🤫 4 'Secret' ChatGPT Hacks That Actually Cut My Work Time By 50%

If you have ever felt tired when talking to ChatGPT, I completely understand you.

You type a prompt (command). It gives back a result... that is just okay. You type again, trying to fix it. It is still not right. You fix it a little more. An hour passes, and you wonder if doing it yourself would be faster.

I was in that exact same spot. But after months of using it every single day for work, I tried and tested many ways. Finally, I found 4 simple tricks that changed everything.

These are not complex "hacks". They are just smarter ways to talk to AI so it understands exactly what you want. They saved me hours of work every week.

In this guide, I will explain each trick in detail, just like a teacher showing a new student. I will show you the exact examples I use, and explain why they work. You don't need to be a tech expert to do this.

We will learn:

• Part 1: How to get a perfect prompt without guessing.

• Part 2: How to turn 1 piece of content into 10 different pieces (emails, social posts, etc.).

• Part 3: How to find weaknesses in your ideas before your boss or client finds them.

• Part 4: How to build complex things (like a big plan) without getting messy.

Let's start.

Part 1: The 'Work Backwards' Trick: Get The Perfect Prompt

Think about the last time you tried to give an order to ChatGPT. It is like being in a dark room and trying to find a light switch. You feel around, you try, and you fail.

The 'Work Backwards' trick is like finding the switch, turning the light on, and then asking the AI to draw you a perfect map to find that switch again every time.

Simply put: You don't need to guess. You work until the answer is perfect, and THEN you ask ChatGPT for the "magic words" to do it again in one step.

1. How It Works (Step-By-Step)

Let's practice with a real example. Let's say I need to write an email to my team about an important meeting on Monday.

Step 1: Start with a simple prompt

Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect. Just ask for what you need.

You say: 

"Write an email to my team about a meeting on Monday at 9 AM. This meeting is to start the new 'BlueSky' project."

ChatGPT will give you something very basic and maybe a bit too formal, like a robot.

Step 2: Review the result and give feedback

You read it and it feels wrong. "This sounds boring." Now, fix it.

"This is too formal. Rewrite it with a more friendly and excited tone. Add a joke about Monday morning meetings."

ChatGPT tries again. It is better, but maybe too long.

Step 3: Keep fixing until it is perfect

You continue to adjust it.

"Better. But make it shorter. I want people to read it in 30 seconds. Delete the joke, it was not very funny. Instead, add a line asking them to prepare one idea to share."

Now, the email is perfect. It is short, friendly, clear, and has a clear call-to-action (something you want them to do).

Step 4: The "Magic" Step

Most people stop here. They copy the email and close the chat. But we will do one more step. This is the most important step.

"Great. Now, look back at our whole conversation. Write one single prompt that, if I used it at the beginning, would create this final perfect response in one go."

Step 5: Save and test your new prompt

ChatGPT will now give you a "golden" prompt. It might look like this:

Write a short, friendly team email about a meeting on Monday at 9 AM to kick off a new project called BlueSky. The tone should be clear, upbeat, and easy to read in under 30 seconds. No jokes. End by asking everyone to bring one idea to share at the meeting.

Now, open a new chat, paste this "golden" prompt in, and watch what happens. It should create the perfect result immediately.

2. Why Is This So Good?

This trick doesn't just save you time next time. It also teaches you how to be a better prompt writer.

• It saves time: Instead of spending 10 minutes fixing it every time you need a meeting email, now it takes 10 seconds.

• It teaches you: You start to see patterns. You see that adding words like "friendly tone," "short (under 30 seconds read)," and "clear call-to-action" makes a big difference.

3. My Advice (Pro-Tips)

• Create a "Prompt Toolbox": Don't let these golden prompts disappear. I have a Google Docs (some people use Notion) where I save them. I organize them by category: "Writing Emails," "Blog Ideas," "Marketing." This is my secret toolbox.

• Always test again: Before you save a "golden" prompt, open a new chat window and paste it in. Sometimes it needs a tiny small fix to work perfectly every time.

• Organize by job: Don't just save them randomly. Sort them by the type of work you do. This way, you can find them quickly when you need them.

Part 2: The 'Content Multiplier' Trick: Turn 1 Thing Into 10

Here is a common work problem: you spend all day writing a good blog post, or making a great presentation. Then... it just sits there.

