If you’ve tried AI and felt underwhelmed, you’re not alone. Most business owners expect it to work like an expert — hand it a task, get back something polished. But that’s not how it works.
AI is more like an intern. Smart, fast, and capable — but it needs direction, context, and oversight to be useful. Once you start treating it that way, the results get a lot better.
Interns Are Fast — But They’re Not Mind Readers
If you ask an intern to “write something about the company,” you’ll get something vague. Ask AI the same way? Same result.
AI needs the same kind of direction you’d give a new hire: What’s the goal? Who’s the audience? What tone should it use? What should it avoid?
The clearer the instructions, the better the output.
Interns Do Better With Constraints
Structure matters.
If you ask AI to “write a product description,” expect something generic. But if you say, “Give me 3 bullet points showing how this hydraulic cylinder design reduces downtime for maintenance teams” — now you’re getting somewhere.
Good prompts work like good management: they set boundaries and expectations upfront.
Interns Improve With Feedback
Nobody expects a new hire to nail it on the first try. You clarify, redirect, and tighten up the draft.
AI is the same.
Short, specific feedback moves the output in the right direction fast: “Use simpler language.” “Focus on cost savings.” “Make it more direct.”
You’re not starting over. You’re coaching.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Let’s say you need to follow up with a prospect who went quiet after a quote. It’s 8:30 at night, you’re finally at your inbox, and you need something that doesn’t sound like a form letter.
If you type “write a follow-up email to a prospect,” you’ll get something generic and pushy. Not useful.
But try this:
“I’m a sales rep for a precision machining company. Two weeks ago I sent a quote to a procurement manager for a short-run of custom mounting brackets. They said they needed to review internally, and I haven’t heard back. Write a short, friendly follow-up — not pushy. Mention we’re happy to answer questions or adjust scope. Keep it under 100 words.”
Now AI has context, tone, and constraints. The output will be dramatically better — and if it’s not perfect, one tweak gets you there.
The Judgment Still Belongs to You
This is the part that matters most: AI doesn’t replace your judgment. It supports it.
AI can handle the busywork — drafting emails, summarizing notes, cleaning up technical specs. But you’re the one who knows your customers, your market, and your standards. You make the final call.
For leaders who’ve always known when to delegate and when to stay hands-on, AI doesn’t change that equation. It just gives you another set of hands.
If AI has felt like it “misses the point,” it’s not because it can’t help. It’s because it needs your help to be helpful.
Think of it like an intern: smart, quick, and full of potential — with the right direction.
And if you’re ready to figure out where AI fits in your business — and what to ignore — our Strategy First process helps map that out clearly, without hype or guesswork.
