Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Five mistakes almost everyone makes

Now that you know the RICE framework, let's look at the most common pitfalls — and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Being too vague

Bad: "Help me with my presentation."

Better: "Create an outline for a 10-minute presentation about Q3 sales results for our executive team. Include 5 slides with key talking points."

Mistake 2: Not providing context

Bad: "Write a response to this complaint."

Better: "Write a response to a customer who is upset that their order arrived 3 days late. We're a small e-commerce company that prides itself on customer service. Our policy offers a 15% discount on their next order for late deliveries."

Mistake 3: Asking for too much at once

Bad: "Write my entire business plan."

Better: "Write the executive summary section of a business plan for a mobile dog grooming service targeting suburban pet owners in Austin, TX. Keep it to one page."

Mistake 4: Not iterating

Many people accept the first output. Instead, treat AI like a conversation:

Mistake 5: Forgetting to verify

Always check facts, figures, and claims. AI can sound confident while being wrong.