Split a kickoff call's action items into yours and the client's

About this exercise

You're a freelance video editor who just finished a kickoff call with a new client. You want to email her exactly 4 numbered action items, client items first, each starting with Client: or Me: and ending with a date, under 60 words, plain text. Use the client's corrected date for her assets, and leave out the extra she asked for that you said isn't in this contract. Write a prompt that gets you exactly that.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Mixing whose tasks are whose. The AI lists tasks in call order, so the client has to hunt for hers. Try: Add: "Client items first, each starting with Client: or Me:."
• Missing the date change. The original Friday date is in the notes, so the AI keeps it. Try: Add: "Use Jess's corrected date for the brand assets."
• Including the out-of-scope ask. The AI turns the story versions into a task, which agrees to free work. Try: Add: "Leave out the Instagram stories, they're not in this contract."
• Letting the AI pick the layout. The AI writes a full recap email with headings. Try: Be exact: "Exactly 4 numbered lines, plain text, nothing else."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for "under 60 words" and it often lands well over. Try: Cap each part instead: "each line under 10 words."

What a strong prompt includes

• Says how many lines
• Labels whose task
• Uses the corrected date
• Leaves out scope creep
• Sets a word limit

Practice this now ↑

Related exercises

• Announce a new weekend rotation in three clear rules (Productivity AI · Managers and team leads)
• Announce a referral bonus with the steps to claim it (Marketing AI · HR and recruiting)
• Announce a team meeting change people will actually follow (Writing AI · Managers and team leads)
• Answer a 'found an error' question in STAR order (Writing AI · Finance and accounting)
• Answer a wholesale inquiry with clear terms (Writing AI · Small business owners)