Most founders do not have an idea problem. They have a routing problem.
A good AI brain should let you capture messy inputs quickly without pretending every input deserves a ticket, task, PR, or sprint. The first job is not execution. The first job is routing.
Outcome for this lesson
By the end, you should have a simple intake note that can classify raw inputs into one of six destinations:
- archive only;
- use now;
- incubate;
- integrate into a workflow;
- research before action;
- discard.
Only the shaped, actionable work should become a GitHub Issue.
Why capture first, classify second
Raw inputs arrive in ugly forms:
- a voice note while walking;
- an X bookmark;
- a customer quote;
- a half-formed product idea;
- a Discord message;
- a screenshot;
- a competitor page;
- a bug report mixed with three unrelated thoughts.
If you force every input into your issue tracker, your tracker becomes a junk drawer. If you leave everything in chat, your assistant keeps asking you to repeat yourself.
The middle path is a capture note.
Step 1: create an inbox for raw captures
In your vault, create one boring place for raw captures:
Keep it simple. Do not build a database before you have a working habit.
Use this format:
Step 2: use the six routing tiers
1. Archive only
Use this when the input may be useful later but has no current job.
Examples:
- interesting quote;
- useful article;
- possible future competitor angle;
- reference image;
- source you might cite later.
Next action: save it with context, then stop.
2. Use now
Use this when the input maps to an active task with a clear next step.
Examples:
- bug on a live page;
- customer asks for a specific change;
- keyword opportunity for a page you are already editing;
- missing acceptance criterion on an active issue.
Next action: update the active scratchpad or issue.
3. Incubate
Use this when the idea is promising but not ready.
Examples:
- product idea without a clear buyer;
- content angle without a target page;
- feature idea that depends on another system;
- vague “this could be big” thought.
Next action: move it to an incubator note with a review date.
4. Integrate into workflow
Use this when the input should change how the system works.
Examples:
- repeated mistake;
- recurring user preference;
- better verification checklist;
- new reusable command or script;
- repeated routing rule.
Next action: update a workflow, skill, checklist, or operating note.
5. Research before action
Use this when acting now would mean guessing.
Examples:
- “competitors are doing X” without examples;
- SEO idea without query data;
- product claim without evidence;
- new tool recommendation without constraints.
Next action: create a small research question before creating implementation work.
6. Discard
Use this when the input is noise, stale, duplicated, off-strategy, or already handled.
Examples:
- expired opportunity;
- duplicate bookmark;
- idea that conflicts with current strategy;
- source with no credible value.
Next action: note why if useful, then delete or ignore.
Step 3: classify five real inputs
Pick five recent inputs from your actual workflow. For each one, fill this in:
The destination matters more than the wording. Every input should land somewhere sane or be intentionally dropped.
Step 4: protect your issue tracker
Use this rule:
A raw input is not an issue. A shaped action is an issue.
Before creating a GitHub Issue, the input should have:
- a clear goal;
- enough context for someone else to act;
- a scope boundary;
- acceptance criteria;
- a verification expectation.
If it does not have those, it belongs in a scratchpad or research note first.
Copy this idea capture template
Verification checkpoint
You are done when:
- five real inputs have routing decisions;
- at least one input was intentionally not turned into a task;
- every “use now” input links to a scratchpad, active issue, or clear destination;
- your issue tracker contains shaped work, not raw idea fragments.
Next lesson
Once an input is shaped enough to execute, it needs a handoff object. Next, build the GitHub Issue format that lets an agent work without freelancing.