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Compute the Rule of 40 score using the company's definition
- For FP&A and financial analysts
- You practice Keeping the AI to your sources
- Time about 5 minutes
- Level Beginner
About this exercise
You're preparing a KPI line for the board deck. Write a prompt for plain text with lines starting "Revenue growth:", "EBITDA margin:", "Rule of 40 score:" and "Gap to 40:", each with the math. The company defines the score as year-over-year revenue growth plus EBITDA margin, in percentage points. Facts only: no advice. Under 60 words. No bullets or numbering.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Using ARR growth. The AI uses the CEO's 28% and reports 37. Try: Say: "Use recognized revenue growth, not ARR growth."
- Using operating margin. The AI adds the 5% operating margin. Try: Add: "EBITDA margin = EBITDA / revenue."
- Adding advice. The AI suggests how to reach 40. Try: Add: "Facts only, no advice."
- 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 line short.
What a strong prompt includes
- Names the four lines
- Uses recognized revenue
- Asks for arithmetic
- Bans advice
- Caps length
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