# The magic phrases

A handful of short phrases solve the most common failure modes you will hit. Print them on a sticky note.

"Get it done by any means necessary."

When the agent says it can't do something, 95% of the time it can. This is the fastest unblocker. Try this exactly once before you accept "no." If it still can't, then it really is one of the two failure modes — no tool access, or external block.

"Keep that in always-loaded context."

When you want a permanent change to the agent's general behavior, this is the literal phrase. Always-loaded context is the agent's standing rules — how it works, no matter what task. Examples that belong there: Going forward, always send me progress updates while you're working. Never go silent on me. Keep that in always-loaded context. Going forward, always tell me what you're about to do before doing it. Keep that in always-loaded context. Going forward, never wait silently — keep me posted every couple of minutes. Keep that in always-loaded context. Pair every rule with "going forward" for maximum stick. For specific task behavior — like a signature block on emails, or how to summarize a transcript — that's a skill, not always-loaded context. See Chapter 7.

"Make the required changes in your system to make sure you do this from now on." Any time you tell your agent to do something from now on, end your message with this. It ensures the new behavior survives across sessions, not just the current one.

"Search deep in your memory."

When the agent says it does not remember something, or claims it cannot find what you are referring to, tell it to "search deep in your memory." It will dig further than its default and find the thing.

"Do what you need to do so you never forget you have access to this tool."

Whenever you connect a new app or tool, say this. That's it. The agent will handle making sure it never loses track of the new connection.

### When to use which

The agent says | You say The agent says: "I can't do that" • You say: "Get it done by any means necessary." The agent says: "I don't remember / no context on that" • You say: "Search deep in your memory." The agent says: You want a general behavior rule to stick • You say: "Going forward, X. Keep that in always-loaded context. Make the required changes in your system to make sure you do this from now on." The agent says: You just connected a new tool • You say: "Do what you need to do so you never forget you have access to this tool." The agent says: You want to save a recurring task • You say: "Make a skill for this." (Or "make a skill for what you just did.") The agent says: You want to teach the skill from your edits • You say: "Update the skill with my feedback." The agent says: You want the agent to run something on a schedule • You say: "Set a cron job for [task] every [time]." The agent says: You're done planning and want execution • You say: "OK, go do it." Memorize them. Cheapest fix for the most common moments of friction. The handful of magic phrases that quietly do most of the work.