Use it for: Choosing tools, careers, strategies or study plans.Why it works: It presents a balanced, rational view—helping you make informed, confident choices.You can also try:<ul><li>Weigh the trade-offs between A and B in a decision matrix.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">List 3 scenarios where A outperforms B and vice versa.</li></ul>

Compare [option A] and [option B] with pros and cons.

The right question doesn't just get an answer—it unlocks intelligence

Use it for: Breaking creative blocks or tough decisions.Why it works: It reverses the process—ChatGPT becomes your coach, guiding you with smart questions instead of answers.You can also try:<ul><li>Play the role of a mentor and probe me with 5 reflective prompts.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Interview me with 5 ‘why’ questions to uncover my priorities.</li></ul>

I’m stuck. Ask me 5 questions to help me clarify my thoughts.

Use it for: Getting expert advice in seconds—pitch reviews, resume tips, historical insights, etc.Why it works: By assigning a role, you fine-tune the assistant’s tone, accuracy and depth—like having a personal consultant for any domain.You can also try:<ul><li>Imagine you’re a startup founder / UX researcher / investigative journalist and advise me on…</li><li>Channel your inner financial consultant / sportsperson / teacher to…</li></ul>

Act like a [lawyer/designer/historian] and help me with..

Use it for: Self-paced learning—coding, storytelling, SEO, sketching, painting, etc.Why it works: It structures content into bite-sized daily lessons, helping you stay consistent without overwhelm.You can also try:<ul><li>Design a 14-day crash course with 45 minutes per session.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Outline a weekend bootcamp with 3 modules per day.</li></ul>

I want to learn [topic]. Give me a 7-day plan with 30 minutes per day.

Use it for: Speed reading reports, PDFs, news or research papers.Why it works: Time-saving and sharp—gets you the essence without the fluff.You can also try:<ul><li>Give me a TL;DR (too long; didn't read) in three sentences / a one-paragraph gist.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Create a mind-map outline of the main points.</li></ul>

Summarize this [article/text] into a bullet list of key takeaways.

The Power Isn’t in Knowing Everything: It’s in Asking Better Questions

Use it for: Workflow design—fitness, writing, social media, time-blocking.Why it works: Systems >  Motivation. This prompt helps build repeatable, tailored routines that stick.You can also try:<ul><li>Draft a monthly template to track progress on [goal].</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Build a daily checklist for [habit] with reminders and metrics.</li></ul>

Create a system I can reuse weekly for [goal/habit/content]

Use it for: Learning anything quickly—Scientific, researches, investment, geopolitics etc.Why it works: It forces ChatGPT to simplify without dumbing down. You'll walk away understanding core ideas in plain language—no jargon.You can also try: Explain to me like I'm 16 years old / graduate / layman.

Explain [complex topic] to me like I’m 12 years old.

Use it for: Polishing emails, blogs, bios, or pitch decks.Why it works: Tone matters. This prompt adapts your content to fit context—without losing your voice.You can also try:<ul><li>Transform this into a conversational blog post / executive summary / sales email.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Turn this into a tweet thread / LinkedIn post / elevator pitch.</li></ul>

Rewrite this text to make it more [casual/professional/persuasive].

Use it for: Blogs, reels, newsletters, marketing or class planning.Why it works: ChatGPT can tap into broad topical knowledge and create fresh, relevant ideas tailored to your niche.You can also try:<ul><li>Suggest 5 viral hooks for reels / newsletter series / podcast episodes.</li><li>Brainstorm carousel post themes / email subject lines / blog headlines.</li></ul>

Generate content ideas for [topic], based on current trends.

ChatGPT is only as powerful as the prompts you give it. Whether you're writing, researching, learning or creating, the right prompt can unlock magic. Here are 10 carefully crafted prompts to get the most out of this AI assistant.

KELVIN OTIS

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