What if you could save six days of work with one small tweak to your AI prompts?
That’s exactly what I did this week after spending a solid 10 hours working with ChatGPT on some AI copy frameworks.
At the time, I was testing the ChatGPT against DeepSeek, and diving into creating a structured prompt that could potentially save me six days of work on copywriting and production.
Listen, shooting 20 long-form pieces of content is not for the faint hearted.
But my experience with crafting scalable prompts gave me the chops to experiment creating a new AI brainstorming hack.
At its core, my work with AI is to create prompts that scale.
I know you’ve seen how Artificial Intelligence is being used in virtually every industry for faster AI writing and brainstorming.
To not use it, to use it’s potential half- heartedly, to not maximise the ways it can enhance your productivity, is to be left behind.
This is not just about generating text. It’s about building systems that allow ideas to replicate and outputs to multiply.
I say this in my training sessions to my students all the time:
“Why waste time with a simple prompt when structure allows you to scale? And why not use tools that synchronise and multiply your efforts?”
You see, I have a goal: to build a library of structured prompts across different categories.
That way, with just a slight switch of words in any of the selected prompts, I can replicate and get varied outputs that still hit the mark.
So far, I’ve built 1,000 scalable prompts, and 20 of them can be found in my AI Prompts Playbook.
But today, let’s focus on how to brainstorming an idea is so much better with AI.
Then I want to share one simple AI copywriting (ok ok, really scriptwriting) hack that’s changed the brainstorming game for me.
I’m talking about a technique that can transform the way you approach AI brainstorming and copywriting faster and better too.
Faster Brainstorming With AI
The same way I build structured prompts for copy at scale, I’ve started applying that thinking to brainstorming, too.
As someone whose main currency is words, I’ve been so pumped by the practice of using AI, not just about writing faster—but for thinking better.
You see, ideas that actually stick don’t come from working in a vacuum.
Brainstorming is way bigger than that.
Good ideas generation comes from having diverse perspectives, unexpected angles, and the kind of challenges that force you to think deeper.
Personally that’s what I love best about ideas sessions where great minds from different perspectives come to to think.
Dare I call it DEI, ok I am.
That’s where AI comes in.
It takes courage and a level of self awareness to know AI bring something extremely valuable to the table but so do us, as humans.
That doesn’t mean AI is 100% better—it just brings a different skill set to the table.
The best work happens when combine both intelligences are combined.
Why Use AI In Brainstorming And Writing?
I’ll shoot straight.
I don’t have time to sit in front of a blank page, waiting for the right words to show up.
I’m a small biz owner juggling a ton of revenue streams, clients, challenges, putting out fires etc.
I bet the same with you.
That’s why I don’t brainstorm solo anymore.
Before I step into a team meeting, map out a content plan, or draft a new idea, I start by pulling up AI productivity tools—specifically, ChatGPT.
Not because AI is better.
Because it’s faster.
When I’m enter a brain jam with ChatGPT I get fresh angles, challenge assumptions, and reframe an idea in ways that make me think, huh, I hadn’t considered that before.
AI becomes a sharp-minded co- founder who throws ideas on the table so I can decide what stays and what goes.
But here’s what I know: AI won’t do the work for you.
Not if you want something original. You need to challenge it.
I don’t ever want you to just hand over the reins to AI and hope for the best.
So many people do that and that why the ideas have a same ole’, same ole’ feel
The best brainstorming sessions with AI happen when you bring your intuition, your experience to the table.
When you look for errors, challenge it to think deeper or another way.
AI speeds up the process yes, but you also add your human intuition.
As for my best ChatGPT writing tips I’ll repeat this, as I always do.
- Structure your prompts well.
- Guide the output.
- Layer in your own voice, your own insights, your own expertise.
The goal isn’t to replace your creativity.
It’s to refine it. And when you’re stuck, it pulls you out of the weeds.
Let me show you exactly what I mean—with one specific example of being at my wit’s end with a new YouTube series and how I managed to get 10X my productivity in half the the time with three simple words.
This is the AI brainstorming hack ever.
