What changed when I stopped prompting and started designing

Imagine sitting in front of your computer, staring at an empty screen, waiting for inspiration to strike. You’ve got all this potential at your fingertips—AI avatars, chat systems—but somehow, you can’t seem to get the words flowing. It’s frustrating, to say the least. You try prompting, throwing different phrases at your AI, hoping one will magically unlock the creative floodgates. But what if I told you that the secret isn’t in the prompting at all? What if the real change came when I stopped prompting and started designing?

For a long time, I was stuck in a cycle of reactive creativity. I’d prompt the AI and wait for it to churn out something I could work with. This method felt like fishing without a hook—sometimes you’d catch something, but most of the time, you’d end up with nothing. I wasn’t leveraging the full potential of the systems available to me. Instead of creating an environment where ideas could flourish, I was merely reacting to whatever the AI decided to throw back at me.

The problem with this approach is it often leads to frustration and burnout. If you’re like me, you probably find yourself in a constant battle against deadlines and the pressure to produce content that resonates. The more I relied on prompts, the more I felt like I was at the mercy of the AI’s interpretations. This would lead to endless revisions and rework, which only added to my stress. I realized that many others felt the same way, caught in the cycle of waiting for the perfect prompt to yield the perfect response.

What I discovered is that many people get it wrong by thinking that the AI is the solution. They believe that if they just find the right words to prompt, everything will fall into place. But this can lead to a reactive mindset, where you’re constantly scrambling to catch up rather than proactively creating. I used to think that the magic was in the prompts, but the real magic lies in the design of the interaction and the system you put in place.

My “aha moment” came when I decided to shift my mindset from merely prompting to designing. Instead of just asking the AI to generate responses, I started thinking about how I could design the conversation or interaction. This meant creating a structure around what I wanted to achieve. I began to outline my goals, the type of content I wanted to produce, and how I could use the AI as a tool to serve those objectives rather than just a source of random content.

When I adopted this new perspective, everything changed. I began to see the interactions with the AI as a collaborative process rather than a one-sided transaction. By designing my approach, I was able to create reusable templates and frameworks that guided the AI in a way that aligned with my vision. This not only made my work more efficient but also more fulfilling. I felt empowered, knowing I had a system that I could rely on, rather than a chaotic mess of prompts that led to unpredictable outcomes.

As I started to design my interactions, I experienced a noticeable shift in the quality of content I was producing. For example, I used to prompt the AI with vague questions like, “Tell me about marketing.” This often resulted in generic responses that didn’t resonate with my audience. Now, I design specific scenarios or personas I want to target and guide the AI to produce content that speaks directly to those needs. The difference is like night and day.

In another instance, I had a project where I needed to create a series of educational posts. Instead of prompting the AI to generate each post individually, I designed a content map that outlined the key topics and subtopics I wanted to cover. This gave me a clear structure to work from, allowing me to prompt the AI with targeted questions that elicited richer, more relevant content. The result? A cohesive series that flowed well together, rather than disjointed pieces thrown together last minute.

This approach has not only streamlined my content creation process but also fostered a deeper understanding of my audience. By designing the interaction, I can now anticipate the types of questions and concerns my readers may have, which helps me craft content that truly addresses their needs. It’s a win-win situation where both I and my audience benefit.

When I look back, I realize that having a system in place has transformed my workflow. Instead of winging it and hoping for the best, I now have a structured approach that allows for consistent creativity. This doesn’t mean I don’t experiment anymore; rather, I do so within a framework that guides my creativity rather than stifles it. The freedom I now feel in my work is liberating.

This bigger picture of designing versus prompting is crucial for anyone looking to harness the power of AI in their content creation. By focusing on structure, we can eliminate the guesswork and create a more predictable outcome. The beauty of this approach is that it allows for adaptability. When you have a solid foundation, you can pivot and adjust without losing sight of your overall goal.

As I reflect on this journey, I can’t help but feel grateful for the shift I made from prompting to designing. It has opened up a world of possibilities and made my work more enjoyable. If you’re feeling stuck in the cycle of prompts, I encourage you to explore the benefits of designing your interactions instead. It’s a game-changer that can lead to not just better content but also a more fulfilling creative process.

This shift is what the avatar courses are about.

- Jeff