Now, you have to spend more hours writing an email to announce it, then writing a social media post, then a summary for your boss. You are wasting time doing the same work again and again.

The 'Content Multiplier' trick fixes this. You take ONE high-quality piece of "main" content (pillar content) and use ChatGPT to "multiply" it into many different formats.

1. How To Do It (Step-By-Step)

Let's say you just finished a 1,500-word blog post about "5 Time Management Tips for Working from Home." This is your "source".

Step 1: Get your source material

Open your blog post. Copy all the text.

Step 2: Give it to ChatGPT and set the context

Paste the whole text into ChatGPT. But before you ask for anything, set the context.

"Here is a blog post I just wrote. Read it carefully. I will ask you to create some other content based on this post. Just reply 'Read' if you are ready."

This makes sure the AI has "digested" the material.

Step 3: Ask for new formats

Now, start asking.

• Example 1: Create Tweets

"Great. Now, write me 3 Tweets based on this article. Each Tweet should focus on a different tip. Use a casual, friendly tone and add a question at the end to encourage people to reply."

• Example 2: Create an Email Newsletter

"Now, write a short email newsletter. It should quickly summarize the 5 tips (just one sentence per tip) and have a catchy intro paragraph about why time management is hard. End with a strong call-to-action to click the link to read the full post."

• Example 3: Create a Short Video Script (TikTok/Reels)

"Next, take Tip #3 ('Use the Pomodoro Technique') and write a 30-second video script for TikTok. The script should have a 'hook' (attention grabber) at the start, a quick explanation of the technique, and a call-to-action to 'follow for more tips'."

In just 5 minutes, you have 3 Tweets, 1 email, and 1 video script from one blog post.

2. Why Does This Work Well?

You are not starting from zero. You are starting with something that is already good. AI is very good at summarizing, changing tone, and reformatting information. You are using it as a super-fast assistant editor.

You save hours of manual rewriting and reformatting.

3. My Advice (Pro-Tips)

• Only use your best content: This trick has one rule: "Garbage in, garbage out." If you give it a weak blog post, you will get weak Tweets, weak emails, and weak scripts. Only multiply your high-quality "main" content.

• Always check and edit: Never copy and paste without reading. AI is an assistant, not the boss. You need to add your personal touch. Check for accuracy and make sure it matches your voice.

• Tell it WHO the audience is: When asking for a new format, be clear about who it is for.

  • Bad example: "Write a summary."

  • Good example: "Write a 3-bullet point summary for my boss, who has no time and only cares about business results."

Part 3: The 'Other Side' Trick: Find Your Weaknesses

This is maybe my favorite trick. It is beautifully simple but incredibly powerful.

The concept is this: First, you ask ChatGPT to create something for you. And this is the important part, you immediately ask it to "switch sides" and act as a tough critic.

It is like having a smart friend play "devil's advocate" to test your ideas before you show them to the real world. You can see the weaknesses and fix them before they matter.

1. The Two-Step Method

Step 1: Create your content

Ask ChatGPT to help you make whatever you need:

• An email asking for a salary raise.

• A business proposal for a new client.

• A marketing plan for a product.

Get the first version done.

Step 2: Flip the script

Now is the time for magic. Ask ChatGPT to play the role of your toughest audience and "attack" it.

2. Real Examples With Specific Prompts

Example 1: Asking for a Raise

• Prompt 1: 

"Help me draft an email to my boss, her name is 'Jane'. I want to ask for a 15% raise. I have worked here for 3 years, finished project X under budget, and recently took on John's extra duties after he left."

• Prompt 2 (The Trick): 

"Thanks. Now, YOU are 'Jane', my boss. You are very busy and the company budget is tight. You read the email I just wrote. What is your immediate reaction? Which sentence in the email annoys you? What is the biggest reason you would say 'no'?"

This will show you exactly where your holes are. Maybe you sound too demanding. Maybe you didn't connect your achievements to value for the company.

Example 2: Business Proposal

• Prompt 1: 

"Create a business proposal for a potential client. We are a small web design agency. We want to redesign their website for $10,000."

• Prompt 2 (The Trick): 

"Okay. Now, you are the small business owner receiving this proposal. You have received 2 other cheaper proposals. Read the proposal you just wrote and tell me 3 main reasons why you would not choose us. Be very harsh."

