The “Boiled Potato” Problem
Everyone is talking about AI. It is everywhere. From boardrooms to classrooms, the conversation is about the power of these digital assistants. But most people are using these powerful tools the wrong way. They are stuck using weak, boring instructions. Here is how to write better AI prompts, the answer is simple: stop asking generic questions.
I call this the “Boiled Potato” Problem.
Imagine walking into a fancy 5-star restaurant. You see a world-famous chef who has decades of experience. You look at him and simply ask for “food.”
He might give you a plain boiled potato. Technically, it is food. But it is a wasted opportunity. You could have had a steak, a complex risotto, or a gourmet meal. The chef didn’t fail; your request did.
This happens when you ask AI vague questions. If you ask a generic question, you get a generic answer. To get a gourmet result, you must stop being vague. You need to be specific.
Talk to Your Personal Genius
Think about ordering dinner. You would never ask a waiter for “something tasty.” That is a guarantee for disappointment.
Instead, you would say: “Make me a spicy vegan curry with coconut rice. Make it fast.”
AI works the same way. Do not treat it like a search engine like Google. Treat it like a genius employee or a creative partner. Generative AI models are designed to predict what you want, but they need guardrails. It can act like anyone you want. It just needs clear instructions to do its job.
The Secret Sauce: How to Write Better AI Prompts in 3 Steps
Want a 5-star result every time? Use this simple 3-step framework. It forces you to take control of the output.
1. The Role (Who)
Tell the AI who it should be. This sets the tone and the knowledge base.
- Bad: “Write a blog post.”
- Good: “Act as a professional financial analyst with 10 years of experience.”
2. The Context (What)
Give the AI the background info. Tell it what is happening and what constraints exist.
- Bad: “Read this.”
- Good: “Read this earnings report for Apple. Focus specifically on their new phone sales compared to last year.”
3. The Format (How)
Tell the AI exactly what you want back. Do you want a list? An email? A tweet?
- Bad: “Summarize it.”
- Good: “Write a short summary in 3 bullet points. Make it easy to read for a general audience.”
Put it all together:
“Act as a financial analyst. Read this earnings report for Apple and focus on new phone sales. Write a short summary in 3 bullet points.”
Pro Tip: Iterate for Perfection
Even the best prompt engineers don’t get it perfect on the first try. If the AI gives you a response that is too long, simply reply: “Make it shorter.” If it is too stiff, say: “Make it sound more casual.”
Treat it like a conversation, not a one-time command.
The Results
When you use this method, you get the “Boom!” moment. You hit enter and get exactly what you wanted. You don’t have to rewrite it.
Here is what you get with good prompts:
- A market report you can use right away without editing.
- Five great content ideas that match your brand voice.
- A smart investment plan tailored to your specific goals.
Level Up Your Game
Better answers always lead to smarter decisions. This is true for your side hustle, your investments, or your day job.
AI is a tool to supercharge your grind. But it only works if you drive it correctly. Stop asking for “food.” Give the AI a real recipe.
If you want to learn more about optimizing your workflow, check out our guide on [Link to another one of your blog posts/Services page].
Get specific. Get creative. Watch your results—and your bank account—level up.
The “boiled potato” problem is a great way to illustrate how vague prompts lead to underwhelming results—I found a similar discussion about clear communication strategies on https://tinyfun.io/game/chasing-traffic. It’s definitely a skill worth developing as AI tools become more prevalent.