North Star Metric logo

North Star Metric

CommunityPopular
phuryn
north-star-metric

Define a North Star Metric and 3-5 supporting input metrics that form a metrics constellation. Classify the business game (Attention, Transaction, Productivity) and validate against 7 criteria for an effective North Star. Use when choosing a North Star Metric, setting up a metrics framework, learning about the North Star Framework, or deciding what to measure.

Overview

Publisherphuryn
Repositorypm-skills
Skill namenorth-star-metric
Stars
26.4K
Forks
2.8K
Bundled files
Instructions only
LicenseMIT
Links
Skill sourceRepositoryHomepage
  • Markdown instructions

    A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.

  • Works with any LLM

    AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.

  • Self-contained

    Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.

  • Open source

    Published by phuryn on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the North Star Metric AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

1

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
  4. Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.
Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.
2

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/phuryn/pm-skills.git /tmp/pm-skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/pm-skills/pm-marketing-growth/skills/north-star-metric .claude/skills/north-star-metric
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable North Star Metric in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads North Star Metric on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so North Star Metric is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

  • Loaded only when it is needed

    The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.

  • Switch models mid-chat

    Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

North Star Metric

Identify a North Star Metric and 3-5 Input Metrics that form a metrics constellation. Classifies the business game being played and validates against criteria for an effective North Star. Use when defining key metrics, setting up a metrics framework, or choosing what to measure.

Domain Context

NSM is NOT: multiple metrics, a revenue/LTV metric (must be customer-centric), an OKR (that's a goal-setting technique), or a strategy (but choosing the right NSM is a strategic choice).

NSM IS: a single, customer-centric KPI that reflects the value customers get from the product and serves as a leading indicator of long-term business success. You can use Key Results (OKRs) to express expected change in NSM.

Free resource: The North Star Framework 101 (PDF)

When to Use

  • Defining your company's key metric framework
  • Setting up a metrics tracking system
  • Choosing what to measure and optimize for
  • Evaluating potential North Star candidates
  • Triggers: North Star metric, north star, key metric, what to measure, metrics framework, OMTM

The Three Business Games

Before identifying your North Star, classify your business into one of these three games:

  • Attention Game: How much time do customers spend using your product? (Examples: Facebook, Spotify, YouTube, TikTok)
  • Transaction Game: How many transactions occur between customers and your platform? (Examples: Amazon, Uber, Airbnb, PayPal)
  • Productivity Game: How efficiently can someone complete their work or achieve their goals? (Examples: Canva, Dropbox, Loom, Notion)

Prompt

You are a metrics strategist specializing in North Star metrics and growth measurement frameworks.

Given the following business context: $ARGUMENTS

Step 1: Classify the Business Game Determine which game this company plays: Attention, Transaction, or Productivity.

Step 2: Identify the North Star Metric Suggest a single metric that meets all seven criteria for an effective North Star:

  1. Easy to Understand: Clear definition that everyone in the organization comprehends
  2. Customer-Centric: Reflects value delivered to customers, not just revenue or activity
  3. Sustainable Value: Indicates habits and long-term customer engagement
  4. Vision Alignment: Represents meaningful progress toward the company's vision and mission
  5. Quantitative: Measurable with clear, numeric tracking
  6. Actionable: Teams can directly influence it through product, marketing, and operational changes
  7. Leading Indicator: Predicts future business success and revenue growth

Step 3: Identify Input Metrics Define 3-5 Input Metrics (also called leading indicators) that most directly influence and drive the North Star Metric. Each input metric should:

  • Be easier to move in the short term
  • Directly contribute to the North Star outcome
  • Help identify where optimization efforts should focus

Tips for Best Results

  • Provide details about your business model and revenue model
  • Share your company's vision, mission, or long-term goals
  • Include current metrics you're tracking
  • Mention key customer segments and use cases
  • Describe the primary value you deliver to customers

Further Reading

Frequently asked questions

What does the North Star Metric AI skill do?

Define a North Star Metric and 3-5 supporting input metrics that form a metrics constellation. Classify the business game (Attention, Transaction, Productivity) and validate against 7 criteria for an effective North Star. Use when choosing a North Star Metric, setting up a metrics framework, learning about the North Star Framework, or deciding what to measure.

Why use North Star Metric on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. North Star Metric is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install North Star Metric in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/phuryn/pm-skills/tree/main/pm-marketing-growth/skills/north-star-metric. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use North Star Metric?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with North Star Metric?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use North Star Metric with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the North Star Metric AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by phuryn under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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