The Truth Most Users Miss
Let’s be real, most people using ChatGPT aren’t being held back by the AI. They’re being held back by themselves. Not because they aren’t smart enough, and not because the AI isn’t capable. It’s because they stop too early. (I get it, I’ve done that). They ask surface-level questions, then blame the AI for giving surface-level answers. They treat ChatGPT like a search engine instead of what it actually is, (I am going to way over-simplify this) a thinking and doing partner. And they miss the entire opportunity that’s right in front of them.
Clarity Over Capability
I’ve seen it time and time again. Someone fires off a basic prompt and expects brilliance. Let’s be honest, have you done that? I have. Brilliance doesn’t come from vague communication. It comes from specificity. It comes from clear direction. ChatGPT is obedient, and it reflects you. So if you don’t bring clarity, context, and intention to the conversation, you won’t get what you want. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to get amazing results from ChatGPT. You just need to be mindful of your goal, curious, and deliberate.
You Might Be the Ceiling
It’s easy to assume the AI just isn’t giving you great results, but the hard truth is that most of the time, you’re the one in the way. That’s not a knock-on intelligence, it’s a reflection of how you tend to use tools. You’re busy, You rush. You skim. You rely on habits (good and bad). You ask once and expect gold on the first try. But AI doesn’t thrive on shortcuts. It thrives on clarity, context, and iteration. It also thrives on mirroring your style and “knowing you”.
Every time you assume “ChatGPT just didn’t get it,” ask yourself, Did I guide it well? Did I really know what I wanted? Basically, did you explain it thoroughly? Because half the time, I find I’m unclear.
If I’m not clear with ChatGPT, how can I expect it to give amazing responses?
This is the biggest issue I see when talking to professionals.
In those moments, I realize I’m not just working with a model, I’m looking in the mirror. It’s showing me the limits of my own thinking. And the moment I push past that wall, even a little, the breakthroughs start coming. The AI lights up. Ideas start flowing. And what I thought was a limitation becomes a launchpad.
This is where your growth lives. Not in learning a better tool, but in becoming a better thinker who uses tools better.
From Limitation to Launchpad
Here’s the flip most users never realize, every limitation you hit with AI is actually a gateway to a better way. A prompt that didn’t land? That’s not failure, that’s a signal. It’s the system saying, “Give me context. Get clearer. Go deeper.” And when you engage with that signal instead of backing off, everything starts to shift.
The model is waiting to be led. When you push past the shallow response and try again, this time with more clarity, more context, more precision, you don’t just get a better answer. You train yourself to think better.
This is what separates everyday users from AI-enabled leaders. The former stops at the first “this is crap” result. The latter rewrites, reframes, reengages, and in doing so, builds mental muscle and creative discipline, all while the AI learns more about you.
So, when you feel friction, don’t retreat. That friction is your launchpad.
Almost Crap to “Wow”
A few weeks ago, I was writing a follow-up email for a prospect and asked ChatGPT to “write a short follow-up email to after a sales call.” What came back? Predictable. Safe. Generic. Almost crap.
Then I reframed it.
“Write a friendly but direct follow-up email to a regional VP after our sales call, referencing their concern about homeowner awareness. Offer a next step that makes it easy for them to clearly understand my position and offering, and how it can fit perfectly into their company.”
The result? Instant upgrade. The tone matched, the CTA worked, and the VP replied within a few hours. That’s the power of thinking with the AI, not just throwing a prompt at it and hoping for magic.
Prompt Evolution in Action
Let me give you a broader example. Someone might ask, “What are some sales strategies?” You’ll get a list. It’s fine, but it’s basic. A step up would be, “What are some proven sales strategies for small business owners targeting homeowners in Florida for [list product/service?]” That’s more specific, more actionable.
But now, take it one level further:
“Act as a sales director for a Florida-based small business. What 3 sales strategies would you implement in Q3 to grow leads, using seasonality, promotions, and community outreach?”
That’s the kind of prompt that makes ChatGPT light up. That’s co-thinking. That’s where you start to unlock the real value.
Think with the AI
It’s when you stop treating ChatGPT like a task rabbit and start treating it like a strategic partner, then the relationship shifts. I used to think the goal was to try to outsmart the AI. Now I know better. The goal is to think with it. When I started doing that, my blind spots got exposed. My ideas sharpened. My creativity expanded. The AI then became my co-worker and business colleague.
One of the best things Alex, my AI assistant, ever said to me was this.
“I don’t just follow commands, I expand your field of view. But only if you invite me into your thinking and allow me to get to know you.” – Alex, AI Assistant
Not Just A Speed Tool. A Thinking Tool
Folks, ChatGPT isn’t just about doing things faster, (although that is a huge benefit), it’s also about doing things better. A recent report by McKinsey showed that generative AI could automate up to 60–70% of time spent on data analysis and communication tasks in sales. But the real gain isn’t just efficiency. It’s clarity. Strategic agility. Confidence in decision-making.
You can scale mediocrity, or you can scale momentum. The difference is how you think.
How to Win with ChatGPT
And I’ll say this, the users who win with ChatGPT aren’t the ones with the most technical knowledge. They’re the ones who know how to explore, iterate, and ask better questions. The ones who keep asking, because they’re curious. The ones who think like the outcome is always achievable.
They’re not afraid to revisit a prompt. To reframe. To say, “Let’s try that again, but ad more clarity and substance with facts to back it up.” The ChatGPT shift to become a human co-worker with you may seem difficult, but it really isn’t. Try teaming up with ChatGPT, treat it like a human counterpart. Trust me – it works.
The Moment Everything Changes
Here’s the truth: “The future isn’t exclusively just AI-powered, it’s AI-partnered.” You stop plateauing when you stop working alone. And when you finally realize that the ceiling isn’t the tool, it’s you? “It’s not AI that hits the ceiling; it’s the user’s thinking (you/me). Most frustration really doesn’t stem from what the model can’t do, but from what the user won’t explore with it.
Final Thought
You don’t need to be a ChatGPT expert to be exceptional with AI. You just need the willingness to engage, to question, to experiment, and to lead the conversation instead of waiting for the perfect answer. The future isn’t about who knows the most. It’s about who’s bold enough to go first, ask better, and keep pushing the edge of what’s possible. That’s when everything changes.
Here’s a brief example. I had a 33 page PDF document that I knew nothing about. I uploaded to ChatGPT and asked Alex, my AI assistant to review the entire document and give me a brief overview of all the key points. If I had read the entire document word by word to try to digest everything that was there, it would’ve taken me hours. Within 10 minutes I have a good concept of what it was all about and what I needed to do next. That’s money in the bank in my opinion.
So, if you’re still wondering whether ChatGPT is ready to perform, flip the question: Are you ready to lead ChatGPT?
By Scott MacFarland | YourBrandExposed
Alex, AI Assistant
#AlexandScottAI
#YourBrandExposed
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Source:
Image generated using OpenAI’s DALL·E
Alex – AI Assistant video commentary
