mom-test

Guides customer interviews using Mom Test rules to avoid leading questions and false validation.

Updated Jun 24, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/tayiorbeii/paperclip-factory-kit-hermes --skill mom-test-tayiorbeii
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: mom-test
Source: https://github.com/tayiorbeii/paperclip-factory-kit-hermes/tree/main/skills/paperclip/mom-test
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/tayiorbeii/paperclip-factory-kit-hermes --skill mom-test-tayiorbeii

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? Customer interviews often produce misleading data because people give compliments, hypothetical opinions, and polite answers instead of facts. This Skill helps you structure conversations around past behavior and real commitments so you can validate ideas without being lied to. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Question Design: Applies the three Mom Test rules (talk about their life, ask about past specifics, talk less) to rewrite leading or hypothetical questions into fact-finding ones. - Bad Data Detection: Identifies and deflects compliments, fluff, and feature requests, digging for the underlying behavior and motivation instead. - Commitment & Advancement: Helps you define a clear ask (time, reputation, or money) so every conversation ends in an advance or a useful rejection, not a zombie lead. - Use Case: Before pitching a new SaaS tool, use this Skill to turn "Would you buy a product that does X?" into "Tell me about the last time you dealt with this problem and what you did," then score the conversation 0-10 against Mom Test principles. ## Quick Start Ask the assistant to review your customer interview questions using the Mom Test framework and rewrite any leading or hypothetical questions.

Frequently Asked Questions about mom-test

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I run a customer interview without leading questions?▼

Focus on the customer's life and past behavior instead of pitching your idea. Ask about specific past events like "Tell me about the last time you faced this problem" rather than hypotheticals, and let them talk at least 80% of the time.

What are the three rules of The Mom Test?▼

The three rules are: talk about their life instead of your idea, ask about specifics in the past rather than generics or hypotheticals about the future, and talk less while listening more. Following them makes it hard for anyone to give you false validation.

Why is "would you buy this product" a bad interview question?▼

It asks people to predict future behavior, which humans are unreliable at, and saying yes costs them nothing. Instead ask what they currently do and pay to solve the problem, which reveals real behavior and budgets.

How do I handle compliments during customer discovery?▼

Deflect compliments immediately and return to concrete facts, since "great idea" contains no information about future behavior. Respond with something like "Thanks, but how are you handling this problem today?" to get actionable data.

When should I stop doing customer interviews and start building?▼

Stop when conversations start repeating and no new facts or belief changes emerge. Track how many people mention a problem unprompted; consistent signal across most interviews indicates enough learning to proceed.