“First, Ask Me” Is One Of The Easiest AI Brainstorming Hacks
I’ve discussed simple versus structured prompts before, but let me tell you why writing the words “First, ask me…” in the question you input into AI is such a game-changer.
Of all my ChatGPT brainstorming and writing tips, this is easily one of my favourites.
When you start with “First, ask me…”, you’re not just feeding AI a command—you’re building a bridge. A bridge that transforms a generic response into a tailored, precise output.
But I didn’t stumble upon this immediately. It was an accident.
How I discovered This AI Productivity Tool
I was working on my YouTube video series about business planning and asked ChatGPT:
“Write a script for my YouTube video series about business planning.”
I also gave it a bit of context.
But the response? Flat. Generic. Like it could have been written by anyone, anywhere, at any time.
And I knew why.
Because I hadn’t fleshed out the details in my own head, ChatGPT was just filling in the blanks with the most common, predictable examples from its training data.
I needed something more. Something that felt more like me.
So I went back and forth with ChatGPT, trying to reframe the way I wrapped details around my prompts.
And then I noticed something.
Each time I asked ChatGPT to clarify my thinking, it kept repeating the words “First, ask me…”
That’s when the lightbulb clicked. 💡
ChatGPT wasn’t just saying these words—it was modeling a better way to interact with AI.
So I flipped the script.
I started my next prompt with:
“First, ask me what kind of business owners this video is for.”
And suddenly, everything changed.
ChatGPT didn’t just spit out a response—it paused. And it asked me some really clarity grounding questions, which I’ll share below.
Those three words—“First, ask me”—became an unexpected brainstorming breakthrough.
Instead of AI generating content on autopilot, I was getting a collaborative partner.
And in the sea of AI sameness, there was plenty to love about that.
🌟🌟🌟 Grab the ULTIMATE AI starter pack + playbook with 20 structured content marketing prompts for your small business
Built on a bespoke platform with direct integration into ChatGPT, the prompts also come with a playbook and instructional guide so you learn how to create structured prompts on your own.
➡️ ➡️ Just $9.99. CLlCK >>> HERE<<< or BELOW ⬇️ ⬇️
How I Got Unstuck
Remember the business planning series I mentioned earlier?
As I mentioned before, I was stuck.
I stared at a blank screen, unsure what kind of prompt could save me significant time while also producing a high-quality, repeatable framework for my video scripts.
Yep, read that again—because I’m talking about scaling a prompt.
I could have just typed:
“Write 10 short-form scripts for my video-based series called ‘30 Small Biz Lessons That Stuck.’”
And, to be 100% honest, I did.
The results? Fair. Not great. Not even usable.
Then I tried something different.
Instead of handing AI an open-ended task, I structured a new scalable prompt to guide the AI brainstorming process step by step:
I wote:
“I’m working on 10 short-form scripts for my video-based series called ‘30 Small Biz Lessons That Stuck.’
First, ask me who the video series is for, what tone I want, how long the scripts should be, what I hope to accomplish, and any other 6 other key points you think I should cover.
Then, ask me follow-up questions to refine the output—so the scripts feel relevant, compelling, and engaging.
*Only after I answer your questions—and give you a ‘YES’—should you write, the first script, tailored to my request.”
That small adjustment—adding “First, ask me”—changed everything.
It forced ChatGPT to pause, dig deeper, and ask better questions before rushing into a response.
Instead of acting like a generic content machine, it became a true collaborator—a brainstorming partner that actually listens before speaking.
One Of The Best ChatGPT Writing Tips
Here are the questions ChatGPT came up with that allowed me to get clear about my upcoming video series when I was still unsure about the direction and my AI Copy.
It asked:
Who is the series for? (Who is your target audience? Age group, interests, profession, etc.)
What tone do you want? (e.g., professional, casual, humorous, inspirational, educational, etc.)
How long do you want the script to be? (e.g., 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.)
What are the key points you want to cover in this specific video? (List the main ideas or topics.)
What is the series about? (What’s the overall theme or purpose of the series?)
