AI in the workflow
Where AI helps.
Where you decide.
Choose what you are working on. See where AI can help, what you still decide, and what useful work should come out of each step.
Make these workflows your AI team.
Give each assistant a role, agree on handoffs, and measure the whole effort. Explore automation ideas and a productivity calculator before expanding.
See agent roles, examples, and routines →Want a plan for your own idea?
The Side Hustle Lab turns your model, buyer access and available time into six sessions with focused prompts.
Create my AI action planPrompts are starting templates for your preferred AI assistant. Nothing is sent to an AI service here. Context stays on this page; only completion checkmarks are saved in this browser.
Your working path
Turn a skill into an offer
Leave with a small pilot you can explain to a real buyer.
Open the companion tool or guide- 01
Find a repeated problem
- Bring
- Three examples of work you have actually done and notes from potential customers.
- Ask AI
- Group the examples into possible buyer problems.
- You check
- Talk to people who experience the problem. An AI suggestion is a hypothesis, not demand.
- Leave with
- One buyer, one problem, and a verbatim customer observation.
Use the starting prompt
Using only the examples I provide, suggest three buyer/problem pairs. Separate evidence from assumptions. For each, give a question about a recent real experience that I can ask a potential buyer. Do not invent research. Examples: [paste anonymized notes].
- 02
Shape a small deliverable
- Bring
- Your chosen problem and the parts you can confidently deliver.
- Ask AI
- Turn the problem into three tightly scoped pilot options.
- You check
- Choose the option you can complete well. Specify what is excluded and who supplies the inputs.
- Leave with
- A deliverable, boundaries, required inputs, and a completion check.
Use the starting prompt
Draft three small paid-pilot scopes for this problem: [problem]. My relevant skills: [skills]. For each, list the deliverable, exclusions, customer inputs, and an acceptance check I can demonstrate. Do not promise business results.
- 03
Check effort and costs
- Bring
- Your delivery estimate, selling time, revision allowance, and direct costs.
- Ask AI
- Challenge missing tasks and expenses.
- You check
- Enter and verify the numbers yourself using the experiment calculator.
- Leave with
- An effort estimate and a price hypothesis to test.
Use the starting prompt
Review this pilot estimate: [tasks, hours, costs, price]. Identify missing work, revisions, sales time and support. Keep all uncertain values marked unknown. Do not set a price from invented market rates.
- 04
Write a clear invitation
- Bring
- Your scope, relevant proof, and one person who may benefit.
- Ask AI
- Draft a short, specific invitation in your voice.
- You check
- Verify every claim, pick the recipient, and send it yourself.
- Leave with
- One reviewed invitation with an easy way to decline.
Use the starting prompt
Write a short invitation to discuss this pilot: [scope]. Use only this proof: [evidence]. Ask about their current process before pitching. Do not invent familiarity, urgency, results or testimonials. Return one draft and two genuine questions.
- 05
Decide what to try next
- Bring
- Actual replies, conversations, requests and time spent.
- Ask AI
- Organize what happened and identify uncertain assumptions.
- You check
- Distinguish compliments from commitment. Decide to continue, adjust or pause.
- Leave with
- A dated experiment note and one next test.
Use the starting prompt
Summarize these actual pilot results: [notes]. Separate observations, interpretations and unknowns. Suggest one low-cost next test for each interpretation. Do not treat silence or a tiny sample as proof of demand.
Your working path
Launch a useful website
Leave with one working page and a tested next action.
Open the companion tool or guide- 01
Write the page brief
- Bring
- A specific visitor, offer, proof and desired next action.
- Ask AI
- Organize these inputs into a page outline.
- You check
- Choose the promise and decide what evidence supports it.
- Leave with
- A six-section page brief.
Use the starting prompt
Outline a one-page site with opening, offer, process, evidence, questions and next action. Use my inputs: [brief]. Flag missing facts instead of filling them in. Keep one primary action.
- 02
Draft the content
- Bring
- Your approved brief and real examples.
- Ask AI
- Draft headings, concise body copy and FAQ answers.
- You check
- Check accuracy, tone, claims, price, availability and accessibility of the language.
- Leave with
- Reviewed copy with unresolved details clearly marked.
Use the starting prompt
Draft page copy from this approved brief: [brief]. Use plain language and concrete deliverables. Do not invent testimonials, statistics, credentials or availability. List every detail I must confirm before publishing.
- 03
Build a small version
- Bring
- Approved copy, a style reference and your existing site structure.
- Ask AI
- Help create the layout and implementation.
- You check
- Control account access and scope. Review changes in a preview.
- Leave with
- A responsive preview with working navigation.
Use the starting prompt
Implement this approved page within my existing project: [brief]. Inspect the project instructions first. Preserve existing routes and forms. Use semantic HTML, visible focus and mobile layouts. List needed integrations; do not fake form success or deploy yet.
- 04
Test the whole journey
- Bring
- The preview URL and a list of intended user actions.
