# Trigger, Agent, Action worksheet

Map a workflow into 3 boxes before you build anything.

## The model

Every agent is 3 boxes. A trigger fires when something happens. The agent makes 1 decision. An action executes what the decision said. The AI owns the middle box and nothing else. Triggers and actions are plumbing, and plumbing should be boring. If you cannot fill in all 3 boxes, you do not have a workflow yet. You have an idea.

## Completed example: email triage

| Box | Filled in |
| --- | --- |
| Trigger | A new Gmail message arrives |
| Agent | Pick 1 of 4 categories per the directive: urgent, needs_reply, newsletter, invoice |
| Action | A 4-way switch: Slack alert, save a draft, archive, or label and forward to bookkeeping |

Note what the agent box holds. One decision. Not "read the email and handle it." The narrower the decision, the better the agent.

## Workflow 1

Task name: ________________________________________

| Box | Question | Your answer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Trigger | What fires it? | |
| Agent | What is the ONE decision? | |
| Action | What concrete thing happens? | |

## Workflow 2

Task name: ________________________________________

| Box | Question | Your answer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Trigger | What fires it? | |
| Agent | What is the ONE decision? | |
| Action | What concrete thing happens? | |

## Workflow 3

Task name: ________________________________________

| Box | Question | Your answer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Trigger | What fires it? | |
| Agent | What is the ONE decision? | |
| Action | What concrete thing happens? | |

Keep this sheet. Lesson 2 scores these 3 workflows, and 1 of them may become your first build in lesson 5.

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From Agents That Work, lesson 1. advizracademy.com