After publishing 40+ AI books, running the ReThynk AI Lab, and helping businesses adopt AI, I’ve learned one thing:
Random prompts = random results.
Structured prompts = consistent results.
That’s why I use the same 4-part framework in every AI project I run — whether it’s coding, content, business strategy, or learning, and I wish every CEO should use.
Here it is.
The 4-Part Prompt Engineering Framework
1️⃣ Role Assignment
Always tell the AI who it should be.
This sets the perspective and expertise level.
Wrong:
“Write an article.”
Right:
“You are a senior content strategist. Write an article for entrepreneurs about…”
2️⃣ Context Definition
Provide the background so the AI knows what environment it’s working in.
Wrong:
“Create a sales pitch.”
Right:
“Create a sales pitch for a SaaS product targeting small business owners who struggle with managing invoices.”
3️⃣ Task Breakdown
Break the job into smaller, specific steps.
Wrong:
“Make me a marketing plan.”
Right:
“Draft a 5-step marketing plan. Step 1: Audience definition. Step 2: Messaging. Step 3: Channels. Step 4: Budget. Step 5: Metrics.”
4️⃣ Constraints & Style
Tell the AI the format, tone, or limits.
Wrong:
“Explain blockchain.”
Right:
“Explain blockchain in under 150 words using a cooking analogy for high school students.”
Example in Action
Prompt Without Framework:
“Help me with personal branding.”
Prompt With Framework:
“You are a personal branding consultant. Context: I am a developer looking for a remote job in 2025. Task: Create a 5-step LinkedIn content plan to showcase my expertise. Constraints: Keep posts under 200 words, beginner-friendly, with 1 call-to-action each.”
The second prompt produces content you can use immediately.
Why This Works
This framework ensures:
- Clear instructions
- Relevant results
- Less back-and-forth
- Output you can actually use
It’s not just theory — this is the backbone behind my books, client projects, and the systems we test inside ReThynk AI Lab.
Final Thought
Prompting isn’t about magic words.
It’s about giving AI the same clarity you’d give a teammate.
When you follow this framework, you stop “trying prompts” — and start engineering predictable results.
More Learning Resources:
- Prompt Books → Ready-to-use libraries across business, authorship, productivity, and branding → ChatGPT Prompts Access
- My live lectures on prompts & productivity
- → ReThynk AI YouTube Channel
- Plug-and-play prompt systems (free & paid) → ReThynk AI Templates & Frameworks
- Professional AI, business, and tech insights (currently free on our website) → ReThynk AI Magazine
📌 Next Post: “How to Create AI-Powered Dashboards with ChatGPT + Excel” — my workflow for turning raw data into business insights.
Top comments (5)
Nothing in this is specific to being a CEO, though? It's just, "be explicit in your prompts". If CEOs need that explained to them, it implies the CEOs you're targeting are less tech-savvy than their average employees. Perhaps a better route would be for them to employ someone to do it for them, and delegate?
You’re right, and that’s a fair point. The framework itself is universal, but the idea behind addressing CEOs directly is about mindset and strategy—knowing what to ask, how to frame questions, and what outcomes to expect. Even if they delegate, understanding prompt design helps them guide the team effectively and make better decisions.
Think Like a CEO. Build Framework Like CEO.
Be your own CEO - always.
Yes, true. We should be our own CEO.