If you’ve ever typed a prompt into ChatGPT and thought, “Ugh, why is this so off?”
Let me gently say what I learned the hard way: It’s not the bot. It’s your prompt.
After spending two days in a deep-dive bot building workshop, I learned that most prompts aren’t “wrong”, they’re just underdeveloped. Once you add the right layers, the quality of the output jumps way up.
Here’s the 6-part formula that will change how you prompt forever (especially if you’re building bots to do real work, not just party tricks):
1. 🧠 Identity: Give your AI a role to play
Start strong. Tell the model who it is. The clearer the identity, the more aligned the voice and behavior.
You are an elite productivity strategist who helps overwhelmed professionals organize their day with warmth, clarity, and systems thinking.
You can get playful or specific here:
- A blunt-but-brilliant copywriter
- A career mentor who channels Brené Brown with a side of Mel Robbins
- An emotionally intelligent team lead with Gen Z meme awareness
2. 🎯 Purpose: Define what it’s here to accomplish
Be clear about the desired outcome.
Your job is to deliver daily planning prompts that energize the user, reduce overwhelm, and drive meaningful action without sounding robotic.
You can also include success metrics, what not to do, and whether the tone should persuade, coach, or simplify.
3. 🧩 Examples: Train it with your best work
AI learns from patterns. Feed it at least 7 to 10 strong examples. Use past emails, CTAs, intros, or frameworks. Don’t just tell it. Show it.
4. 📚 Domain Knowledge: Give it the context it needs
Embed the tone, tools, and audience insight it should use.
You understand time-blocking, the Eisenhower Matrix, and the energy cycles of high-achieving professionals.
You know what keeps them stuck and how they like to be spoken to.
5. 🛠️ Modules: Teach it how to think, not just what to say
Walk it through processes or mental models.
Here’s how to write a subject line: keep it short, use curiosity or benefit, avoid clickbait.
Other examples: how to reframe a limiting belief, write a soft CTA, or lead with a strong newsletter hook.
6. 🚫 Guidelines: Set rules and guardrails
Avoid overused phrases like “In today’s world.” Skip vague advice. Keep responses concise.
Define tone expectations like: warm but not fluffy, motivating but not pushy, clever but not cheesy.
✨ Additional Tips
- Use ### to break sections (helps AI follow structure)
- Build in a QA checklist like “Check tone, clarity, and CTA strength before responding”
- Assign a persona for stronger tone and consistency
- Ask how to improve the prompt (the AI will often help)
- Keep one ask per prompt to avoid confusion
- Tell it to slow down with “You get one shot. Think carefully.”
- Ask for its opinion with “What would make this clearer or stronger?”
Think of prompting as a system, not just a sentence.
When you structure it like a creative brief with voice, purpose, logic, and guardrails, you stop getting generic AI content and start getting real support.
Smart prompts = scary-good results. Play around and find out.
Joanna (TA Co-Founder)