office-hourslisted

# /cs:office-hours — Six-Question Founder Interrogation **Command:** `/cs:office-hours <topic>` Before any advice, the founder must answer six questions. Modeled on YC office hours: no analysis until the founder has done the thinking. This is the cognitive forcing function that prevents drift into solutionism. ## When to Run - Before starting any major initiative - Before fundraising - Before a strategic pivot - When the founder is excited (excitement is a tell — pressure-test) - When the answer is "obvious" (the obvious answer is usually wrong) ## The Six Questions The founder must answer **all six** in writing before any C-role weighs in. ### 1. Problem **Whose problem is this, and how do they describe it in their own words?** - Not your framing. Their words. - If you can't quote a customer, you don't have a problem worth solving. ### 2. Customer **Who is the ICP? Name one real person who would buy this today.** - Real human. Real company. Real seat. - If you can't name one, the ICP isn't ready. ### 3. Distribution **How does the customer first hear your name?** - Channel, intent, search query, friend, conference — name it. - If the answer is "we'll figure out marketing later," the answer is no. ### 4. Defensibility **If this works, what stops a competitor from copying it in 6 months?** - Network effects, switching costs, data moat, regulatory moat, brand — pick one. - "We'll execute better" is not a defense. ### 5. Capital **What does this cost, when does it pay