This might reveal that your proposal doesn't clearly show ROI (Return on Investment), or it sounds too generic.

3. Why Is This So Powerful?

It helps you see your "blind spots".

When we create something, we naturally focus on defending our point of view. We highlight the good parts. But your audience whether it's a boss, a client, or an investor is looking for reasons to say no.

By letting ChatGPT play that skeptical audience member, you can see exactly what they will see. Then, you can go back and make your message stronger.

4. My Advice (Pro-Tips)

• Be extremely specific about the persona: Don't just say "be a critic." The more detailed, the better the feedback.

  • Bad: "Criticize this."

  • Good: "You are a 50-year-old Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who hates risk and your main concern is cost. Read this proposal and tell me what worries you most financially."

• Ask for a ranking: "List the top 3 weakest points in order from most serious to least serious." This helps you focus on what matters.

• Turn critique into action: Don't stop at finding problems. Ask it to help you fix them. "Based on the 3 weaknesses you just found, help me rewrite the 3 weakest sentences in the original email."

Part 4: The 'Blueprint' Trick: Plan Before You Build

Have you ever asked ChatGPT to create something complex, and it returns a giant "wall of text" that includes a lot of stuff you don't need? Maybe it's too long, covers irrelevant topics, or is organized in a confusing way.

The 'Blueprint' trick solves this by forcing ChatGPT to explain its step-by-step reasoning before it gives the final result.

It is like finalizing the blueprint (plan) of a house before actually building the house.

1. The Problem It Solves

Let's look at a real example. Say you ask ChatGPT: "I need a content plan for my travel blog for the next 3 months."

ChatGPT will try its best and might give you a huge answer with 15 sections: goals, audience, competitor analysis, content pillars, posting schedule, SEO strategy, etc.

But here is the issue: maybe you just needed a list of blog post ideas organized by topic. You didn't need a 10-page operations manual.

2. How It Works (Step-By-Step)

Step 1: Add the "blueprint" request to your prompt

Instead of just asking for the final result, ask ChatGPT to outline its plan first.

"I need a content plan for my travel blog for the next 3 months. First, outline the standard sections of a professional content plan and give me a one-sentence description for each section. Do not write the full plan yet."

Step 2: Review the blueprint

ChatGPT will show you what it intends to include before actually writing everything. For example:

1. Audience Analysis: Defining who reads your blog.

2. Content Pillars: The main topics you will cover (e.g., Budget Travel, Luxury Travel).

3. Keyword Analysis: SEO terms to target.

4. Editorial Calendar: A schedule of when to post.

5. Promotion Strategy: How you will share the content.

...and maybe 5 more sections. By seeing this blueprint first, you immediately realize it is too much.

Step 3: Correct the course before it's too late

Now you can guide ChatGPT before it wastes time creating 10 sections you don't need.

"Thanks. That is too much irrelevant information. Let's apply the 80/20 rule and only give me the essential sections. Remove Audience Analysis and Promotion Strategy. I just want to focus on Content Pillars, Keyword Analysis, and Editorial Calendar."

Step 4: Get the targeted final result

Now you say:

"Okay, that plan is much better. Now go ahead and build the detailed plan with just those 3 sections."

Now ChatGPT creates the full plan, but only with the sections you actually need. The final output is much more targeted and relevant than the generic 10-section answer you would have gotten initially.

3. Why Does This Matter?

Think about the analogy of building a house. If an architect starts pouring concrete without showing you the blueprint first, and then you realize the layout is all wrong, you have to tear everything down and start over. Expensive and time-consuming.

But if you review the blueprint first, spot an incorrect measurement, and fix it before construction begins, you save yourself massive headaches later.

The same applies to AI outputs. For complex tasks, always ask ChatGPT to break down its thinking process first.

Part 5: Putting It All Together: How These Tricks Work Together

Now you understand all four tricks, let's talk about how they work together in daily work. They are not separate tools; they are a toolkit.

Example: Planning a Social Media Marketing Campaign

1. Day 1: Ideation (Blueprint Trick)

   • You start with the 'Blueprint' Trick (Part 4).

   • You say: "I need to create a 1-week campaign plan for a new product launch on Instagram. First, outline the steps you would take to create this plan."

