📖 The Recipe Book

I want to [describe your goal]. I'm not sure of the best approach yet, so let's do this in stages.

First, help me understand the landscape. What are the key things I should know before starting? What are the most common mistakes people make with this?

Then, based on that, suggest a concrete plan for my specific situation. I am [brief description of your context — experience level, resources, constraints].

Finally, give me the first 3 actionable steps I can take this week.

I want to start a vegetable garden in my backyard. I'm not sure of the best approach yet, so let's do this in stages.

First, help me understand the landscape. What are the key things I should know before starting? What are the most common mistakes beginners make?

Then, based on that, suggest a concrete plan for my situation. I have a 10x12 foot sunny patch, I'm a complete beginner, and I want to grow things my family will actually eat — mostly salads, tomatoes, and herbs.

Finally, give me the first 3 actionable steps I can take this week.

Explain [topic] to me like I'm [your level].

I already know: [what you do know — even "nothing" is fine]
I want to understand: [what specific aspect you're curious about]
Please use [analogies / real-world examples / no math] to make it concrete.

Explain compound interest to me like I'm someone who never really paid attention in math class.

I already know: money in a savings account earns some interest each year, but beyond that I'm fuzzy.
I want to understand: why people say it's so powerful for long-term saving, and what the actual difference is between compound and simple interest.
Please use real-world examples with actual numbers to make it concrete — no formulas needed.

I've decided to [your decision or plan]. I want you to play devil's advocate — push back hard on this idea. What are the strongest arguments against it? What could go wrong? What am I probably not considering? Don't soften it.

I believe [your position]. But I want to understand the other side as charitably as possible. Give me the strongest, most thoughtful version of the opposing argument — not a strawman, but the best case someone who disagrees could make. Then tell me where you think the strongest points of genuine disagreement lie.

I've decided to quit my job and go freelance as a graphic designer. I want you to play devil's advocate — push back hard on this idea. What are the strongest arguments against it? What financial, professional, or personal risks am I probably underweighting? What do most people get wrong about freelancing? Don't soften it.

I need to [accomplish this goal]. Break this down into a step-by-step plan for me.

My situation: [relevant context — tools/software you have, your skill level, time available, constraints]

Give me concrete, actionable steps — each step should be specific enough that I know exactly what to do. Flag any steps where I might need outside help or where most people get stuck.

I need to create a household budget for the first time. Break this down into a step-by-step plan for me.

My situation: I have a regular monthly salary, some irregular freelance income, and I've never formally tracked my spending before. I have access to my bank's online statements and I'm comfortable with Google Sheets.

Give me concrete, actionable steps — each step should be specific enough that I know exactly what to do. Flag any steps where most beginners get stuck or where decisions get complicated.

Here's [a document / article / set of notes]:

[paste your content here]

Summarize this for [your audience]. They need to understand [specific aspect they care about]. Keep it to [length — e.g., "3 bullet points" or "a short paragraph" or "under 100 words"]. Use [plain language / technical terms are fine / bullet points / prose].

Here's an article about a medication my father's doctor has recommended:

[paste article text here]

Summarize this for a 70-year-old with no medical background. He needs to understand what the medication is for, the most common side effects to watch out for, and whether there's anything he should ask his doctor. Keep it to a short, plain-English paragraph and a brief bullet list. No medical jargon — if a technical term is necessary, explain it in brackets.

Draft a [type of writing] for me. Here's the situation:

Purpose: [what you're trying to achieve]
Audience: [who will read this]
Key points to include: [main things you need to say]
Tone: [professional / warm / direct / apologetic / etc.]
Length: [roughly how long]

Now critique what you just wrote. Be honest — what's weak about it? What could be misread? Where is it too long, too vague, or too generic? What's the single biggest thing that would improve it?

Now rewrite it, fixing the issues you identified. Make it tighter and more specific.

Draft a client email for me. Here's the situation:

Purpose: Explain that a project will be delivered two weeks late and ask for understanding
Audience: A client who has been patient so far but has a hard deadline coming up
Key points to include: Honest reason for the delay (team illness), what's been done to catch up, the new delivery date, and what we're offering to make it right (a discount on this invoice)
Tone: Professional but genuinely apologetic — not corporate-speak
Length: Short — under 200 words

Act as a [specific type of expert]. You are [brief description of their background and perspective].

I'm going to describe my situation and I want you to respond as this expert would — including the questions they'd ask to get more information, the things they'd flag as important, and the advice or recommendations they'd give.

My situation: [describe what you're dealing with]

Act as an experienced registered dietitian who specializes in sustainable, practical eating habits (not fad diets). You're known for being realistic about what people can actually stick to long-term.

I'm going to describe my situation and I want you to respond as this nutritionist would — including the questions you'd ask, things you'd flag as important, and practical suggestions.

My situation: I'm 45, I work from home, I skip breakfast most days, I eat out for lunch maybe 4x a week, and I've been trying to lose about 15 pounds for two years without success. I'm not willing to count calories obsessively but I do want to make changes.

I'm stuck on a problem and I'd like you to help me think through it by asking me questions — don't try to solve it right away.

Here's the situation: [describe what you're trying to do]
Here's where I'm stuck: [describe the specific blockage]
Here's what I've already tried: [what hasn't worked]

Ask me 3 clarifying questions that might help reveal what I'm missing.

I'm stuck on a problem and I'd like you to help me think through it by asking me questions — don't try to solve it right away.

Here's the situation: I'm building a presentation to convince my company's leadership to invest in a new customer feedback system. I've done the research and I know why it's a good idea.
Here's where I'm stuck: The presentation feels unconvincing even to me, and I can't figure out why.
Here's what I've already tried: I've rewritten the intro three times, tried different slide orders, and gotten feedback from a colleague who said it felt "too technical."

Ask me 3 clarifying questions that might help reveal what I'm missing.