Two things are worth your attention this week: **researching a major purchase decision** and **writing a professional decline email**. Both are places where people lose time, second-guess themselves, and end up either overpaying or overexplaining. AI can help, but only if you ask for the right kind of help.

Try at least one before Sunday. That is the whole assignment.

Use Case 1 of 2

Use Case 1: researching a major purchase decision

On Tuesday afternoon, Marlene in Columbus is staring at three tabs on her laptop and one uncomfortable question: should she buy a new roof now, or wait another year? She is 62, practical, and not looking for a “tech solution.” She just wants to avoid making an expensive mistake. The quotes vary by thousands of dollars. One contractor says the roof is “fine for now.” Another says the flashing is failing. A third pushes a premium material she has never heard of. Marlene knows enough to be suspicious of sales language, but not enough to confidently sort facts from pressure. This is exactly where AI can help - not by deciding for her, but by organizing the decision so she can see what matters, what is missing, and what questions she should ask next. Good research saves money, reduces regret, and keeps her from making a rushed choice based on whoever sounded most confident.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

```text I need help researching a major purchase decision, and I want you to act like a careful, neutral research assistant - not a salesperson.

The decision is: [write the purchase here].

My situation is: - Budget range: [insert range] - Timeframe: [insert when you need to decide] - What matters most to me: [example: reliability, low maintenance, long lifespan, resale value, comfort] - What I already know: [insert what you know] - What I am unsure about: [insert concerns] - What options I am considering: [list them]

Please do four things: 1. Explain the decision in plain English. 2. Compare the options using the criteria that matter most for someone in my situation. 3. Tell me what information I still need before I buy. 4. Give me a short list of smart questions to ask a seller, contractor, or salesperson.

Do not try to sell me anything. Do not assume I want the cheapest option. If the answer depends on my specific situation, say so clearly. If there are tradeoffs, explain them plainly. If any claims are uncertain, flag them instead of smoothing them over.

At the end, give me: - the most important thing I should know - the biggest risk I might be missing - the one next step I should take before spending money ```

Why this prompt works: It works because it gives AI a job with boundaries. You are not asking for “advice”; you are asking for structured research, tradeoffs, and next-step questions. The details about budget, priorities, and timeline force the answer to fit *your* situation instead of giving generic internet wisdom. The instruction to flag uncertainty matters because major purchases often come with incomplete information.

Use Case 2 of 2

Use Case 2: writing a professional decline email

On Thursday morning at 9:15, Daniel, a 57-year-old nonprofit director in St. Paul, reads an email that makes him sigh. A vendor he likes has sent a proposal that is too expensive and not quite what his team needs. He wants to decline politely, keep the relationship intact, and avoid the awkward tone that happens when he tries to “just draft something quick.” He has been burned before by replies that sound either too cold or too mushy. This is a perfect AI task because the hard part is not grammar - it is tone. A good decline email protects the relationship, gives a clear answer, and does not invite unnecessary back-and-forth. That matters because in professional life, the way you say no often matters almost as much as the no itself.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

```text Please draft a professional decline email that is polite, clear, and warm but not apologetic or overexplained.

Context: - I am replying to: [vendor/client/candidate/colleague] - What they asked for: [brief description] - Why I am declining: [brief reason, such as budget, timing, fit, priorities] - Relationship status: [new contact / ongoing relationship / someone I may work with later] - Tone I want: [respectful, brief, firm, friendly, etc.]

Write the email so it: - says no clearly - does not sound rude - does not give too many details - keeps the relationship open when appropriate - sounds like a real person, not a corporate template

Also give me: 1. a more formal version 2. a warmer version 3. one subject line option

Do not use clichés like “circle back” or “touch base” unless they truly fit. Do not sound stiff or legalistic. Do not make promises I have not made. If my reason is too vague, suggest a better version that is still honest and professional. ```

Why this prompt works: It tells AI the exact job and the exact tone. That matters because decline emails fail when they are either too vague to be useful or too detailed to be comfortable. By asking for three versions, you give yourself options without starting from zero. The request for a better reason is especially useful, because many people know they need to say no but do not know how much explanation is appropriate.

Know someone who spends too long on things AI could do in two minutes? Forward this to three people who subscribe and I will send you my free AI Prompt Starter Pack: 20 ready-to-use prompts for everyday life.

By Dr. Rowan Hayes