# Workshop Builder > Designs complete workshop curricula including agendas, exercises, handouts, and facilitator guides. Use when a user wants to plan a paid or free workshop, training session, webinar with interactive elements, or live educational event and needs a structured curriculum with timing and materials. - Skill: `reaperinvest/workshop-builder` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/workshop-builder` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/workshop-builder/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/workshop-builder --- # Workshop Builder ## When to Use This Skill - User wants to create a workshop, training session, or live educational event - User says "build me a workshop" or "plan a training" or "design a class" - User has expertise to teach but needs structure, timing, and exercises - User is planning a paid workshop and needs a professional curriculum - User wants to convert existing content (course, blog, talk) into a live workshop format ## Core Principle EVERY WORKSHOP MUST HAVE A SINGLE TRANSFORMATION: attendees arrive at State A and leave at State B. ALL content, exercises, and timing serve that one transformation. ## Workflow ### Phase 1: Define the Transformation Gather from the user: 1. **Topic** — What is the workshop about? 2. **Transformation** — What can attendees DO after the workshop that they could not do before? 3. **Duration** — How long is the session? (default: 90 minutes) 4. **Format** — In-person, virtual, or hybrid? 5. **Audience** — Who are the attendees? What do they already know? 6. **Size** — Expected number of attendees (affects exercise design) If the user provides a vague topic like "marketing," ask: "What specific outcome should attendees walk away with?" ### Phase 2: Design the Agenda Build the agenda using this proven structure: | Block | % of Time | Purpose | |-------|-----------|---------| | **Opening Hook** | 5-10% | Grab attention, set expectations, create safety | | **Foundation** | 15-20% | Teach the core concept/framework | | **Exercise 1** | 15-20% | Apply the concept to their own situation | | **Deep Dive** | 15-20% | Layer on advanced nuance or second concept | | **Exercise 2** | 15-20% | Apply everything together in a realistic scenario | | **Q&A / Hot Seats** | 10-15% | Address individual situations | | **Close + Next Steps** | 5-10% | Summarize, assign action item, pitch (if applicable) | **Timing rules:** - No lecture block longer than 15 minutes without interaction - Every exercise includes: clear instructions, time limit, and debrief - Build in 5-minute buffer for a 90-min workshop, 10-minute for 3+ hours - Virtual workshops: add a 5-minute break every 45 minutes ### Phase 3: Design Exercises Each exercise must specify: 1. **Type** — Solo reflection, pair share, small group, full room, or hands-on 2. **Prompt** — The exact question or task (written out, not summarized) 3. **Duration** — Time for the activity + time for debrief 4. **Materials** — What attendees need (worksheet, sticky notes, whiteboard, etc.) 5. **Debrief method** — How to share back (volunteer share, popcorn, gallery walk) **Exercise selection guide:** - Under 15 people: pair share, hot seats, live workshopping - 15-50 people: small group breakouts, gallery walks, polls - 50+ people: chat responses, polls, solo reflection with volunteer shares ### Phase 4: Create Materials Produce these deliverables: 1. **Facilitator Guide** — Minute-by-minute script with talking points, transitions, and exercise instructions 2. **Attendee Worksheet** — Fillable document attendees complete during exercises 3. **Slide Outline** — Slide-by-slide content recommendations (not actual slides) 4. **Pre-work** (optional) — What attendees should do before arriving 5. **Follow-up Email** — Template for post-workshop engagement ### Phase 5: Stress-Test the Design Check each of these before delivery: - [ ] Can a first-time facilitator run this with the guide alone? - [ ] Is the transformation achievable in the time allotted? - [ ] Does every exercise directly serve the transformation? - [ ] Are instructions specific enough that attendees know exactly what to do? - [ ] Is there a plan for running behind schedule? (mark optional sections to cut) ## Example 1: Paid Workshop — "Write Your First Email Sequence in 90 Minutes" **Transformation:** Attendees arrive with no email sequence. They leave with a complete 5-email welcome sequence drafted and ready to load into their ESP. **Format:** Virtual via Zoom, 20 attendees, 90 minutes ``` WORKSHOP AGENDA: Write Your First Email Sequence in 90 Minutes ============================================================== 0:00 - 0:08 OPENING HOOK (8 min) - Show a real welcome sequence that generated $12K in 30 days - "By the end of today, you'll have your own version of this" - Quick poll: "How many of you have a welcome sequence right now?" - Set ground rules: cameras on, use chat for questions, we'll move fast 0:08 - 0:22 FOUNDATION: The 5-Email Welcome Framework (14 min) - Email 1: The Welcome + Quick Win (deliver on the promise) - Email 2: The Origin Story (why you do this work) - Email 3: The Problem Agitator (show you understand their pain) - Email 4: The Social Proof (case study or testimonial) - Email 5: The Soft Offer (invite to next step) - Show one real example of each (2 min per email) 0:22 - 0:42 EXERCISE 1: Draft Emails 1-3 (20 min) Type: Solo writing with worksheet Prompt: "Open your worksheet. For each of the first 3 emails, write the subject line and the first 2 paragraphs. Use the templates on page 2 as starting points. You have 15 minutes. Go." Materials: Workshop worksheet (pre-distributed PDF) Debrief (5 min): 2 volunteers share their Email 1 subject line + opening paragraph. Facilitator gives live feedback. 