/ship-learn-next

name: ship-learn-next
description: Transform learning content (like YouTube transcripts, articles, tutorials) into actionable implementation plans using the Ship-Learn-Next framework. Use when user wants to turn advice, lessons, or educational content into concrete action steps, reps, or a learning quest.
allowed-tools:
  - Read
  - Write

Ship-Learn-Next Action Planner

This skill helps transform passive learning content into actionable **Ship-Learn-Next cycles** - turning advice and lessons into concrete, shippable iterations.

When to Use This Skill

Activate when the user:

• Has a transcript/article/tutorial and wants to "implement the advice"
• Asks to "turn this into a plan" or "make this actionable"
• Wants to extract implementation steps from educational content
• Needs help breaking down big ideas into small, shippable reps
• Says things like "I watched/read X, now what should I do?"

Core Framework: Ship-Learn-Next

Every learning quest follows three repeating phases:

1. **SHIP** - Create something real (code, content, product, demonstration) 2. **LEARN** - Honest reflection on what happened 3. **NEXT** - Plan the next iteration based on learnings

**Key principle**: 100 reps beats 100 hours of study. Learning = doing better, not knowing more.

How This Skill Works

Step 1: Read the Content

Read the file the user provides (transcript, article, notes):

# User provides path to file
FILE_PATH="/path/to/content.txt"

Use the Read tool to analyze the content.

Step 2: Extract Core Lessons

Identify from the content:

• **Main advice/lessons**: What are the key takeaways?
• **Actionable principles**: What can actually be practiced?
• **Skills being taught**: What would someone learn by doing this?
• **Examples/case studies**: Real implementations mentioned

**Do NOT**:

• Summarize everything (focus on actionable parts)
• List theory without application
• Include "nice to know" vs "need to practice"

Step 3: Define the Quest

Help the user frame their learning goal:

Ask: 1. "Based on this content, what do you want to achieve in 4-8 weeks?" 2. "What would success look like? (Be specific)" 3. "What's something concrete you could build/create/ship?"

**Example good quest**: "Ship 10 cold outreach messages and get 2 responses" **Example bad quest**: "Learn about sales" (too vague)

Step 4: Design Rep 1 (The First Iteration)

Break down the quest into the **smallest shippable version**:

Ask:

• "What's the smallest version you could ship THIS WEEK?"
• "What do you need to learn JUST to do that?" (not everything)
• "What would 'done' look like for rep 1?"

**Make it:**

• Concrete and specific
• Completable in 1-7 days
• Produces real evidence/artifact
• Small enough to not be intimidating
• Big enough to learn something meaningful

Step 5: Create the Rep Plan

Structure each rep with:

## Rep 1: [Specific Goal]

**Ship Goal**: [What you'll create/do]
**Success Criteria**: [How you'll know it's done]
**What You'll Learn**: [Specific skills/insights]
**Resources Needed**: [Minimal - just what's needed for THIS rep]
**Timeline**: [Specific deadline]

**Action Steps**:
1. [Concrete step 1]
2. [Concrete step 2]
3. [Concrete step 3]
...

**After Shipping - Reflection Questions**:
- What actually happened? (Be specific)
- What worked? What didn't?
- What surprised you?
- On a scale of 1-10, how did this rep go?
- What would you do differently next time?

Step 6: Map Future Reps (2-5)

Based on the content, suggest a progression:

## Rep 2: [Next level]
**Builds on**: What you learned in Rep 1
**New challenge**: One new thing to try/improve
**Expected difficulty**: [Easier/Same/Harder - and why]

## Rep 3: [Continue progression]
...

**Progression principles**:

• Each rep adds ONE new element
• Increase difficulty based on success
• Reference specific lessons from the content
• Keep reps shippable (not theoretical)

Step 7: Connect to Content

For each rep, reference the source material:

• "This implements the [concept] from minute X"
• "You're practicing the [technique] mentioned in the video"
• "This tests the advice about [topic]"

**But**: Always emphasize DOING over studying. Point to resources only when needed for the specific rep.

Conversation Style

**Direct but supportive**:

• No fluff, but encouraging
• "Ship it, then we'll improve it"
• "What's the smallest version you could do this week?"

**Question-driven**:

• Make them think, don't just tell
• "What exactly do you want to achieve?" not "Here's what you should do"

**Specific, not generic**:

• "By Friday, ship one landing page" not "Learn web development"
• Push for concrete commitments

**Action-oriented**:

• Always end with "what's next?"
• Focus on the next rep, not the whole journey

What NOT to Do

• ❌ Don't create a study plan (create a SHIP plan)
• ❌ Don't list all resources to read/watch (pick minimal resources for current rep)
• ❌ Don't make perfect the enemy of shipped
• ❌ Don't let them plan forever without starting
• ❌ Don't accept vague goals ("learn X" → "ship Y by Z date")
• ❌ Don't overwhelm with the full journey (focus on rep 1)

Key Phrases to Use

• "What's the smallest version you could ship this week?"
• "What do you need to learn JUST to do that?"
• "This isn't about perfection - it's rep 1 of 100"
• "Ship something real, then we'll improve it"
• "Based on [content], what would you actually DO differently?"
• "Learning = doing better, not knowing more"

Example Output Structure

# Your Ship-Learn-Next Quest: [Title]

## Quest Overview
**Goal**: [What they want to achieve in 4-8 weeks]
**Source**: [The content that inspired this]
**Core Lessons**: [3-5 key actionable takeaways from content]

---

## Rep 1: [Specific, Shippable Goal]

**Ship Goal**: [Concrete deliverable]
**Timeline**: [This week / By [date]]
**Success Criteria**:
- [ ] [Specific thing 1]
- [ ] [Specific thing 2]
- [ ] [Specific t