AFG AI Field Guide First prompt chapter

AI Field Guide - Tried ChatGPT path

Use this when you opened ChatGPT and froze.

You do not need a perfect prompt. You need one clear first request, a way to judge the answer, and a few follow-ups that make it usable.

Copy the prompt Back to full guide

Starter video path

Step 1

Paste this first.

Change the bracketed parts. Keep the shape. This gives ChatGPT enough context to stop guessing and start helping. 

Hi. I am new to using ChatGPT.

I need help with [the real thing you need help with].

Here is the situation:
[paste the non-private details]

The person reading or using the answer is [customer, client, coworker, family member, or myself].

Make it sound [warm, plain, calm, professional, casual, or direct].

Before you write, ask me one question if you need more information.
Do not paste private details you do not need. Describe the situation, not the whole file cabinet.

Step 2

Why this prompt works.

Level

I am new tells it to keep the answer simple.

Job

I need help with... gives it the real task.

Context

The situation gives it enough detail to avoid generic advice.

Reader

The reader changes the wording, length, and tone.

Tone

Tone keeps the answer from sounding stiff, fake, or too salesy.

Question

One question is better than a wrong answer pretending to be right.

Step 2B

Pick one job before you type.

A beginner gets stuck when the prompt is too big. Do not ask AI to fix your whole business, whole day, or whole life. Give it one job you can check in ten minutes.

Good first job

Reply to a message

Use when you know what you want to say but need it cleaner, shorter, or calmer.

Good first job

Turn notes into steps

Use when you have messy thoughts and need a checklist you can actually follow.

Good first job

Explain something confusing

Use when you need plain English before you decide what to do next.

If you cannot tell whether the answer is right, make the job smaller.

Step 3

What a useful answer should look like.

Too generic

Thank you for your message. We appreciate your inquiry and will respond as soon as possible.

More useful

Hi [Name], thanks for reaching out. I can help with that. Send me [one needed detail], and I can give you the next clear step without guessing.

Keep it if...

  • It sounds like a real person.
  • It gives one clear next step.
  • It does not promise something you cannot control.

Fix it if...

  • It is too long.
  • It sounds like a brochure.
  • It invented facts, prices, dates, or promises.

Step 3B

Ask for the answer shape you want.

Most weak answers happen because the tool guessed the format. Tell it what the answer should become before it writes.

Email

Use for replies, follow-ups, apologies, and customer updates.

Checklist

Use for messy notes, chores, work steps, and repeat tasks.

Table

Use for comparing options, pros and cons, or what to verify.

Script

Use when Chance needs a short video line or plain-spoken explanation.

Plan

Use when the answer needs an order of operations, not a paragraph.

Questions

Use when the tool does not have enough information yet.

Step 4

Use short follow-ups to fix the answer.

Do not restart the whole chat every time the answer is close. Tell it what to change.

Step 6

Save the prompt if it worked.

The win is not one clever answer. The win is a prompt you can use again next week.

Task

What job did it help with?

Reader

Who was the answer for?

Tone

What wording sounded right?

Check

What did you need to verify?