   • ChatGPT outlines: 1. Goals, 2. Daily themes, 3. Post ideas, 4. Call-to-action.

   • You review and say: "Great. Add a 'Hashtags' section too. Now create the full plan."

2. Day 1: Quality Check (Other Side Trick)

   • ChatGPT creates the plan. It looks okay. But is it good?

   • You use the 'Other Side' Trick (Part 3).

   • You say: "OK. Now act as a 25-year-old Instagram follower who gets bored easily. Read this campaign plan. Which part is the most boring? What would make you not click?"

   • ChatGPT gives honest feedback: "Day 3's theme is too 'salesy'. The call-to-action is too weak." You go back and fix those weak points.

3. Day 2: Content Creation (Multiplier Trick)

   • Your plan is solid now. You write one "main" post announcing the product.

   • Now you use the 'Content Multiplier' Trick (Part 2).

   • You say: "Here is my main announcement post [paste post]. Now, take this and create: 1) Three short Instagram Stories, 2) A quick announcement email for my VIP list, and 3) A 15-second video script for Reels."

4. Day 3: Save for Later (Work Backwards Trick)

   • This whole process was great. The prompts you used to create the initial plan (after you modified it) were perfect.

   • You use the 'Work Backwards' Trick (Part 1).

   • You say: "Look back at how we created that final Instagram campaign plan. Give me a single, perfect prompt I can use next month for my next launch."

   • You copy that "golden" prompt and save it to your "Prompt Toolbox".

Part 6: Common Mistakes To Avoid

As you start using these techniques, watch out for these common traps:

• Mistake 1: Being too vague. When using the 'Other Side' Trick, don't just say "be a critic." Be specific. "Be a 50-year-old customer who hates technology." This gives much better results.

• Mistake 2: Skipping the test. When you use the 'Work Backwards' Trick, always test the reversed prompt in a new chat. Don't just assume it will work perfectly.

• Mistake 3: Multiplying low-quality content. Remember: garbage in, garbage out. Only use the 'Multiplier' Trick on your best, proven content. If the source is weak, all your multiplied content will be weak too.

• Mistake 4: Not saving your best prompts. You will create amazing prompts through these techniques. If you don't save them somewhere organized, you will lose that value and have to recreate them later.

• Mistake 5: Using 'Blueprint' for everything. Not every task needs a blueprint. For simple, quick requests ("write a subject line"), just ask directly. Save the 'Blueprint' for complex projects where structure really matters.

• Mistake 6: Forgetting to close the loop. After the 'Other Side' Trick reveals weaknesses, don't stop there. Ask ChatGPT to help you fix those problems. "Based on the weaknesses you found, help me rewrite the email."

Final Thoughts: Your Next Step

Working with AI doesn't have to be a frustrating back-and-forth process. With the right techniques, you can get better results in less time.

• The 'Work Backwards' Trick helps you capture and reuse what works.

• The 'Content Multiplier' Trick lets you multiply your efforts.

• The 'Other Side' Trick helps you see your blind spots.

• The 'Blueprint' Trick ensures you get exactly what you need without wasting time on irrelevant information.

These are not theories. These are practical methods.

Here is my advice to you: Don't try to use all four techniques at once. That is too much.

This week, pick one technique that looks most useful for your biggest problem right now.

• If you waste time trying to get the right answer, try the 'Work Backwards' Trick (Part 1).

• If you feel like you are re-doing work many times, try the 'Content Multiplier' Trick (Part 2).

• If you are about to send an important email or proposal, try the 'Other Side' Trick (Part 3).

• If you are about to start a big, complex project, try the 'Blueprint' Trick (Part 4).

Try it on a real work task. See the difference for yourself. Good luck!

If you are interested in other topics and how AI is transforming different aspects of our lives or even in making money using AI with more detailed, step-by-step guidance, you can find our other articles here:

• Build Your AI Marketing System With ChatGPT: A Full Guide

• Master AI Marketing: Build Your 24/7 Digital Assistant Without Code!

• Earn Money with MCP in n8n: A Guide to Leveraging Model Context Protocol for AI Automation*

• Transform Your Product Photos with AI Marketing for Under $1!*

• The AI Secret To Reports That Clients Actually Implement

  *indicates a premium content, if any