The Core Concept

Many professionals become paralyzed trying to craft the “perfect prompt” for AI, believing they need to get it exactly right on the first try.

This creates a state of “prompt perfectionism” that prevents experimentation and learning.

The reality is that AI collaboration works best through iteration – starting with a good enough prompt and refining through conversation. Your first attempt is a starting point, not a final exam.

The Metaphor: The Rough Sketch

When an architect designs a building, they don’t start with detailed blueprints. They begin with rough sketches – basic shapes and concepts that capture the general idea.

These sketches aren’t meant to be perfect; they’re meant to be starting points for refinement. Each iteration adds detail and precision.

Your initial AI prompts are these rough sketches. They don’t need to be masterpieces; they just need to be clear enough to start the collaborative design process.

The Professional Story

Lisa, a project manager, spent 20 minutes crafting what she thought was the perfect prompt to help her create a project timeline.

When the AI response wasn’t exactly what she needed, she felt like she had failed. She spent another 15 minutes rewriting the entire prompt from scratch, only to get another imperfect result.

Then she learned the rough sketch approach.

Her next project, she started with a simple prompt:

“Help me create a timeline for a software implementation project.”

When the response was too generic, instead of starting over, she simply added:

“This is for a 6-month CRM implementation with a team of 8 people and a November deadline.”

The AI refined its response. She continued the conversation:

“What potential risks should we build buffer time for?”

Each exchange built on the previous one, and within 10 minutes she had a robust, customized project plan. She had learned to sketch, not to draft blueprints on the first try.

Try This Today

1. Start with “Good Enough”: For your next AI interaction, deliberately craft a prompt that’s clear but not perfect. Set a 2-minute limit for writing it.

2. Practice the Refinement Loop: When you get your first response, instead of starting over, ask a follow-up question to refine what you received. Practice building on the AI’s response rather than replacing it.

3. Save Your Iterations: Keep track of how your prompt evolves through the conversation. Notice which types of refinements lead to the most useful improvements.

Daily Integration Phrase:

“Progress, not perfection. I refine through conversation.”