What do you have in mind so far? (Any specific ideas, scenes, or dialogue you’d like to include?) Additional questions to help me write the script:
What is the goal of this specific video? (e.g., educate, entertain, inspire, sell a product, etc.)
Do you have a preferred structure? (e.g., intro, main content, call-to-action, etc.)
Are there any visuals or graphics that will accompany the script? (This can influence the writing.)
Do you want to include any calls-to-action (e.g., subscribe, follow, visit a website)?
Are there any examples of scripts or videos you like that I can use as inspiration?
Let me tell you those were the triggers I needed to write a specific prompt that would help me scale my scripts.
But before I show you the results, I want to dive into the reason why “First Ask Me ” cleared the cobwebs.
Why “First Ask Me” Works as An AI Copy Hack
- Clarity and Context:
By asking the AI to provide clarifying questions, ChatGPT gains a solid foundation to work from. It understands the goals, audience, and vision and ensures the response is tailored to your needs. - Adapts to Your Style:
ChatGPT will mirror your voice once it knows what you want. Whether you prefer conversational, formal, short and punchy, or long and narrative, making it ask you questions first ensures that you go through the process of ideating and refining what you want - Delivers Exactly What You Need:
When ChatGPT or any AI collaborates with you, the output is precise and personalised. It’s no longer guesswork; it’s a crafted solution.
From the clarity I gained, I was able to develop a prompt that was specific to what I wanted to achieve.
From there, ChatGPT created 10 scripts for me to refine, along with a detailed and accurate prop list, shot list, editor’s script, and location guideline list.
Yes. Yes. Yes. I took a lot of time to build the prompt but I saved 6 days of work on the back end.
The AI Prompt That Saved Me 6 Days Of Work
Here is the prompt I developed from my brainstorming sessions with AI.
Objective: Craft a compelling, emotionally engaging, and action-oriented script for a 10-day small business growth series for You Tube. The goal is to inspire small business owners to overcome obstacles and applaud the efforts and time they invest in making their businesses successful.
Audience: Small business owners, particularly female founders aged 35–50.
Tone: Warm, relatable, and inspiring. Reflective and slightly poetic while remaining practical and grounded. Use storytelling techniques to evoke curiosity and emotion while staying grounded in practical takeaways.
Length: Approximately 3 minutes, with a natural and engaging flow that balances depth and accessibility.
Structure: Hook, intro, story, lesson, challenge/CTA, and teaser for the next lesson.
The Hook should begin with” “Have you ever? Do you…” or another focused based question that draws my audience in.
The intro in each of the 10 scripts is” :” Hi I’m Judette and this is “Small Business That Stuck
Story: Each story in the series begins with a personal one. that shows off a part of my journey, an obstacle I faced.
After provide a lesson learned, then turn the lens to my audience, invite them them to reflect and take a specific action based on the unique story told in each script.
Share a personal or relatable anecdote that ties directly to the lesson.
Use specific details and sensory language to create an emotional connection. Keep the story focused and build toward the lesson.
Lesson: Make the lesson a key insight or takeaway in a practical, empowering way. Highlight how the audience can apply the lesson to their business journey.
Challenge or Call to Action: Inspire viewers to take immediate action with a challenge that aligns with the lesson. Encourage reflection or a small step forward.
Ending Teaser: Conclude with a teaser for the next lesson to encourage followers to return for the next reel.
Additional Instructions:
Write concise yet impactful sentences for natural delivery.
Use storytelling techniques to evoke curiosity and emotion while staying grounded in relatable experiences.
Ensure the narrative aligns with the goal of inspiring small business owners to feel capable, focused, and resilient in their efforts. Integrate [V/O] (voice-over) and [O/C] (on-camera) cues to guide visual integration when necessary.
This prompt alone saved me 6 days of scripting and production work.
It provided the clarity and structure I needed to create scripts and make my entire visual scheme impactful.
Your AI Copy Action Plan
You can use the “First Ask Me” technique with practically anything you’re doing. Real-Life Example: Let’s look at how this plays out with a real example.
