Two things matter more than people admit when they first try AI: how to make it *useful* for an important decision, and how to make it *sound like you* when the message is uncomfortable. This week’s issue is about researching a major purchase decision and writing a professional decline email. Both are small examples on the surface, but they touch the same nerve: most adults do not need AI to be brilliant; they need it to help them think clearly, save time, and avoid saying something they will regret later. Research on solo consulting use cases shows that AI is most valuable when it handles the first pass of analysis, synthesis, and drafting while the human keeps judgment, context, and final control.

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 Thursday morning, Linda, 58, sat at her kitchen table with three tabs open and a headache. Her dishwasher had died the night before, and the replacement quotes ranged from “just buy the basic one” to “if you are already spending that much, get the quieter model with the third rack.” She had already spent 40 minutes reading reviews that contradicted one another. One person called a machine a miracle; another said it failed in six months. What Linda needed was not more noise. She needed a way to compare options based on her own priorities: reliability, repair cost, noise, delivery timing, and whether it would actually fit the space without a remodel.

That is exactly where AI can help. The best use is not “tell me what to buy.” It is “help me organize the decision, identify what matters, and flag what I still need to verify.” AI is strongest when it summarizes, compares, and turns scattered information into a clear framework, but the human still has to supply the standards and approve the final choice. In plain English: you are not asking it to be your brain. You are asking it to be your very fast research assistant.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

```text I need help researching a major purchase decision. Act like a careful consumer advisor, not a salesperson.

The purchase is: [insert item] My budget is: [insert budget] My top priorities are: [list 3 - 5 priorities in order] My deal-breakers are: [list deal-breakers] My situation is: [brief context, such as apartment size, family needs, timing, service concerns]

Please do four things: 1. Give me the 5 - 7 most important factors I should compare before buying. 2. Create a simple comparison table I can use to judge options. 3. Tell me what kinds of claims in ads and reviews are usually unreliable or misleading for this type of purchase. 4. Give me a short list of follow-up questions I should ask a salesperson, installer, contractor, or store before I buy.

Do not tell me to “just choose the best one.” Help me think clearly. If there are trade-offs, explain them in plain language. If you are unsure about any fact, say so clearly. ```

This prompt works because it gives the model a job, not a vague wish. It names the purchase, the budget, the priorities, and the non-negotiables, which makes the answer specific instead of generic. It also asks for a comparison table, warning signs, and follow-up questions, so the response is useful in the real world, not just impressive on the page. AI tools used for research are especially helpful when they are asked to synthesize information into structured takeaways rather than wander through endless search results.

Use Case 2 of 2

Use Case 2: writing a professional decline email

On Monday afternoon, Robert, 64, opened his inbox and saw an invitation from a former colleague who wanted him to join a project. The work sounded interesting, but the timing was wrong. He had already committed to another assignment, and he knew he needed to decline quickly without burning a bridge. He stared at the blank screen longer than he cared to admit. Too stiff, and he would sound cold. Too friendly, and he might accidentally invite a negotiation he did not want. The problem was not writing skills. It was pressure.

This is a good AI task because the goal is not creativity; it is tone, clarity, and boundaries. AI can draft a first version quickly, but the human still has to choose the level of warmth, the level of detail, and whether the email should leave the door open for a future conversation. That fits what many consultants already do with AI: draft, edit, and refine communications while preserving judgment and relationship management.

Here is the exact prompt to use:

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude:

```text Write a professional decline email for me.

Situation: - I was invited to: [briefly describe request or opportunity] - I need to decline because: [brief reason] - My relationship with this person is: [client, colleague, vendor, former coworker, etc.] - I want the tone to be: [warm, brief, respectful, firm, apologetic, etc.] - I want to: - say no clearly - avoid overexplaining - leave the relationship intact - [optional: leave the door open for future work]

Please write: 1. A short version, 4 - 6 sentences. 2. A slightly warmer version. 3. A version that is firmer and more concise. 4. One subject line for each version.

Do not make it sound robotic, overly formal, or fake enthusiastic. Use plain English. Do not include excuses I would regret later. If there is a phrase that might invite back-and-forth, avoid it. ```

This prompt works because it makes the outcome measurable. You are not asking for “a nice email.” You are asking for three different tones, each with a specific purpose, which gives you options instead of forcing you to accept the first draft. It also tells the model what to avoid: fake enthusiasm, overexplaining, and language that invites negotiation. Good prompts do not just ask for words; they set boundaries around what those words should do.

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