You're Not Using AI Wrong—But You're Probably Not Asking It Right

Most people aren’t getting bad results from ChatGPT because it’s not smart.
They’re getting bad results because they never learned how to talk to it.

We’ve entered the age of AI — and how you prompt matters more than you think.
If you're treating it like a magic 8-ball instead of a co-pilot, you're leaving value on the table.

This post breaks down 5 common prompting mistakes that keep people stuck — and how a few small shifts can completely transform your results.

“Write a blog post about mindset.”

That’s it. No audience, no purpose, no tone.

The result? A one-size-fits-nobody article that sounds like it came from a 2009 inspiration board.

✅ What to do instead:
Add structure to your prompt:

“Give me your best ideas for my website.”
Sounds smart — but it puts the AI in charge of your vision.

Without direction, AI will guess your tone, goals, and audience — and guess wrong.

✅ What to do instead:
Tell it what you’re aiming for:
“You’re a branding strategist. My business helps introverted coaches attract clients without burnout. Suggest 3 homepage layouts that feel calm but credible.”

Now you’re in control. AI is your partner — not your pilot.

Help me explain this concept…”

...But for what? A LinkedIn post? A tweet? A keynote slide?

✅ What to do instead:
Be explicit:

Clarity = better output.

Great AI outputs rarely show up on the first try.
Think of it like writing — drafts make it better.

✅ What to do instead:
Iterate:

You’re not just a prompter — you’re a director.

Before you ask AI to respond, ALWAYS add this line:

“Ask any questions you need before you begin.”

It tells the AI: pause, clarify, then create.

That one sentence can upgrade your results more than any fancy prompt structure.