You type a question into ChatGPT. You wait. The response is… fine. It’s generic, a little surface-level, and frankly, something you could have found with a quick Google search. You sigh, close the tab, and think, “Is this really the technology that’s supposed to change everything?”
Sound familiar?
You’re not alone. Most people use powerful AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini like a slightly smarter search engine. They ask isolated, vague questions in new chat windows, hoping for a miracle. The problem isn’t the AI; it’s the input. You’re asking it to fly a plane but only giving it the coordinates for a street address.
The future, however, will significantly favor those who have learned the art of prompt engineering. This isn’t a niche tech skill; it’s the new literacy. I see a world where doctors prompt AI to diagnose complex cases, engineers use it to solve intricate problems, and entrepreneurs leverage it to build business plans from the ground up.
The difference between those who get mediocre, generic responses and those who get breathtaking, expert-level results boils down to a simple, repeatable framework. This isn’t a hack; it’s how these large language models (LLMs) are designed to be used.
Let’s ditch the wishy-washy questions and learn how to command. Here is the six-part formula to 10x your productivity with AI.
The Foundation: Why Your Prompts Fail
At its core, an LLM is a prediction engine. It guesses the next most likely word in a sequence based on a colossal amount of data. When you ask a vague question like “Give me investing advice,” it has nothing to latch onto. It defaults to the most average, general response possible because it has no context about who you are, what you need, or why you’re asking.
Your goal is to narrow the infinite possibilities. You do this by providing constraints, background, and a clear direction. Think of it as replacing a spotlight with a laser beam.
The 6-Part Prompting Framework
To illustrate, we’ll build a single, powerful prompt throughout each step. Our goal: get expert financial advice tailored specifically to us.
1. The Command: Start with a Verb, Not a Question
The first word of your prompt sets the tone. Ditch “can you,” “will you,” or “give me.” Start with a strong, action-oriented command.
- Weak: “Can you give me some investing advice?”
- Strong: “Recommend a diversified investment strategy.”
This simple shift transforms your prompt from a casual request into a professional directive. The AI now knows an action is required.
Power Verbs to Use: Analyze, Create, Design, Develop, Recommend, Generate, Evaluate, Outline, Write.
2. The Context: The Secret Sauce of Great Prompts
If you take only one thing from this guide, let it be this: more context is always better. Context is the background information that allows the AI to move from generic to genius. Use the “Rule of Three”: Who, What, and When.
Let’s upgrade our command with context:
- Without Context: “Recommend a diversified investment strategy.”
- With Context: “Recommend a diversified investment strategy for a 32-year-old freelance graphic designer (who) with a moderate risk tolerance earning $85,000/year (what), saving for a house down payment within 5 years (when).”
Instantly, the AI has a persona, a financial reality, and a clear goal. The advice will be infinitely more tailored.
3. The Logic: Shape the Output’s Structure
You’ve told the AI what to do and why. Now, tell it how to do it. Define the reasoning structure you want to see. Do you want a list? A table? A step-by-step plan? Without this, you might get a long, rambling paragraph when you needed a concise bullet list.
Let’s add logic to our prompt:
- Addition: “…List the proposed asset categories, explain the percentage allocation for each, and briefly justify the rationale behind each choice.“
Now the AI knows exactly how to format its thinking. It will create an organized, logical, and instantly usable output.
4. The Roleplay: Assign an Expert Persona
This is where the magic happens. The way you prompt doesn’t just affect what the AI says; it affects who it becomes. You can channel decades of expert knowledge in a single sentence.
Assign a role to transform generic answers into expert-level insights.
- Addition: “You are a certified financial planner (CFP) with 15 years of experience specializing in helping freelancers and creatives achieve home ownership.“
Boom. The AI’s entire response will now be filtered through the lens of this expert persona. It will use appropriate terminology, consider specific challenges faced by freelancers (like variable income), and deliver advice with authority and depth.
5. The Formatting: Demand the Final Presentation
This is the polish on the logic. Specify the final format you need. This is crucial for workflow integration. Do you need to copy-paste this into a document? Share it in a Slack channel? Save it as a reference?
- Addition: “Format your final response as a clear, bolded heading for each section with bullet points below, suitable for saving in a note-taking app.“
You can ask for tables, Markdown code, JSON, or even a script outline. You are the director; tell your AI assistant how to dress the set.
6. The Secret Weapon: The Question Loop
This is the single biggest hack that separates pros from amateurs. After you’ve built your entire prompt, add this final command:
- The Power Move: “Before you provide your recommendation, ask me 10 questions that would help you tailor this strategy even further.“
Why is this so powerful? The AI will immediately identify the gaps in your initial context. It might ask:
- “What is your current debt-to-income ratio?”
- “Do you have an existing emergency fund?”
- “How much have you saved for the down payment already?”
- “Is your ‘moderate’ risk tolerance aligned with a 10% or 15% annual growth target?”
These are nuances you may not have considered. Answer these questions. Then, say, “Okay, based on my answers, ask me 5 more clarifying questions.” Keep this loop going until the AI starts repeating itself. The moment it has no new questions, it has all the information it needs to produce a result so personalized it will feel like you paid a four-figure consultant’s fee.
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