Why 'Assistant Mode' Works
You make dozens of tiny decisions each day — texts to send, plans to choose, videos to summarize, notes to organize. Most are simple but time‑draining. Assistant Mode turns AI into a capable helper by giving it clarity: a role, a goal, guardrails, and a specific format for its answer. You stay the editor; it handles the drafting, structuring, and polite phrasing. We’ll build a repeatable system you can use in under ten minutes a day.
The 4‑Part Prompt Formula (with 6 Boosters)
Core Four: 1) Role — who is the AI for this task? (“You are my polite assistant…”, “You are a nutrition coach…”) 2) Goal — the exact outcome. (“Draft a 2‑sentence RSVP”, “Plan 4 dinners under $50”) 3) Guardrails — constraints or rules. (budget, time, tone, dietary needs, word count, do/don’t) 4) Format — how to deliver it. (bulleted list, table, JSON checklist, 3 options, short email) Six Boosters: • Tone: kind but direct; playful; professional; plain‑English only. • Examples: 1 short example is worth 10 adjectives. • Inputs: paste the raw notes/URL and say what to keep/ignore. • Steps: “Think step by step” or “First ask 3 clarifying questions.” • Critique loop: “Before final, critique your draft in 3 bullets and fix it.” • Stops: “Don’t invent info; ask if missing.”
Platform Setup (iPhone/Android)
• Install at least one: ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude. • Turn on dictation or voice mode. Speak rough ideas; let AI transcribe. • iOS Share Sheet: Settings → Siri & Search → Show in Share Sheet (for your AI app). Now from Notes/Safari/YouTube, tap Share → your AI app. • Android Share: use the system Share to send text/links to your AI app. Add a homescreen shortcut for faster capture. • Make a folder called ‘Admin Power‑Up’. That’s your 10‑minute daily routine spot.
Platform Setup (Mac/Windows)
• Open AI in the browser. In Chrome: ⋮ → Save & Share → Create shortcut → Open as window (one‑click app). • Create a ‘Templates’ doc: RSVP, decline, follow‑up, recap, grocery plan, weekly plan. • Install a simple clipboard manager (optional). It speeds up copy/paste between notes and AI.
Tool Walkthroughs (Free‑First)
• ChatGPT (web/app): great all‑rounder. Free tier is fine for everyday drafting and planning. • Gemini (web/app): super compatible with Google Drive and search‑aware tasks. • Claude (web/app): excels at polite, thoughtful tone and long summaries. • YouTube + AI: share the link and ask for a 5‑bullet summary + 1 action you can take today.
The Everyday Scenarios (25 Quick Wins)
1) Polite decline text — 2–3 sentences, warm tone. 2) RSVP confirmation — short and specific. 3) Neighbor note — kind but firm boundary. 4) Thank‑you email — genuine, not gushy. 5) Weekly plan — 3 focus blocks, 2 rewards. 6) Grocery plan — $50 budget, 4 dinners + leftovers. 7) Meal swap ideas — vegetarian alternatives. 8) Recipe from pantry — list your items. 9) YouTube summary — 5 bullets + 1 action. 10) Calendar conflicts — draft reschedule. 11) Meeting recap — bullets + next steps. 12) Study plan — from messy notes. 13) Chore rotation — simple table. 14) Packing list — destination/weather aware. 15) Travel day plan — buffer times. 16) Gift ideas — audience, budget. 17) Hard message — kind but firm rewrite. 18) Rental inquiry — brief and clear. 19) Customer support email — concise facts. 20) Fitness micro‑plan — 3 × 20‑min sessions. 21) Habit tracker — week template. 22) Resume bullet polish — quantify impact. 23) Cover letter — 3 short paragraphs. 24) Budget snapshot — 5 categories to watch. 25) Gratitude list — 5 quick lines.
Starter Prompt Packs (Copy‑Paste)
Do‑Along Exercises (10 Minutes)
Troubleshooting
• Too vague? Add budget/time/tone and an example. • Wrong tone? Paste a model sentence and say “match this tone.” • Hallucinating? Say “Do not invent details. Ask for missing inputs.” • Too long? Set word/paragraph limits. • Sensitive info? Redact first; summarize instead of pasting raw data. • Stalled? Ask it to list 3 clarifying questions before drafting.
Safety, Ethics, and Boundaries
AI is powerful and fast; use it responsibly. Don’t share private info you wouldn’t email a stranger. Verify facts when stakes are high (health, finance, legal). When drafting sensitive messages, read out loud first — would you be comfortable if it were printed? Keep compassion in the loop.
Diamond Tips
• Short beats perfect. A 60% draft you ship today is more valuable than a 95% draft you never send. • Keep a tiny library: your top 10 prompts. Practice breeds speed. • Separate ‘thinking prompts’ from ‘final prompts’. First explore; then polish.