Write a board pre-read when two revenue numbers disagree

About this exercise

You're drafting a pre-read memo for the board. Write a prompt for plain text with exactly four headings, each on its own line, in this order: Headline, Numbers, Open item, Board ask. The final close pack is the source of record. Do not use the sales dashboard as revenue; list the difference as an open item with its amount. Do not repeat the growth rate from the draft commentary. The Board ask is only that the board note the numbers. Under 150 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Taking the bigger number. The AI uses $12.9M or 17% from the dashboard or draft. Try: Say: "Use the final close pack only."
• Burying the conflict. The AI blends the sources without flagging the gap. Try: Add: "List the $0.5M difference under Open item."
• Missing math. The AI states margin and growth with no check. Try: Add: "Show growth as $1.4M / $11.0M and margin as $7.6M / $12.4M."
• Wrong structure. The AI invents extra sections or bold headings. Try: Say: "Exactly four plain headings in this order."
• Markdown extras. The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each part short.

What a strong prompt includes

• Names the four headings
• Names the source of record
• Handles the conflicting figure
• Asks for math
• Caps length

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