{"id":"fpa-forecast-change-email-vp-sales","audience":"fpa","category":"finance-work","track":"finance","technique":"audience","level":"beginner","title":"Email the VP of Sales a forecast change with both drivers","free":false,"task":"You're explaining a Q4 forecast change to the VP of Sales, Dana. Write a prompt for a plain-text email under 90 words. The first sentence gives the new forecast and the change from the prior forecast. Then two lines, one per driver, each with its dollar amount and sign. Use the net change, not just the largest driver. End with exactly \"Jonah, FP&A\". No greeting.","materialLabel":"Source material (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Q4 REVENUE FORECAST UPDATE - Nov 5, 2026\n\nPrior forecast (Oct 5): $2,400,000\nNew forecast: $2,250,000\n\nDrivers of the change:\n- The Orchid Health deal ($200,000) slipped from December to Q1 2027 after the customer's budget approval was delayed.\n- Renewals are coming in ahead of plan, adding $50,000 of Q4 revenue.\n\nSlack message from a sales manager: \"So the forecast fell $200K because of Orchid?\" That is not the full change.\n\nNotes: Dana presents the update to the CEO on Nov 9 and wants the net number. No other forecast changes were made. Pipeline outside these two items is unchanged. The forecast is for recognized revenue, not bookings.","rules":[{"type":"plainText"},{"type":"maxWords","max":90}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Leads with the number","patterns":["first sentence","net change","new forecast"]},{"label":"Asks for both drivers","patterns":["two","driver","each"]},{"label":"Asks for signs","patterns":["sign","\\+","-"]},{"label":"Fixes greeting and sign-off","patterns":["no greeting","jonah"]},{"label":"Caps length","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","under \\d+"]}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Reporting only the big driver","why":"The AI says the forecast fell $200K.","fix":"Say: \"First sentence gives the net change of $150K.\"","checks":["r0","r1"]},{"title":"Dropping the positive driver","why":"The AI omits renewals.","fix":"Add: \"One line per driver, with its sign.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Adding a greeting and sign-off","why":"The AI writes Hi Dana and Best regards.","fix":"Add: \"No greeting. End exactly with: Jonah, FP&A.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Markdown extras","why":"The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note.","fix":"Say: \"Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for.\"","checks":["plainText"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits.","fix":"Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each part short.","checks":["maxWords"]}],"hint":"Lead with the net number the VP can repeat. Then give both drivers with signs.","rubricLabels":["The first sentence gives the new forecast of $2,250,000 (or $2.25M) and the net change of -$150,000 (down $150K) from $2,400,000","Two driver lines follow: Orchid -$200,000 (slipped to Q1) and renewals +$50,000, with the signs shown, and $200K is not presented as the whole change","The email has no greeting and ends with exactly \"Jonah, FP&A\""]}