Stop Trying to Be Clever with Your Prompts
Why clarity beats creativity when AI lacks context
Hey Alchemists,
Yesterday I told you about the Stan Challenge and then had to pump the brakes when I realized their platform was missing essential features for building a real business. I got caught up in the hype without doing my homework first.
But here's the thing: The prompt crafting course idea? That's still happening.
In my last post I talked about joining the and building my prompt crafting course in public. Some of you asked what that actually looks like day-to-day.
Well, here's your answer.
For the next week, I'm walking you through my entire approach to prompt crafting. Not templates to copy. Not frameworks to follow blindly. The actual thinking process behind writing prompts that work.
By Day 12, you'll know how to craft prompts for your problems, in your voice, for your specific situation.
We're starting with the biggest mistake I see everyone make...
Let me tell you about one of the worst prompt I ever wrote.
It was 6 months ago. I was trying to get ChatGPT to help me write a sales email for my newsletter. I spent 45 minutes crafting what I thought was the perfect prompt:
You are a master copywriter who channels the persuasive genius of Don Draper meets the authentic wisdom of Seth Godin. Create a sales email that would make even the most cynical marketer weep tears of conversion-optimized joy while maintaining the approachable energy of a friendly neighbor who happens to be a marketing genius. Make it compelling but not sleazy, urgent but not pushy, personal but professional.I was so proud of that prompt. It was so clever ….
The output? Generic garbage. Corporate fluff. Everything I didn't want.
I tried again. This time, I stripped out all the cleverness:
You are a business coach writing to entrepreneurs. Create a 200-word LinkedIn post about why most people fail at delegation.
Target audience: startup founders with 5-15 employees.
Tone: direct but supportive. Include one specific example of bad delegation, explain the root cause, give one actionable fix.
End with a question that sparks discussion about leadership challenges
First try. Perfect output. Exactly what I needed.
That's when it hit me: I wasn't prompting AI. I was performing for it.
The Performance Trap Is Real
Here's what most people get wrong about prompting:
They think creativity impresses AI.
They layer on metaphors, fancy language, and cute references thinking it makes their prompts "better."
But here's the truth: AI doesn't need to be entertained. It needs to be directed.
When you write "Channel your inner Einstein" instead of "Think step-by-step through this physics problem," you're not being clever. You're being vague.
When you say "Write like Hemingway" instead of "Use short sentences and simple words," you're not being creative. You're being unclear.
AI doesn't get impressed by your references. It gets confused by your metaphors.
What Clarity Actually Looks Like
Let me show you the difference.
Vague and "Creative": "Help me brainstorm some next-level, mind-blowing content ideas that would absolutely crush it on LinkedIn and make my audience stop scrolling and start engaging like crazy."
Clear and Direct: "Generate 5 LinkedIn post ideas for marketing professionals. Each should be 100-150 words, include a contrarian take on common advice, and end with a question that encourages comments. Topics: AI tools, personal branding, or productivity."
See the difference?
The first prompt sounds exciting. The second one gets results.
The first one is performing. The second one is directing.
Prompt Crafting Principle #1: Precision Wins
When you strip away the fancy language and focus on what you actually want, three things happen:
AI understands your intent instead of guessing at your metaphors
You get consistent results instead of creative surprises
You can iterate and improve instead of starting over each time
Think of it this way: If you needed someone to edit your resume, would you say "Act like a career guru and make my resume absolutely phenomenal and irresistible to employers"?
Or would you say "You are a hiring manager in tech. Review my product manager resume and suggest 3 specific improvements to make it more likely to get past ATS systems and land interviews at mid-size startups"?
AI prompting works the same way. Clear directions get you where you want to go.
The Flawed Prompt Challenge
Here's a prompt I see variations of all the time:
"Act like a creative genius and help me come up with some amazing ideas for growing my business that are totally unique and innovative and would really wow my customers."
What's wrong with this prompt? Take 30 seconds and think about it.
Here's what I see:
"Creative genius" - vague role, no specific expertise
"Amazing ideas" - no criteria for what makes something amazing
"Growing my business" - what kind of business? what stage? what's the goal?
"Totally unique and innovative" - impossible to deliver without context
"Wow my customers" - who are your customers? what wows them?
Your homework: Rewrite this prompt to be clear and specific. What information would AI actually need to give you useful business growth ideas?
Don't scroll down yet. Actually try it.
I'll give you my version tomorrow, along with the framework I use to turn any vague prompt into a precise one.
The Real Test
You'll know you're getting good at this when you stop trying to impress AI and start directing it.
When you catch yourself writing "Channel your inner..." and delete it for something clearer.
When you realize that the most powerful prompts aren't the most creative ones they're the most precise ones.
Tomorrow: I'll show you exactly how I would fix that flawed prompt, plus the 4-part structure I use to make any prompt more precise.
We're also diving into Prompt Crafting Principle #2: Structure Makes You Dangerous - how to control AI output by giving it a framework to work within.
Until then, try this: Take one prompt you've used recently (or are planning to use) and strip out all the clever language. Make it as clear and direct as possible.
See what happens when you stop performing and start directing.
Drop a comment: What's one "clever" prompt you've used that totally flopped? Let's learn from each other's creative disasters.
This is Day 7 of my 30-day writing sprint, and Day 1 of our prompt crafting deep dive.