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Explain a cash dip to investors in plain words

  • For Executives
  • You practice Getting the tone right
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

Write a 4-sentence paragraph for the investor update explaining why cash dropped this month. Plain text, under 90 words. Sentence 1 starts with the words "Cash was" and states the cash balance and the change. Sentence 2 explains the main cause in plain words. Sentence 3 says what is already covered. Sentence 4 starts with the words "We expect" and says when the balance is expected to recover, with the date. Use only numbers from the notes, avoid the words burn, runway and headwinds, and make no promises.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Using finance jargon. The AI writes 'burn' and 'runway'. Try: Say: "Ban burn, runway and headwinds."
  • Missing the balance. The AI starts with the cause. Try: Say: "Sentence 1: the Oct 31 balance and the drop."
  • Invented figures. The AI adds numbers not in the notes. Try: Say: "Use only numbers from the notes."
  • Promising recovery. The AI says cash will recover. Try: Say: "Frame recovery as an estimate that depends on prepayments."
  • Markdown. The AI uses bullets. Try: Say: "One plain paragraph."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each sentence: "each under 22 words."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each part instead, for example: "each line under 12 words."

What a strong prompt includes

  • Four sentences
  • Uses notes
  • Bans
  • Estimate
  • Plain

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