Exercises

Treat it like a person, not a machine

Demonstration

5 minutes

Watch the same email reviewed by the same AI twice — once with no setup, once with thoughtful setup. The difference is the whole point of this chapter.

Start with your problem, not with AI

Demonstration

5 minutes

The worst way to start with AI is to look for something to use it on. Start with a real problem.

Trust, but verify

Demonstration

8 minutes

AI is confidently wrong often enough that you need a system for catching it.

Be specific, be honest, be demanding

Structured workflow

15–25 minutes

You don't need prompt engineering — you need one honest conversation and a proper brief.

Think in drafts, not in answers

Demonstration

8 minutes

AI's first response is a starting point, not a finished product. The real value is in the argument that follows.

Let them fight

Demonstration

6 minutes

Use one AI to critique another's work. The disagreements catch problems neither would find alone.

Different tools for different jobs

Structured workflow

20–30 minutes

Not all AI tools are the same. Knowing which to reach for is a skill worth developing.

Build things you couldn't build before

Structured workflow

~15 min today, plus ~15 min after a week of use

Take a recurring problem and build the first version of something that solves it.

Teach yourself anything

Structured workflow

20–30 minutes for this first session

Start an ongoing coaching relationship with AI about a skill you've been meaning to improve.

Where to go from here

Structured workflow

20–25 minutes

Pick one real problem that matters to you and have the conversation you've been putting off.