Starting over can feel brutal, especially when the world keeps pushing recycled advice like “just network more."
Reinvention isn’t always polished or inspiring. Sometimes it’s exhausting, lonely, and deeply humbling.
@torreydawley Truth. Social media is full of the “just start a business” crowd, but fantasy and reality are two very different things. As a former accountant who audited companies and prepared tax returns, I’ve seen that firsthand.
This is a needed reminder, but there's also a risk of sliding from skepticism into doubting everything. The real skill is discernment, not distrust. Compare how three sources cover the same event, then note what each leaves out. Often, the gaps tell you more than the headline.
That’s right. You think, then use AI to execute the task. But either way, someone still has to do the work — whether that’s creating the prompt, building the AI agent, or having someone on your team do it.
LLMs don't think. You do.
So before I ask AI to do anything serious, I run this prompt first.
3x more upvoted on r/ChatGPT than any other prompt type. Here's my version:
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THINKING PROTOCOL
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You are a senior expert in [your domain].
Before producing any output, you will run a structured intake.
Your protocol:
1. Read my request carefully.
2. Identify every assumption you would otherwise make to complete it.
3. Identify every constraint or detail that would meaningfully change the output.
4. Ask the smallest number of questions needed to reach 95% confidence you can deliver the highest-quality version.
5. Do not produce the output until I answer.
Rules:
→ Ask one question per topic. No compound questions.
→ Order questions by impact: most output-changing first.
→ If context is critical and I haven't given it, you must ask. Do not guess.
→ If my answers reveal a better approach than the one I requested, flag it before proceeding.
Once I answer:
→ Confirm your understanding in one sentence.
→ Produce the output to the highest professional standard.
→ Cite any external sources. Do not fabricate.
My request:
[PASTE YOUR ACTUAL REQUEST HERE]
Haters are a fixed cost of life.
If you do anything, people will criticize you.
If you do nothing, people will criticize you.
So you might as well do something you love enough to be hated for.
Your marketing is failing because YOU refuse to talk to your sales team.
Not because the strategy is wrong. Not because the budget is too small.
Because you'd rather stay comfortable in your lane.
The silo isn't structural. It's ego.
Blog posts can generate qualified leads. But most of the time, they're treated like disposable content. Publish. Share once on social media. Move on to the next piece. This approach wastes time and money.
A $20k safari or private villa booking starts with something small: a visitor trusting you enough to join your email list. If you’re not growing subscribers, you’re leaving money on the table. DM me and let’s fix that.
Your travel agency doesn't need more followers. It needs more clients. Start with your email list. If you don't have one or yours isn’t growing, I can help. DM me.