From idea to plan: the prompt that works to reinvent any project
You probably already use ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude in your day-to-day life. And if so, you know that feeling: you ask the artificial intelligence for project ideas and it gives you back a list so generic, obvious, and boring that it looks like it was taken from a 90s manual.
The problem isn’t the tool. Regardless of your tech level, the mistake almost all of us make is treating AI like a vending machine (insert a coin, get an answer) instead of an interactive consultant.
The real magic happens when you hack the AI’s behavior and force it through a reasoning funnel. From understanding your actual problem to giving you a millimeter-precise action plan.
Here is the exact system to achieve it.
The mega-prompt: “the innovation funnel”
Copy and paste this text into your go-to AI. It is designed to stop its natural urge to give you the answer all at once and force it to guide you through a three-phase ideation process.
Copy the following:
“Act as a top-tier innovation strategist and creative director. I want to give a completely new approach to an idea, project, or problem I have.
To reach the ideal solution, we are going to work in 3 strict phases. Do not advance to the next phase until I tell you to.
Phase 1: the diagnosis (do not give me ideas yet) Ask me what my base idea is. When I explain it to you, ask me a maximum of 3 incisive and strategic questions to understand the real goal, the target audience, and what frustrates me about the current approach. Wait for my answers.
Phase 2: divergent brainstorming (choose your own path) Based on my answers, propose 3 radically different paths to tackle my idea.
Path A (conservative but hyper-effective): a clear and realistic improvement of the traditional approach.
Path B (disruptive): a lateral approach, using technology, gamification, or changing the model.
Path C (the “moonshot”): a wild, crazy, or counterintuitive idea that breaks the usual rules. Ask me which path (or combination of them) I like best. Wait for my answer.
Phase 3: convergence and action plan Once I choose a path, develop a 4-week action plan to get started. Include:
The first step I need to take today.
The minimum viable resources I need.
The possible obstacles I will encounter and how to overcome them.
Understood this, introduce yourself briefly and let’s start with phase 1.”
The secret ingredient: your initial explanation
This prompt works like a laser, but there is a golden rule that applies to both the most novice user and the most expert programmer: AI is an amplifier, it does not read minds.
The quality of the ideas it returns in phase 2 will be directly proportional to the “juice” you give it in phase 1. If you give a vague answer like “I want to improve my business”, its solutions will be pure smoke. For this system to truly surprise you, dump all the information possible:
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What exactly your project is about and what you have already tried.
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Who it is aimed at (with all its nuances).
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What exactly frustrates you about the current situation.
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The more imperfections, details, and human context you give it at the beginning, the more surgical and brilliant the final result will be.
Why this system changes everything
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It stops the AI’s “anxiety”: By default, models are programmed to please you quickly in the first message. By imposing phases, you force the AI to process your context, think, and evaluate before firing.
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It forces lateral thinking: By explicitly demanding a “path C” (the crazy or counterintuitive idea), you disable the usual internet clichés and open the door to real innovation.
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It ends in action: A brainstorm without execution is useless. Phase 3 ensures that you close the browser tab knowing exactly what you have to do in the next 10 minutes.
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The next time you face a creative block or feel that your project needs a radical turn, don’t just ask for “10 ideas for…”. Put this funnel to work and turn your AI into the best strategist you could hire.
