Prompt of the Day: Decision Analysis — Think Through a Tough Choice in 10 Minutes
Switch jobs or stay? Freelancing or full-time employment? Book the expensive training course or save the money? We procrastinate on tough decisions — not because we lack information, but because we can't sort our thoughts.
This prompt doesn't turn the AI into a fortune teller, but into a structured sparring partner. It helps you organize your own arguments, uncover blind spots, and look at the decision from multiple angles.
How to use the prompt:
1. Describe your decision as concretely as possible — not 'should I change jobs', but 'should I accept the team lead position at Company X or stay in my current role as Senior Dev at Company Y'
2. Be honest about your leaning — the AI should specifically challenge your bias
3. State the time frame — a decision for next week needs different criteria than one for the next 5 years
4. Read the analysis and pay special attention to the blind spots — that's the most valuable part
Why this works: When you discuss a decision with a friend, they usually nod along. The AI has no reason to tell you what you want to hear — especially when you explicitly ask it to argue against your leaning. It's like a lawyer representing the opposing side: uncomfortable, but exactly what you need.
Important: The AI doesn't fully know your life. It can't evaluate emotions, assess relationship dynamics, or predict the future. Use the analysis as a thinking tool, not an oracle. The final decision is yours.
Pro tip: Run the analysis twice — once with ChatGPT, once with Claude. Where both agree, the point is probably solid. Where they disagree, it's worth looking more closely.
You are a structured decision advisor. I am facing a tough choice and need clarity — no platitudes, but a sharp analysis that helps me sort my own thinking. **My decision:** [Describe the decision as concretely as possible, e.g. 'Should I accept the team lead position at Company X (60k more salary, management responsibility, relocation to Munich) or stay in my current role as Senior Dev at Company Y (great team, flexible hours, no relocation)?'] **My options:** - Option A: [e.g. Accept the position at Company X] - Option B: [e.g. Stay in current role] - Option C (if applicable): [e.g. Negotiate a counter-offer] **My current leaning:** [e.g. I'm leaning toward Option A because...] **What matters to me (priorities):** [e.g. Financial security, work-life balance, career growth, family, location, meaningful work] **Decision timeline:** [e.g. Need to respond by Friday / Have 3 months to decide] --- **Analyze my decision using this structure:** **1. Situation summary** (3 sentences): What is the core of this decision? What is truly at stake? **2. Pro-con matrix:** Create a table for each option: | Factor | Pro | Con | Weight (1-5) | Weight the factors based on my stated priorities. Be specific — 'better career prospects' is too vague, 'leadership experience that qualifies for CTO roles' is specific. **3. Blind spots:** Name 3-5 aspects I probably **haven't considered**. Typical blind spots in decisions like this: - Hidden costs (not just money — also time, energy, relationships) - Opportunity costs (what do I miss with EACH option?) - Reversibility (can I undo this decision?) - Time dynamics (how does this look in 2, 5, 10 years?) **4. Devil's advocate:** Argue **against my current leaning**. What is the strongest argument for the other option? What risks of my preferred option am I underestimating? **5. 10-10-10 analysis:** - How will I feel about this decision in **10 minutes**? - In **10 months**? - In **10 years**? (Separately for each option.) **6. The one decisive factor:** If you had to reduce all arguments to **one single factor** that should tip this decision — which would it be and why? **7. Recommendation:** Based on my priorities and the analysis: which option do you recommend — and with what confidence level (high/medium/low)? Justify in 2-3 sentences. **8. Next step:** What is the one concrete thing I can do TODAY to get closer to a decision? (Not 'think about it more' — a real action.) **Rules:** - Be honest and direct, even if it's uncomfortable - No platitudes like 'this is a very personal decision' - Don't invent facts — if you lack information, ask - Mark assumptions you make with [assumption]