rhythm
foundationDefault Choice Setup
Configure workspace so today’s task is first visible; close other tabs.
⏱ 5 min⚡ low
Friction Removal Engine
foundationPhone Exile
Place phone in another room; use physical timer during focus blocks.
⏱ 0 min⚡ low
Friction Removal Engine
growthOne-Tab Rule
Keep one active task tab; close everything else before starting work.
⏱ 0 min⚡ low
Friction Removal Engine
growthNotification Blackout
Disable all nonessential notifications; allow only calendar and VIP direct messages.
⏱ 2 min⚡ low
Friction Removal Engine
masteryEnvironment Audit
Log friction points for a week; batch-fix monthly to remove delays.
⏱ 15 min⚡ medium
Friction Removal Engine
titanExtreme Defaults Day
Run entire day on defaults; note what breaks; update rules quarterly.
⏱ 1 day⚡ high
Friction Removal Engine
Explore More Identity Stacks
35 cards5 systems
The Attention Sovereign
A protocol stack for defending inputs, allocating focus, and shipping on schedule in high-interruption environments.
Input DefenseSignal CaptureDeep Work Execution+2
The Sovereign
30 cards5 systems
The Meaning Bearer
Existential protocols for transforming suffering into purpose. Derived from Frankl's Logotherapy, Stockdale's Paradox, and modern cognitive engineering.
Existential OrientationResilience ArchitectureCognitive Engineering+2
Viktor
39 cards5 systems
The Social Mirror
High-performance protocols for influence through reflection. Stop projecting—start reflecting. Transform social intuition into replicable science.
Recognition ArchitectureConversational Operating SystemTactical Empathy+2
The Reflector