# made-to-stick

Refines pitch decks, taglines, and product messaging using the SUCCESs framework to overcome the curse of knowledge.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 5600 installs · ★ 2508
- Author: wondelai
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/wondelai/skills/tree/HEAD/made-to-stick/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/made-to-stick

## What it does

This skill evaluates product copy and pitch decks using the SUCCESs criteria. It tackles the curse of knowledge, where founders slip into abstract jargon because they forget what it feels like not to know the domain. The built-in Quick Diagnostic scores messaging from 6 to 60 points and highlights weak spots.

The skill applies techniques like Commander's Intent to isolate a single priority and the inverted pyramid to lead with the core point. It replaces vague marketing claims with tangible numbers, sensory descriptions, and curiosity gaps that keep attention.

Do not force all six principles into a single sentence. The framework treats them as an adaptable toolkit rather than an all-or-nothing requirement.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add wondelai/skills --skill made-to-stick -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/made-to-stick/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/made-to-stick/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add wondelai/skills --skill made-to-stick -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/made-to-stick/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add wondelai/skills --skill made-to-stick -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/made-to-stick/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install wondelai/skills made-to-stick
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/made-to-stick/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add wondelai/skills --skill made-to-stick -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/wondelai/skills --path made-to-stick
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/made-to-stick/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add wondelai/skills --skill made-to-stick -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/wondelai/skills/tree/HEAD/made-to-stick/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- rewrite complex product messaging into plain language
- turn abstract marketing claims into concrete numbers
- diagnose why a pitch deck fails to stick with investors
- find curiosity gaps to make a launch announcement memorable

## Example prompts
- Run the Quick Diagnostic on this value proposition and tell me where it scores lowest
- Rewrite this enterprise product description so a smart 12-year-old can understand it
- Our pitch deck is not landing. Help me find the Commander's Intent and one concrete analogy

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 458817e56aa3174c.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 458817e56aa3174c
```text
---
name: made-to-stick
description: 'Craft messages that are understood, remembered, and drive action using the SUCCESs checklist (Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, Stories). Use when the user mentions "make it memorable", "no one remembers our pitch", "tagline", "value proposition", "why the message isnt landing", "curse of knowledge", or "concrete language". Also trigger when writing a pitch deck, simplifying a complex product explanation, or making a presentation more compelling. Covers the six SUCCESs traits and the curse of knowledge. For narrative brand frameworks, see storybrand-messaging. For viral sharing, see contagious.'
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: wondelai
  version: "1.4.0"
---

# Made to Stick Framework

A framework for crafting ideas and messages that are understood, remembered, and drive lasting action. Based on decades of research into why some ideas survive and others die.

## Core Principle

**The Curse of Knowledge is the single greatest barrier to effective communication.** Once we know something, we can't imagine not knowing it—which makes us bad at explaining our ideas to others. Sticky ideas aren't born, they're made: the SUCCESs framework provides six principles that make any idea more memorable and impactful.

## Scoring

**Goal: 10/10.** Score any messaging (copy, presentations, campaigns, onboarding) by running the [Quick Diagnostic](#quick-diagnostic): rate each of the six traits 1-10, then map the 6-60 total to a band (50-60 = 9-10, extremely sticky; 35-49 = 7-8, strong; 20-34 = 4-6, forgettable; below 20 = ≤3, won't stick). Always state the current score, which traits scored lowest, and the specific fix from the diagnostic's Fix column.

## The SUCCESs Framework

**S**imple · **U**nexpected · **C**oncrete · **C**redible · **E**motional · **S**tories

**Not a checklist—a toolkit.** Not every sticky idea uses all six, but the stickiest ideas tend to use most of them—don't force all six onto a message that only needs two.

### 1. Simple

**Core concept:** Find the core of the idea and share it compactly. Simple ≠ dumbed down—it means ruthless prioritization: "if you say three things, you say nothing."

**The Commander's Intent:** if everything else goes wrong, what ONE thing must we accomplish? For messaging: if people remember ONE thing about your product, what should it be? **The inverted pyramid:** lead with the most important thing; readers who stop anywhere still got the core.

**Techniques for simplicity:**

| Technique | How It Works | Example |
|-----------|-------------|---------|
| **Core message** | Strip to the essential | Southwest: "THE low-fare airline" |
| **Analogy** | Explain new via known | "It's like Uber for dog walking" |
| **Generative** | Core idea that generates behavior | "Names, names, names" (local newspaper motto) |

**Application to product messaging:**

| Before (Complex) | After (Simple) |
|-------------------|----------------|
| "AI-powered, cloud-native customer engagement platform with omnichannel capabilities" | "Talk to all your customers in one place" |
```
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 458817e56aa3174c

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 458817e56aa3174c tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 3113 of 16025 bytes. © wondelai · MIT · https://github.com/wondelai/skills/tree/HEAD/made-to-stick/SKILL.md

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---
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