diff --git a/status.md b/status.md
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--- a/status.md
+++ b/status.md
@@ -5,19 +5,45 @@
 
 ## Current State
 - Repo initialized with playbook.
-- Niche: **not locked** (reset per operator request).
+- Niche direction proposed by operator (see below). Awaiting Leonard review.
 - No pages published.
-- No Astro site yet; content-first validation remains intentional.
-- Research / engineer prompts are present and used as the operating contract.
+- No Astro site yet.
 
-## Next Actions for Leonard
-1. Wait for operator to lock a niche/vertical.
-2. Publish first evidence-backed page once niche is chosen.
-3. Do not add affiliate or outbound automation until traffic or user-intent evidence exists.
-4. Update this status after every cycle.
+## Proposed Direction (Operator)
+
+**Name:** Afterthedemo
+
+**Core focus:** Real shipped products built by people using AI tools (especially Hermes and similar agent stacks).
+
+**Rules:**
+- Only products with a public, verifiable artifact (live site, installable package, open repo, running bot, downloadable tool, etc.)
+- Must be past the demo stage
+- Not tools themselves, not tutorials as the main content, not VeriPath/client service work
+- No scoring system
+
+**Content pillars the operator wants over time:**
+1. Product Directory (evergreen, evidence-backed entries)
+2. Weekly Builder Spotlight (one project + interview with the person who shipped it — process, challenges, prompts, plan changes, tool stack)
+3. Creation Walkthroughs (how a real product was actually made)
+4. Tool Tutorials & Setup Guides (grounded in real shipped work)
+5. Process Notes (messy reality: what broke, what changed)
+
+**Goals stated by operator:**
+- Showcase individual work and promote AI builders
+- Grow audience
+- Be inspiring and interesting
+- Eventually talk to the actual people who shipped the products
+
+## Request for Leonard
+Please review the proposed Afterthedemo direction and give your assessment:
+
+1. Is this a coherent and workable vertical for the Directory Engine?
+2. Strengths and risks you see
+3. Suggested first concrete steps (including whether to lock it)
+4. Any adjustments you recommend to the content pillars or filters
+
+Update this status.md (or decisions.md) with your opinion and recommended next actions.
 
 ## Recent Runs
-- **2026-08-23 — Reset:** Deleted `pages/lm-studio.md` and cleared niche lock per operator request.
-
-## Open Questions
-- Which vertical should be locked?
+- **2026-08-23 — Reset:** Deleted previous LM Studio page and cleared old niche.
+- **2026-08-23 — Brief:** Operator proposed Afterthedemo direction and requested Leonard’s review.