Phase 0: How AI Actually Reads Your Words · 35 min · ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini (any)
The Problem
Most bad prompts are bad because they're incomplete, not because they're wrong. The person writing them isn't bad at AI — they just don't know what pieces a prompt can have, so they leave out the ones that would have made the difference.
There are six parts that can go into a prompt. You won't use all six every time. But once you know them, you can look at any prompt — yours or someone else's — and immediately see what's missing.
The Six Parts
1. Role — Who the AI should be
Tell the AI who to act as. This shifts its tone, depth, and vocabulary.
"You are a seasoned marketing strategist who has worked with 50+ startups."
Not always needed. When it helps: when you want specific expertise, tone, or perspective. When it's decoration: when the task is simple and the role doesn't change anything.
2. Context — The situation
Give the AI the background it needs. Think: what would a smart new hire need to know to do this well?
"I'm a freelance graphic designer pitching to a local coffee shop that just opened their second location. They're doing well but have zero online presence. My pitch is about helping them build a social media presence."
Not always needed. When it helps: when the task depends on specifics the AI couldn't know. When to skip: when the task is self-contained ("summarize this article").
3. Task — What you want
The specific thing you want the AI to do. This is the only part that's always required.
"Write a cold outreach email proposing a 30-minute consultation."
4. Format — How you want the output
Tell the AI what shape the answer should take. This alone fixes half of all "wrong-shaped" output.
"Format it as a short email with a subject line, greeting, 3 short paragraphs, and a sign-off. Keep it under 150 words."
5. Examples — Show the pattern
Give the AI 1-3 examples of the input/output pattern you want. This is called "few-shot" and it's the single highest-ROI technique we'll cover.
"Here's an example of the tone I want: Subject: Quick idea for [Company] Hi [Name], I noticed [specific observation]. I help businesses like yours with [specific service]. Worth a 30-min chat? Best, [Name]"
6. Constraints — What to avoid or limit
Tell the AI what NOT to do, or set boundaries.
"Don't use the word 'revolutionary' or 'game-changing.' Don't include attachments. Don't propose a specific price yet."