Five Phases

Phase 1: Provocation

Define the friction — the uncomfortable gap you want to explore. Write out the provocation and answer three calibration questions that establish the boundaries of the exploration. The provocation is not a question; it is a tension.

Phase 2: Expedition

Explore the territory around the friction. The VantagePoint engine generates a narration feed of observations (OBS), discoveries (DISC), assumptions (ASMP), and connections (CONN). A territory map visualizes the exploration in real-time.

The threshold sensor monitors exploration depth. When sufficient territory has been covered, the threshold triggers and the session advances to Vantage.

Phase 3: Vantage

From the territory explored, identify the key discoveries and assumptions. Set a goal — the specific outcome you want from this thinking session. Vantage is the moment of clarity between exploration and action.

Phase 4: Paths

The engine generates three possible paths forward based on the territory, discoveries, and goal. Each path is distinct — they represent genuinely different approaches, not variations on the same idea. Choose one to commit to.

Phase 5: Receipt

The session produces a receipt: a cryptographically verified record of the entire thinking process. The receipt includes the friction, territory, discoveries, assumptions, paths considered, and the path chosen. It is public and verifiable.