The Timeline Maneuver takes a question and reflects it at three points in time: a chosen point in the past, the present, and a projected future. Comparing the three eras produces two kinds of insight: what stays constant across all eras, and is therefore likely a durable principle, and where a framework shift lies, that is, an assumption that still seems self-evident today but is unlikely to remain so for long.
\nThe skill is built for executives and strategists who want to free a decision or an approach from habit, for example on questions of positioning, organizational design, or investment prioritization. It does not replace market data or a reliable trend analysis. The future analysis remains a projection, not a prediction, and should be read accordingly as food for thought, not as fact.
\n" }, { "id": "skill-text", "title": "Skill Text", "html": "Copy the prompt below in full into your AI tool. As a file: zeitachsen-manoever.en.json
\n" } ], "schritte": [ { "nr": 1, "titel": "Describe the problem", "beschreibung": "The topic and, if available, concrete points in time for the three eras are named.", "rolle": "mensch" }, { "nr": 2, "titel": "Analyze the past", "beschreibung": "Methods, technologies and constraints of the chosen era are examined.", "rolle": "automatisch" }, { "nr": 3, "titel": "Analyze the present", "beschreibung": "Current assumptions and common practice are captured.", "rolle": "automatisch" }, { "nr": 4, "titel": "Project the future", "beschreibung": "Expected developments and future standards are derived.", "rolle": "automatisch" }, { "nr": 5, "titel": "Recognize patterns", "beschreibung": "Constants, framework shifts and blind spots are identified.", "rolle": "automatisch" }, { "nr": 6, "titel": "Recommendation for action", "beschreibung": "A concrete future solution is ready that can already be prototyped today.", "rolle": "ergebnis" } ], "herausgeber": "Voyage Digital", "version": "2.0", "stand": "2026-07-26", "umsetzung": [ { "titel": "Choose the right question", "text": "The best starting point is a decision that currently feels stuck or where habit narrows the view." }, { "titel": "Set up the skill", "text": "The skill text is copied. Points in time can be specified but are not required." }, { "titel": "Run through the analysis", "text": "The three eras are examined one after another before the pattern is drawn." }, { "titel": "Separate constants from assumptions", "text": "What stays stable across all eras is distinguished from what only holds for now." }, { "titel": "Cross-check the recommendation", "text": "The derived future solution is checked against the actual situation before it gets implemented." } ], "zutaten": [ "Topic", "Points in time" ], "beispielSzenario": "An executive notices that a central question inside the company has been answered the same way for years and wants to check whether that is still the strongest answer. The Timeline Maneuver places three points in time side by side: how was expert knowledge anchored in organizations in 1970, how is it done in 2025, and how would it likely work in 2045? Comparing the three produces a solution from the future perspective, for example an internal knowledge transfer format, that can already be prototyped today.", "eingaben": [ { "feld": "Problem statement or topic", "pflicht": true }, { "feld": "Concrete points in time for the three eras", "pflicht": false } ], "ausgabe": "A three-era analysis with the past, present and future each examined individually, followed by a pattern analysis of constants and framework shifts, and a concrete recommendation for action that can already be prototyped today.", "prompt": "# DESCRIPTION\nAnalyzes a problem or topic from three time perspectives, past, present and future, to identify fundamental patterns and derive a future-proof solution.\n\n# INPUT\n- Problem statement or topic (required)\n- Concrete points in time for the three eras, for example 1970, 2026, 2046 (optional)\n\n# OUTPUT\nA structured three-era analysis with:\n- Past analysis (methods, constraints, principles)\n- Present analysis (current assumptions and practice)\n- Future analysis (expected developments and standards)\n- Pattern analysis (constants, framework shifts, blind spots)\n- Recommendation for action (future solution for today)\n\n# CONTEXT\n- The technique serves to break out of entrenched thinking patterns. Seemingly modern solutions are often just variants of old approaches, and seemingly futuristic ideas can in part already be prototyped today.\n- The greatest value lies in the constants across all eras, not in the differences alone.\n- The future analysis is a projection, not a fact. The assistant explicitly marks assumptions about the future as an assumption and separates them from verifiable statements about the past and present.\n- Address the user in a professional manner throughout.\n\n# WORKING INSTRUCTIONS\n\n## Step 1: Analyze the past\n- How was this problem solved in the chosen era?\n- Which technologies, methods and principles were used?\n- Which constraints and possibilities shaped the solution?\n\n## Step 2: Analyze the present\n- How is the problem solved today?\n- What has changed since the chosen past?\n- Which assumptions and practices currently count as standard?\n\n## Step 3: Project the future\n- How is the problem likely to be solved in the future?\n- Which technologies could be standard by then?\n- What could then be self-evident that still seems impossible today?