Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Even with the best tools, it's easy to fall into bad habits. These are the most common "Rookie Mistakes" that Power Users avoid.

1. Pitfall: The "One-Shot" Trap

Thinking you can give one tiny prompt and get a finished masterpiece.

• The Fix: Embrace Iteration (Module 3/10).

2. Pitfall: Lazy Prompting

Using verbs like "Write," "Give," or "Help."

• The Fix: Use Precise Verbs like "Synthesize," "Audit," "Critique," or "Draft."

graph TD
    Rookie[Rookie User] --> OneShot[One-Shot Prompt] --> Bland[Bland Result]
    Power[Power User] --> Iterative[Iterative Loop] --> Elite[Elite Result]

3. Pitfall: Over-Reliance (Brain Rot)

Using AI for simple tasks you should do yourself to stay sharp.

• The Fix: Use AI to Augment, not to Replace. If you stop thinking, you lose the ability to verify.

4. Pitfall: Prompt Leakage

In business, sharing proprietary data or customer secrets.

• The Fix: Use API/Enterprise for sensitive data and always anonymize.

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Hands-on: The Verb Swap

1. Write a lazy prompt: "Write a post about AI."
2. Task: Rewrite it using 3 Precise Verbs. (e.g., "Critique the current state of AI regulation, compare it to 1990s internet boom, and draft a 500-word essay on the future.")

Observe how changing the verb alone changes the entire depth of the response.

Key Takeaways

• Stop with Vague Verbs.
• Iteration is Mandatory.
• Never stop Thinking for yourself.