0:42 - 0:52 DEEP DIVE: What Separates Good Sequences from Great Ones (10 min) - The "open loop" technique between emails - Subject line formulas that get 40%+ open rates - The one mistake that kills sequences: selling too early 0:52 - 1:12 EXERCISE 2: Draft Emails 4-5 + Refine (20 min) Type: Solo writing, then pair share Prompt: "Draft emails 4 and 5 using your worksheet. Then go back and add one open loop to each of your first 3 emails. After 12 minutes, you'll pair up to review each other's Email 1 only. Partner gives one 'this is strong' and one 'consider changing' piece of feedback." Materials: Worksheet, breakout rooms (pairs) Debrief (3 min): 1 pair shares their best subject line 1:12 - 1:22 Q&A / HOT SEATS (10 min) - Take 2-3 questions from chat - If time: 1 hot seat — volunteer shares full sequence, facilitator edits live 1:22 - 1:30 CLOSE + NEXT STEPS (8 min) - Recap the 5-email framework - Action item: "Load your sequence into your ESP by Friday. Reply to my follow-up email with a screenshot and I'll review it free." - Pitch (if applicable): "My course goes deeper into automated sequences — link in chat" - Thank attendees BUFFER: 5 minutes built into Q&A block (cut to 5 min if running behind) CUT IF BEHIND: Reduce Exercise 2 pair share from 5 min to 2 min ``` **Attendee Worksheet (outline):** ``` Page 1: The 5-Email Framework (reference diagram) Page 2: Email templates with fill-in-the-blank sections Page 3: Subject line formula cheat sheet (10 formulas) Page 4: Open loop examples Page 5: Blank drafting space for all 5 emails ``` ## Example 2: Free Workshop — "Find Your First 3 Coaching Clients This Month" **Transformation:** Attendees arrive unsure how to get clients. They leave with a specific 30-day client acquisition plan with daily actions. **Format:** Virtual via Zoom, 40 attendees, 60 minutes ``` WORKSHOP AGENDA: Find Your First 3 Coaching Clients This Month =============================================================== 0:00 - 0:05 OPENING HOOK (5 min) - "I got my first 3 clients in 22 days without a website, without ads, without a big following. Here's how." - Poll: "Where are you right now? A) 0 clients B) 1-2 clients C) 3+ but inconsistent" 0:05 - 0:18 FOUNDATION: The 3-Channel Client Acquisition System (13 min) - Channel 1: Warm outreach (people you already know) - Channel 2: Community engagement (Facebook groups, LinkedIn) - Channel 3: Content conversations (DM strategy from posts) - Why you only need 3 channels, not 10 - Show the math: 10 conversations/day x 22 days = 3+ clients 0:18 - 0:30 EXERCISE 1: Build Your Prospect List (12 min) Type: Solo reflection with chat participation Prompt: "Open your worksheet. Write down 20 names of people who either A) could be your client, or B) know someone who could be your client. Don't filter — just list. When you hit 20, type 'DONE' in the chat." Materials: Worksheet page 1 Debrief (2 min): "How many of you were surprised you could list 20? That's your warm market." 0:30 - 0:40 DEEP DIVE: The Conversation Framework (10 min) - The 4-message DM sequence (not salesy, not weird) - Message 1: Genuine compliment or question - Message 2: Ask about their current challenge - Message 3: Share a quick insight (free value) - Message 4: "Would it help if we talked about this for 20 min?" - Live demo: show a real DM conversation that led to a client 0:40 - 0:50 EXERCISE 2: Write Your First 3 Messages (10 min) Type: Solo writing Prompt: "Pick one person from your list. Write messages 1-3 using the framework. Make message 1 specific to something real about that person. You have 7 minutes." Materials: Worksheet page 2 Debrief (3 min): 2 volunteers share their Message 1 in chat. Facilitator rates them and suggests tweaks. 0:50 - 0:55 Q&A (5 min) - Take 2 questions from chat - Address common objection: "Won't this feel pushy?" 0:55 - 1:00 CLOSE + NEXT STEPS (5 min) - Action item: "Send 3 Message 1s today. Not tomorrow. Today." - "Reply to my follow-up email with what happened and I'll coach you through the next step — free." - Pitch: "For those who want the complete system with templates, scripts, and weekly coaching — link in chat." CUT IF BEHIND: Reduce Q&A to 2 minutes BUFFER: Built into Q&A block ``` ## Facilitator Guide Format For each agenda block, the facilitator guide includes: ``` BLOCK: [Name] — [Duration] SAY: "[Exact opening line to say]" DO: [Physical/technical action — share screen, open poll, start timer] SHOW: [What's on screen — slide number, demo, worksheet page] TRANSITION: "[Bridge sentence to next block]" WATCH FOR: [Common issues — confused faces, dead chat, running long] IF BEHIND: [What to cut or compress] ``` ## Recovery and Fallback - If the user cannot articulate the transformation, suggest 3 options based on their topic and ask them to pick one - If the workshop is under 45 minutes, use a simplified 4-block structure: Hook, Teach, Exercise, Close - If the workshop is over 3 hours, add structured breaks every 60-75 minutes and a midpoint energy activity - If the user wants to cover too many topics, enforce: "One transformation per workshop. Which topic, if mastered, would make attendees say this was worth their time?" - If exercises seem too complex for the audience, default to solo reflection with chat sharing (lowest friction) ## Constraints - **NEVER design a workshop without exercises** — lecture-only events are presentations, not workshops - **ALWAYS include timing for every block** — to the minute - **ALWAYS specify what to cut if running behind** — mark at least 2 cuttable sections - **ALWAYS include a facilitator transition** between every block - One transformation per workshop — reject scope creep - Virtual workshops must have interaction every 10 minutes maximum - Exercises must include exact prompts, not summaries like "have them brainstorm"