Today I broke my own rules from The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprintā¦ then remembered why they exist. I tried to type a workshop outline straight into a doc at the cafĆ© (hello, friction and tab-opening). So I shut the laptop, ordered a long black, and went old-school: one idea per index card. Suddenly the ideas poured out, the structure revealed itself, and now the only problem is what to cut.
What I cover
ā¢ Why linear tools (docs/slides) can choke early-stage ideas
ā¢ My cafĆ© routine: long black, closed laptop, stack of coloured index cards
ā¢ āOne idea per cardā: how that unlocks subtopics, sequences, and linkages
ā¢ Using symbols, tiny sketches, and 2x2s on cards to spark connections
ā¢ Sorting ā building ā writing transitions (in that order)
ā¢ How to avoid research rabbit holes while ideating
ā¢ When I still use Post-its vs when index cards winTry this (mini playbook)
1. Leave the laptop shut.
2. Set a 45ā60 min timer.
3. One idea/story/data point per card (no full sentences).
4. Mark research items with a ā?ā and keep moving.
5. Cluster cards into themes; promote/demote subtopics.
6. Lay your āthrough-lineā: intro ā 3ā5 beats ā close.
7. Draft only transitions next. Slides come last.Little cheats I use
ā¢ Symbols: ā”ļø transition, ā
key line, ā audience question, āļø story, ? research later
ā¢ Colour code: e.g., blue = data, yellow = stories, pink = exercises
ā¢ Quick visuals: Venns, simple graphs, 2x2s sketched right on the card
ā¢ āStuck?ā rule: swap the card, donāt open a tabResources I mentioned
ā¢ Index cards (I grab mine from Officeworks / discount art & craft stores)
ā¢ The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint (my method for fast, engaging design)Your turn
Take a photo of your card spread and tag meāI love seeing how your talks and workshops take shape.
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