# Pattern: Anti-impulse Decision Rules (R1-R10)

> Rules that prevent the operator-over-builds-instead-of-sells pattern.

For solo founders who code, the temptation is always to build instead of sell. These rules, enforced by automation, fix that.

## The rules

### R1. Hardware lot purchase guard

Do NOT buy a refurbished hardware lot if ANY of:
- Existing inventory > 8 units of same category
- Pre-sales coverage < 50% (i.e., orders waiting on stock)
- Last 5 lots averaged > 60 days on shelf

### R2. Pre-purchase justification (write before clicking buy)

1. Why this lot? (specific clients waiting? Or "looked cheap"?)
2. Projected sell-through (units × weeks to clear)
3. Holding cost (3%/mo capital tied + storage)
4. GO / NO-GO: if projected net ROI < 30% OR sell-through > 90 days → NO

### R3. Frequency cap

Max 1 lot purchase per week. New opportunity? Wait until next Monday.

### R4. Client acceptance

Accept new client only if EITHER:
- Recurring potential ≥ €100/mo (3-month commit), OR
- One-time margin ≥ €500, OR
- Strategic referral source (unlocks network)

### R5. Minimum billable rate

€75/hour for ad-hoc work. Below that, decline politely.

### R6. Daily time budget

- 4h cash generation (outreach, calls, quotes, sales conversion)
- 2h delivery (existing client work)
- 1h admin (invoicing, follow-up)
- 1h learning/infra (NOT during cash window)

### R7. Morning protection

**No infra/code work before 14:00 on weekdays.** Morning = cash + delivery only.

### R8. Build justification

Before building anything new, ask: "Which paying client needs this RIGHT NOW?"
- Unclear → do not build.
- Clear → log it as a feature request with client name + proceed.

### R9. Use-it-or-archive

If a tool isn't used by operator OR a client within 2 weeks of building, archive it.

### R10. Cash before code (umbrella)

Every Friday: if sales hours < infra hours that week, the week failed and resets next Monday. No exceptions.

## Enforcement via automation

### R10 — ActivityWatch + Friday-Wrap email

`scripts/atlas_activity_export.py` reads ActivityWatch event log, classifies into 6 categories:
- sales (Asana, WhatsApp Web, mail compose, Atlas Chat/Command/HUD)
- delivery (VSCode/Claude on existing-client work, WordPress admin)
- infra (Claude Code, terminal, GitHub, Docker, config files)
- admin (Inkomsten xlsx, Odoo, bank statements)
- learning (YouTube courses, BiSL/certification material)
- other

Output JSON includes `r10_pass` boolean. Friday-Wrap email shows verdict.

### R1-R3 — Browser calculator

`web/atlas-command.html` has a "BUY?" tab. Inputs: lot price, units, category, pre-sales %. Outputs: GO/NO-GO verdict + holding cost + net ROI calculation per category baselines.

### R5/R8 — Atlas Reminders

`scripts/atlas_reminders.py` daily schtask. Triggers conditional emails:
- 26th of month → savings pots check
- 14d + 3d before BTW deadlines
- 1st of month → Inkomsten xlsx update reminder
- 5 juni + 25 nov → vacation booking reminder
- 1 mrt + 15 apr → IB aangifte prep

## Why these rules

After 12 months of building infrastructure that produced €5K annual revenue (vault: 200+ project files, ~15 paid client events = 13:1 build:sell ratio), the founder needed rules that prevent willpower-based discipline.

Rules survive willpower. Automation survives both.

## Customize

The numbers (€100/mo, €500 margin, 4h/2h/1h/1h budget) are Atlas-specific. Adjust to your context. The structure (one umbrella + nine specific rules + automated enforcement) is the transferable pattern.