Before:
“Write a sales page for my new course.”
After:
“First, ask me about my course, my ideal audience, and the main pain points I’m trying solve. Then, write the sales page.”
Now ChatGPT has all the context it needs.
Here’s another example:
Before:
“I need a diet plan to make me lose 4 pounds this month.”
After:
“First, ask me about my diet, how many times I exercise, the times I eat, and any specific questions you’ll need to customise a diet plan for me over the next 4 weeks.
Once I provide my answers, write a 4 week plan in an excel sheet.”
In both cases, the AI is not just throwing together a generic template—it’s writing a sales page/ diet plan that speaks to your specific product and/or your unique needs.
Now is ‘ First Ask Me ‘ worth it? Betcha’ you’re asking the question because you’re thinking: “Can I just get to a prompt without the back and forth?
And you can but I want you to ask yourself these three questions first:
- Did you brainstorm deeply enough? Do you need help defining the parameters of a project or your need?
- Do you have a project, a need, [ Insert your own project ] that can benefit from having a structured prompt that saves you time on your next iteration.
- How unique and specific do you want your AI output to be?
I’m in the business of saving time, scaling and working hard just one time, to nail all the time saving benefits on the back end.
It this sounds like you too, then…
Start each prompt with “First, ask me…” This sets the stage for a collaborative approach and ensures ChatGPT gathers the right context before producing content.
Answer ChatGPT’s questions in detail. The more information you provide, the better the output. Think about tone, audience, structure, and purpose.
Refine the final result. Don’t be afraid to tweak and adjust the response to fit your voice and goals perfectly.
Your Challenge
Here’s my challenge for you this week: Try starting your next ChatGPT session for your AI Copy with: ‘First, ask me…’ and let me know how it shifts your workflow for the better.
Share your results in the comments or download my AI Prompts Playbook so you can save time and elevate the way you create and market your content.
🌟🌟🌟 Grab the ULTIMATE AI starter pack + playbook with 20 structured content marketing prompts for your small business
Built on a bespoke platform with direct integration into ChatGPT, the prompts also come with a playbook and instructional guide so you learn how to create structured prompts on your own.
➡️ ➡️ Just $9.99 CLlCK >>> HERE<<< or BELOW ⬇️ ⬇️
FAQs on AI and Brainstorming
Q. How does AI help with brainstorming sessions?
A. Firstly, as a small biz owner we all know about the loneliness of running a business where you do a huge chunk of ideas generating.
Brainstorming With AI provides a real sense that you’re not going it alone and that you have an intelligent senior partner in AI willing to work on whatever idea that’s mulling around in your mind.
One note of caution: AI can reflect biases in its training data, so human oversight is essential. We’ll talk about that below.
Q. How can AI improve brainstorming sessions?
A. Most LLM’s work the same way. Give it a solid, structured input. Challenge it to give you different perspectives. If stuck, use the “First Ask Me” framework I described in this post.
Brainstorming with AI is all about the model providing instant idea generation, analysing trends, and offering unique perspectives that you may overlook.
But it’s also about your own perspective and not accepting what’s given as the output because that’s exactly what you’d do in a session with another human being.
So always ask follow-up questions to deepen AI responses and cross-check different AI responses for variety.
Q. Can AI replace human brainstorming?
A. No, You’re the human in the room, full of your experiences, intuition, emotions, and contextual understanding. That’s why brainstorming with AI make for a happy marriage. View AI as a super fast efficient collaborator, not a replacement and by no means perfect.
Q. What are the best AI tools for brainstorming content ideas?
I like these:
ChatGPT – Generates creative content ideas and expands on thoughts.
Notion AI – Helps structure brainstorming notes and outlines.
Jasper – Tailored for marketing and copywriting brainstorming.
Frase – Suggests content topics based on SEO trends.
Google’s Bard – Provides real-time insights and diverse ideas.
Q. Can AI help in collaborative team brainstorming?
A. One of my favourites is when all team members send notes I can take all their brainstorming notes and create one organised project plan making execution easier and more efficient.
