Welcome

After talking to many friends and colleagues about their ChatGPT usage, we've noticed most people are barely scratching the surface of what's possible.

After reading this guide, you'll know how to..

Let's do this 💪

The problem

Let's start with understanding what usually goes wrong…

Most people struggle to get good results because they don't provide enough context. It's like giving instructions to a brilliant but completely new team member - without guidance, you'll get poor results.

The good news is there's a reliable way to fix this...👇

3-part formula

Think of this as a simple recipe for better AI results.

You need three ingredients:

• background information (context) so AI understands the task

• the right type of expertise (role) for the job

• clear details (be specific) about what you want.

Context is king

When you tell AI who something is for, what problem you're trying to solve, and why it matters, you get more focused and relevant results.

Bad prompt:

"Give me a workout plan to get fit”

Better prompt

I need help creating a fitness plan for my New Year's resolution. I'm a complete beginner (haven't exercised in 2 years), working a 9-5 desk job, and can only work out in the evenings. My goal is to lose 15 pounds and build basic strength, but I get overwhelmed in gyms and prefer starting at home. I have a pair of dumbbells and a yoga mat. I can commit to 30-45 minutes, 3 times a week, but need a plan that starts very gradually to avoid burnout and injury.

Now that AI understands the context, let's choose who you need help from…

Pick an Expert

AI can act like different types of experts. Need help explaining something? Ask for a teacher. Writing something important? Work with an editor. Looking at data? Get an analyst.

Prompt example

As a personal trainer who specializes in helping beginners and office workers start their fitness journey from home. You have 5+ years of experience creating beginner-friendly programs that focus on proper form and sustainable habits, with expertise in designing workouts for people with limited time and equipment.

Being clear about what type of expert you need helps AI match the right skills and approach for your task. If you need inspiration for what type of expert roles to use, check out this free database of AI prompts and roles: https://prompts.chat/

Now let's focus on how the output should look…

Be Specific

Clear requests get clear results. Tell AI the length you need, how you want information organized, and what must be included.

Prompt example

Create a 1000 word 4-week beginner fitness plan with

• 3 workouts per week, 30-45 minutes each

• Detailed breakdown for each session including warm-up and cool-down

• Focus on bodyweight exercises plus basic dumbbell movements

Putting it together

This is where everything connects. Start with your chosen expert, add the background they need to know, and list exactly what you want them to create.

Let's see how all these pieces work together…

Prompt structure

As a [role] + [with experience/understanding in specific context], help me [task with specific requirements]

This combination helps the AI understand and deliver what you need the first time, saving you from back-and-forth edits.

Prompt example

As a certified personal trainer with experience in beginner fitness and home workouts, help me create a 4-week fitness plan for a complete beginner working a desk job who wants to exercise at home that includes 3 workouts per week, 30-45 minute sessions, warm-up routines, bodyweight exercises, basic dumbbell movements, form guides, and progress tracking tips formatted as a weekly calendar with daily instructions and progress tracking sheets.

Eeeeh…😰

You might be thinking: "This sounds like a lot of work. Isn't the point of AI to make things faster, not slower?"

Here's the solution: Use AI to help you write better prompts. Instead of spending time writing detailed instructions, start with basic prompts and iterate from there.

Prompt example

Help me improve the prompt "I want to get fit in 2025" by asking for relevant context, suggesting a suitable role for the AI, and specifying details about the output.

AI can help you transform a basic prompt into a detailed request by asking key questions about your current situation, what type of expert guidance you need, and what specific outcomes you're looking for.

Bonus Technique

Big tasks work better when broken into smaller pieces. Instead of asking for everything at once, break your request into clear steps. Think about what needs to happen first, what information you need at each stage, and how different parts connect.

This approach is known as "Chain of Thought"

Prompt example

Step 1: Research best practices

• Most effective exercise types and frequency for beginners

• Essential balance of cardio vs strength training

• Science-backed methods for building sustainable habits

Step 2: Summarize key findings

• What approaches have strongest evidence for success

• Most important factors for beginner progress

• Common pitfalls and their solutions

Step 3: Create a plan:

• Design a structured 4-week program based on findings

• Include clear progression path with form guidance

• Add specific milestones and progress tracking

You made it!

Here's a quick summary of the main points:

Context is key: Giving AI background information helps it understand your needs better
Expert roles matter: Choosing the right type of expert guides AI's approach to your task
Details make a difference:Being specific about what you want leads to better output
Step-by-step often works best: Break down complex tasks into steps

Now go try it out..

The great thing is that these techniques work across all AI tools that use language models. No matter which AI assistant you choose to work with, the same principles apply - clear context, defined roles, and specific requests will help you get better results.

Here are some of our favorite AI tools that you can start practicing with today.