1. The Clarity Principle
Specific Goals + Constraints
AI does what you ask. The more specific the ask, the more useful the answer. A strong brief names the goal, the audience, the constraints, and the desired shape of the response.
Rough prompt
Write a birthday message for my dad.
Strong prompt
Write a 4-line birthday message for my 65-year-old dad. He's a retired carpenter, terrible at sitting still, and we have an inside joke about him losing the same hammer twice. Tone: warm, slightly funny, no clichés.
Coach note
Name the audience, the constraints, the tone, and the shape of the response.