\n\n## Step 4: Recognize patterns\n- What stays CONSTANT across all three eras? These are likely fundamental principles.\n- Where does a framework shift lie between the eras?\n- What is practiced today that could look outdated from a future perspective?\n- Which future solution would already be possible today but is blocked by habitual thinking patterns?\n\n## Step 5: Derive a recommendation for action\n- Which approach from the future analysis can be prototyped today?\n\n### Rules\n- Work out each era specifically, do not stay generic\n- Aim for actionable insight, not just description\n- Phrase the recommendation for action concretely and actionably\n\n### No-gos\n- No science fiction speculation without a comprehensible rationale\n- Do not stop at the analysis without deriving a recommendation for action\n\n# DEFINITION OF DONE\n[ ] All three eras are specifically analyzed\n[ ] At least two constants across all eras are named\n[ ] At least one framework shift is identified\n[ ] At least one future solution that can be implemented today is derived\n[ ] The recommendation for action is concrete and actionable\n[ ] Assumptions about the future are marked as such\n\n# CONVERSATION START\nWelcome to the Timeline Maneuver. Describe your problem or topic, and I will analyze it from three time perspectives. Optionally, you can give me concrete points in time, for example 1970, 2026, 2046, otherwise I will choose suitable eras.", "einrichtung": { "intro": "Step-by-step guides for ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot Studio and Langdock.", "plattformen": [ { "plattform": "ChatGPT", "anbieter": "OpenAI", "schritte": [ "Copy the skill text above using the copy button.", "Click your profile picture and select \"Skills\".", "Click \"Create skill\" and paste the copied text as the instruction.", "Adjust inputs, outputs and format where your case requires it.", "Save the skill. It is available in all chats from that point on." ], "doku": { "label": { "de": "OpenAI Dokumentation: Skills in ChatGPT", "en": "OpenAI documentation: Skills in ChatGPT" }, "url": "https://help.openai.com/de-de/articles/20001066-skills-in-chatgpt" } }, { "plattform": "Claude", "anbieter": "Anthropic", "schritte": [ "Copy the skill text above using the copy button.", "Open claude.ai and go to \"Skills\" in your profile.", "Create a new skill and paste the copied text as the instruction.", "The skill works in claude.ai, in Claude Code and through the API.", "Available on the Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans." ], "doku": { "label": { "de": "Anthropic Dokumentation: Benutzerdefinierte Skills erstellen", "en": "Anthropic documentation: Creating custom skills" }, "url": "https://support.claude.com/de/articles/12512198-benutzerdefinierte-skills-erstellen" } }, { "plattform": "Copilot Studio", "anbieter": "Microsoft", "schritte": [ "Copy the skill text above using the copy button.", "Open Copilot Studio and create a new agent.", "Paste the copied text as the instruction.", "Connect knowledge sources and tools where needed.", "Publish the agent for yourself or for your organisation." ], "doku": { "label": { "de": "Microsoft Dokumentation: Einen Agent erstellen und bereitstellen", "en": "Microsoft documentation: Create and deploy an agent" }, "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/de-de/microsoft-copilot-studio/fundamentals-get-started" } }, { "plattform": "Langdock", "anbieter": null, "schritte": [ "Copy the skill text above using the copy button.", "Open the sidebar and click \"Add skill\".", "Paste the copied text directly as the instruction.", "Connect the skill to integrations such as Gmail or Slack where needed.", "Save the skill and release it for yourself or your team." ], "doku": { "label": { "de": "Langdock Dokumentation: Skills", "en": "Langdock documentation: Skills" }, "url": "https://docs.langdock.com/de/product/chat/skills" } } ] }, "itemIcon": "calendar-range", "recommended": [ { "slug": "chancenraum-konzept", "category": "skill", "name": "The Opportunity Space Concept", "teaser": "Turns a seemingly disadvantageous situation into its own opportunity space, working out what becomes possible precisely because of it instead of searching for the obvious problem solution.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "map" }, { "slug": "fundament-geruest", "category": "skill", "name": "The First Principles Framework", "teaser": "The First Principles Framework strips an existing solution or industry practice down to its fundamental truths and rebuilds it from zero, free of convention.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "blocks" }, { "slug": "ideen-manoever", "category": "skill", "name": "The Idea Maneuver", "teaser": "Generates at least 10 ideas for a given question across multiple creativity techniques and rates each one for feasibility and impact.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "lightbulb" }, { "slug": "umkehr-manoever", "category": "skill", "name": "The Reversal Maneuver", "teaser": "The Reversal Maneuver takes your biggest business constraint and inverts it completely into a concrete competitive advantage, target audience, and business model, instead of merely softening the disadvantage.