How to Use AI to Make Money, Grow Your Business, and Be More Productive | Geoff Woods

To avoid generic AI output, use the CRIT framework. Provide extensive context, assign a very specific role to the AI, and crucially, let the AI interview you by asking questions. This forces deeper thought and provides the AI with much richer information, leading to more tailored and insightful results.

A common mistake is using AI as a simple search engine or assistant, asking basic questions and accepting the first answer without critical evaluation. People often don't provide enough context, assign a clear role, or allow the AI to interview them. This leads to superficial or incorrect outputs because the AI doesn't have enough information to be truly helpful.

AI can act as a thought partner to solve complex business problems by using frameworks like CRIT. For instance, one CEO used AI to simulate board members' personalities and predict their reactions during a debt restructuring negotiation, ultimately saving the company. The key is to frame the problem as a specific task for the AI, providing it with all relevant context.

The three essential skills are: 1) Identifying high-impact, 20% use cases that matter. 2) Communicating effectively with AI using frameworks like CRIT. 3) Remaining the thought leader by critically evaluating AI outputs, providing feedback, and directing the refinement process, rather than blindly accepting the results.

AI can significantly enhance creativity by acting as a collaborator. It can help brainstorm ideas, generate drafts, and explore different creative directions. The key is to use AI as a tool guided by human vision and intent, rather than letting it dictate the creative process. For example, AI can help craft manifestos or marketing materials based on high-level creative direction.

The risk is that, like any muscle, the brain can weaken if not used. If people rely solely on AI for answers and thinking, without engaging in critical analysis or problem-solving themselves, their cognitive abilities may diminish. However, using AI strategically through methods like CRIT, which demands more thought and analysis, can actually enhance cognitive function.

While building complex agents is possible, the focus should first be on mastering the CRIT framework and identifying key use cases. For documentation and agent creation, use CRIT with the role of 'perfect agentic AI builder' to interview you about a specific skill or process, creating a Markdown file that an AI platform can then use to replicate that function.

To make AI write in your voice, feed it 20-50 of your past emails and writing samples as context. Assign the AI the role of an expert prompt engineer and communications expert specializing in creating writing personas. Have it interview you to capture nuances, then task it with creating a markdown-formatted style guide for your voice.

Claude is a strong all-around choice, particularly for its versatility and design capabilities, though competition is encouraged. ChatGPT is noted for excellent short-prompt image creation. Specific needs might call for specialized tools, but for broad application, Claude and ChatGPT are highlighted.

Companies should focus on identifying the 20% of tasks that drive 80% of value and applying AI there. Centralize data where possible and ensure it's structured correctly (e.g., Markdown). Empower employees to document their processes using AI, liberating them to focus on higher-value activities. Sales departments are often a good starting point for agent implementation.

For the next 30 days, commit to using the CRIT framework once a day on a task that matters. Provide context, assign a role, let the AI interview you, and clearly define the task. Critically evaluate the output, stating what you like, dislike, and changes needed. This consistent practice will dramatically improve your AI proficiency and thinking leverage.