Set a daily ‘exploratory prompting’ practice
Each morning, Meera posed an open-ended question to push her imagination. “What if I’ve missed a crucial trend in my field?” she asked. Sometimes her answers surprised her, often pointing to
opportunities she hadn’t considered.
Frame prompts around ‘What if’ and ‘How might we’
to explore possibilities. For instance, rather than asking how to improve productivity, she’d say, “What if I threw out all my usual tactics—what new approach might
emerge?”
Embrace ambiguity and curiosity in prompts
“Never force a neat conclusion,” David reminded her. When Meera asked, “What might I be overlooking in my pricing strategy?” the AI offered angles she never expected.
Use prompts to explore rather than to solve
Meera shifted from seeking quick fixes to exploring bigger themes. “What if AI had a seat at my company’s top table—how would it shape decision-making?” she asked. The result was a fresh view on future leadership roles.
Chain prompts to develop ideas iteratively
When AI suggested a new product feature, Meera followed up with, “How would that look in five years?” Step by step, the concept evolved into something visionary.
Think metaphorically or
analogically
David challenged Meera to see problems in unusual ways. She once prompted AI with, “Imagine my marketing plan as a garden—how should I tend it?” That metaphor sparked new growth strategies.
Prompt for perspectives, beyond facts
“How would an artist, a scientist, and a philosopher each tackle this obstacle?” Meera asked. She soon found solutions she’d never have reached alone.
Experiment with ‘role-play’ prompts
Meera invited AI to think
like Steve Jobs, Walt Disney, or an innovative CEO. Each persona offered a different take on the same problem. The variety of viewpoints made her more open to bold, sometimes unconventional ideas.
Ask for impossibilities and involve experiential scenarios
“Show me solutions that would
make my service completely unnecessary,” Meera once prompted. It felt counterintuitive, but it helped her uncover gaps in her offerings that no one else was addressing.
WWAID—Reimagine AI’s role in the solution itself
David said, “Don’t just use AI—ask AI how it would solve the problem if
it had full freedom.” Meera tried it and found approaches that only an AI could dream up.
Establish a weekly ‘future-driven prompt’ session
Meera blocked out time each week to explore the future of her industry. “Where might my field be in ten years?” she asked. It kept her ahead of
emerging trends.
Keep a journal of ‘breakthrough prompts’
After every session, Meera saved the prompts that led to meaningful insights. “Reviewing them helps me think even bigger,” she said.
Over time, Meera discovered that generative AI isn’t just a tool. It’s a catalyst. It can nudge us out of linear thinking and point us toward unexpected breakthroughs. But she also realised something else: the real shift happens when we abandon rigid assumptions. Curiosity and daring questions spark AI to deliver responses we’d never see coming.
“Is there a better
way?” David often asked. That simple question pushed Meera to dive deeper, to challenge her default ideas, and to imagine possibilities beyond today’s obvious answers.
By prompting AI to explore rather than just solve, Meera found herself rethinking old beliefs. With each bold prompt, she built a mindset that thrives on curiosity and foresight. In the end, that mindset did more than just
generate fresh ideas—it primed her to spot opportunities that others never see.
Meera looked back on her journey and felt a surge of optimism. The future still held mysteries, but armed with these prompting techniques, she was ready to explore them all. And as David often reminded her, “AI won’t likely take your job, but the person who knows how to partner with AI just
might.”
To your success
Noel Guilford