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "undo-2" }, { "slug": "widerspruchs-schema", "category": "skill", "name": "The Contradiction Resolver", "teaser": "Finds a solution that fully satisfies two seemingly contradictory requirements by questioning the premise behind the conflict and testing sequence, level, and system-redesign approaches instead of settling for a compromise.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "split" }, { "slug": "strategie-sparringspartner", "category": "assistent", "name": "The Strategy Sparring Partner", "teaser": "Checks strategy drafts with the same rigor you would apply to code before a release, systematically attacking assumptions instead of confirming them.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "milestone" }, { "slug": "annahmen-protokoll", "category": "skill", "name": "The Assumption Protocol", "teaser": "The Assumption Protocol exposes a belief layer by layer, from its surface justification down to the root assumption beneath it, and shows honestly which layers actually hold up.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "help-circle" }, { "slug": "business-case-geruest", "category": "skill", "name": "The Business Case Builder", "teaser": "Turns a project idea, its costs and expected benefits into a complete business case with ROI, payback period, three scenarios and a reasoned go or no-go recommendation.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "trending-up" }, { "slug": "domino-raster", "category": "skill", "name": "The Domino Grid", "teaser": "The Domino Grid traces a planned action across five levels of consequences to reveal where the real strategic opportunity actually lies.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "waypoints" }, { "slug": "entscheidungs-dossier", "category": "skill", "name": "The Decision Dossier", "teaser": "The Decision Dossier turns a decision question, options and context into a structured decision template with a weighted scoring matrix, pros and cons, a risk assessment and a substantiated recommendation.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "scale" }, { "slug": "gegenrede-protokoll", "category": "skill", "name": "The Devil's Advocate Protocol", "teaser": "The Devil's Advocate Protocol deliberately argues against your strategy or decision to expose risks, questionable assumptions and blind spots before you commit resources.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "messages-square" }, { "slug": "muster-dossier", "category": "skill", "name": "The Pattern Dossier", "teaser": "Collects a series of decisions, projects, or content and exposes the overarching pattern behind them, including the actual unconscious strategy, real selection criteria, and blind spots.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "grid-2x2" }, { "slug": "rueckpfad-manoever", "category": "skill", "name": "The Backcasting Maneuver", "teaser": "Describe your ideal end state and let the AI work backward step by step to today, surfacing the path a forward plan would miss.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "corner-up-left" }, { "slug": "steelman-schema", "category": "skill", "name": "The Steelman Framework", "teaser": "The Steelman Framework takes the deliberate counterposition to an idea, strategy or decision, first summarizing it in its strongest form and then testing it with substantial counterarguments from multiple perspectives, exposed blind spots and worst case scenarios, before closing with a strengthened argument and a clear recommendation.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "shield-half" }, { "slug": "stresstest-protokoll", "category": "skill", "name": "The Stress Test Protocol", "teaser": "Puts a concept, process or strategy under attack from the perspective of a specific critic, such as a skeptical CFO or an impatient customer, and exposes its weak points before they surface in the real meeting.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "activity" }, { "slug": "business-case-dokumentierer", "category": "assistent", "name": "The Business Case Documenter", "teaser": "Turns a project idea, an investment or an initiative into the form decision makers actually read: benefits, costs, risks and a clear recommendation, cleanly structured and free of jargon.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "trending-up" }, { "slug": "gegenargument-sparringspartner", "category": "assistent", "name": "The Counterargument Sparring Partner", "teaser": "Tests a thesis or decision by formulating well-founded counterarguments and systematically questioning assumptions, evidence and logic.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "shield-half" }, { "slug": "wettbewerbskraefte-pruefer", "category": "assistent", "name": "The Five Forces Analyzer", "teaser": "Analyzes an industry systematically using Michael Porter's five competitive forces and derives a well founded assessment of market attractiveness.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung", "itemIcon": "swords" }, { "slug": "grill-me", "category": "tool", "name": "grill-me", "teaser": "grill-me is an external skill repository by Matt Pocock that clarifies plans and designs through persistent questioning, branch by branch, before any code is written.", "domaene": "Strategie & Entscheidung" }, { "slug": "feedback-route", "category": "workflow", "name": "The Feedback Route", "teaser": "A daily automated report that sorts incoming customer feedback by sentiment and topic and immediately flags critical cases to the team.", "domaene": "Kundensupport & Service", "itemIcon": "message-square-quote" } ] }