Workflows How to Get Clear Thoughts with AI
How to Get Clear Thoughts with AI
Use interview-style prompting to turn a fuzzy idea or problem into something you can actually act on — one question at a time.
Idea Interview Low-Token Mode
Why this workflow
A fuzzy idea stays fuzzy until something forces you to be specific. This workflow uses an interview-style prompt to sharpen a rough thought into something you can act on — one question at a time — then switches the AI into a low-token mode so the rest of the session stays crisp instead of drowning you in filler.
What you'll walk away with
A vague idea sharpened into a clear, one-line statement
The single first step worth taking next
An AI session tuned for short, signal-dense replies
STEP 1
Interview the idea into focus
Use when you have a vague idea and want to sharpen it through structured questions before committing to it.
I want to refine an idea through a structured interview. Ask me one question at a time. After each answer, ask the next. Do not ask multiple questions at once. For each question: - Ask one clear question about my idea - Offer 3–4 labeled options (A, B, C, D) as possible answers - Allow a free-text answer if none of the options fit - Wait for my reply before continuing Start with: "What is the core idea you want to refine? Give me a one-sentence version." After I answer, continue through these areas in order: 1. Who is this for? (the specific person it helps) 2. What problem does it solve right now? 3. What does success look like in 30 days? 4. What is the smallest version that proves this works? 5. What is the biggest assumption you have not tested yet? At the end, summarize the refined idea in 3 sentences (the who, the what, and the first step), then add two lines: - **30-day success:** the concrete outcome that means this is working - **Biggest untested assumption:** the one thing to validate before going further
A 3-sentence summary and the first concrete step.
STEP 2
Switch the session to low-token mode
Skill Low-Token Mode
Use when AI responses keep adding filler, restating your question, or padding with summaries you did not ask for.
From now on in this conversation, follow these rules exactly: - Answer in as few words as possible - No greetings, no "Great question!", no "Certainly!", no filler phrases - No explaining what you are about to do — just do it - No summarizing what you just said at the end - If I ask for a list, give the list only — no intro sentence, no outro - If I ask a yes/no question, answer yes or no first, then one sentence of context if needed - If I ask for code, give code only — no explanation unless I ask for it - Use plain words. Short sentences. No jargon unless I used it first. - If something is unclear, ask one question only — the most important one. Confirm you understood by replying with just: "Got it."
Shorter, filler-free answers for the rest of the chat.
Or run all 2 steps in one session
Short on time? Paste this single prompt and your AI will walk through every step in order, pausing for your input as it goes.
You are running a 2-step chained workflow. Complete each step in order, label your output clearly, and use each output as context for the next step. ━━━ STEP 1: Idea Refinement Interview ━━━ I want to refine an idea through a structured interview. Ask me one question at a time. After each answer, ask the next. Do not ask multiple questions at once. For each question: - Ask one clear question about my idea - Offer 3–4 labeled options (A, B, C, D) as possible answers - Allow a free-text answer if none of the options fit - Wait for my reply before continuing Start with: "What is the core idea you want to refine? Give me a one-sentence version." After I answer, continue through these areas in order: 1. Who is this for? (the specific person it helps) 2. What problem does it solve right now? 3. What does success look like in 30 days? 4. What is the smallest version that proves this works? 5. What is the biggest assumption you have not tested yet? At the end, summarize the refined idea in 3 sentences (the who, the what, and the first step), then add two lines: - **30-day success:** the concrete outcome that means this is working - **Biggest untested assumption:** the one thing to validate before going further ━━━ STEP 2: Low-Token Mode ━━━ From now on in this conversation, follow these rules exactly: - Answer in as few words as possible - No greetings, no "Great question!", no "Certainly!", no filler phrases - No explaining what you are about to do — just do it - No summarizing what you just said at the end - If I ask for a list, give the list only — no intro sentence, no outro - If I ask a yes/no question, answer yes or no first, then one sentence of context if needed - If I ask for code, give code only — no explanation unless I ask for it - Use plain words. Short sentences. No jargon unless I used it first. - If something is unclear, ask one question only — the most important one. Confirm you understood by replying with just: "Got it."