- Ask AI
- Draft test cases and help investigate failures.
- You check
- Try keyboard/mobile use, real validation and a safe test submission.
- Leave with
- A recorded pass/fail checklist with blocking issues fixed.
Use the starting prompt
Create an acceptance checklist for this page: [brief]. Include navigation, keyboard focus, small screens, form validation, successful storage, error messages and confirmation wording. Distinguish checks performed from checks still pending.
- 05
Publish and measure
- Bring
- A checked page, chosen domain and measurement plan.
- Ask AI
- Help prepare metadata, a release checklist and reporting notes.
- You check
- Approve the release and account connections. Verify the live page and visitor choices.
- Leave with
- A live URL, a tested next action and a review date.
Use the starting prompt
Prepare a release checklist for [site]. Include live links, forms, canonical URLs, sitemap, search ownership verification and consent-based measurement. Treat account setup and indexing as unverified until there is evidence. Define one useful action to measure.
Your working path
Create one useful piece of content
Leave with an evidence-backed guide and a few useful adaptations.
Open the companion tool or guide- 01
Pick a real question
- Bring
- Reader questions, support notes or anonymized conversations.
- Ask AI
- Cluster questions and suggest an outline for one.
- You check
- Choose a question you can answer with experience or verified sources.
- Leave with
- One reader question and a useful outcome.
Use the starting prompt
Group these real questions by intent: [questions]. Choose three possible article topics and explain what a reader would be able to do afterward. Do not invent search volume, popularity or quotes.
- 02
Collect evidence
- Bring
- Your own example, observations and primary sources.
- Ask AI
- Identify gaps and organize a source ledger.
- You check
- Open and verify sources. Check dates, claims and permission to share examples.
- Leave with
- A claim/source list and your own worked example.
Use the starting prompt
Create a research checklist for [question]. Separate claims requiring a source, experience I can demonstrate, and assumptions. If sources are supplied, map each claim to the exact source; do not fabricate citations.
- 03
Build a useful draft
- Bring
- The checked evidence and the reader outcome.
- Ask AI
- Turn your material into a clear outline and first draft.
- You check
- Add original reasoning and check each recommendation against the evidence.
- Leave with
- A draft containing an example, steps and limitations.
Use the starting prompt
Draft a guide using only this evidence: [notes and sources]. Answer [question]. Include a worked example, steps, common mistakes and limitations. Mark unsupported statements [VERIFY]. Do not imply I tested something I did not.
- 04
Review before publishing
- Bring
- The draft and original source ledger.
- Ask AI
- Flag vague advice, unsupported claims and missing reader steps.
- You check
- Verify claims independently, test instructions and approve the finished article.
- Leave with
- A publishable article with an honest next action.
Use the starting prompt
Critique this draft against its sources: [draft and ledger]. List unsupported claims, missing steps, unclear language and repeated filler. Suggest edits without inventing new evidence. Check that the call to action follows naturally from the reader task.
- 05
Reuse and learn
- Bring
- The published article and genuine reader reactions.
- Ask AI
- Draft a short post, demonstration outline and email excerpt.
- You check
- Adapt each piece for its audience and review before scheduling.
- Leave with
- Three reviewed adaptations and a question to watch.
Use the starting prompt
Adapt this approved article into one short social post, a 60-second demonstration outline and an email excerpt: [article]. Preserve caveats and source context. Give each one useful idea and one next step. Do not add claims or predict performance.
Your working path
Make an honest affiliate comparison
Leave with a useful comparison grounded in real evidence.
Open the companion tool or guide- 01
Define the buying decision
- Bring
- One audience, use case, budget range and constraints.
- Ask AI
- Suggest comparison criteria tied to the task.
- You check
- Choose criteria that matter to the buyer, including doing nothing or a free option.
- Leave with
- A fair comparison rubric.
Use the starting prompt
Create a comparison rubric for [buyer and task]. Include fit, limitations, total cost, effort and a no-purchase alternative. Do not choose a winner or recommend a product before evidence is provided.
- 02
Gather firsthand evidence
- Bring
- Official product information and your own test notes.
- Ask AI
- Organize a consistent evidence table.
- You check
- Check current pricing and terms yourself; label anything you have not tested.
- Leave with
- A dated evidence table separating tested facts from vendor claims.
Use the starting prompt
Organize these notes into a comparison table: [notes and official sources]. Label each point firsthand, vendor claim or unknown. Never invent a hands-on test, rating, price or result. Flag inconsistencies for me to check.
- 03
Draft the comparison
- Bring
- Your evidence table and selection rubric.
- Ask AI
- Draft the structure, tradeoffs and audience-fit explanation.
- You check
- Choose a recommendation based on fit, not commission size.
- Leave with
- A comparison with strengths, limits and who should skip each option.
Use the starting prompt
Write a comparison using only this rubric and evidence: [material]. Explain who each option fits, who should skip it and what remains uncertain. Avoid universal best claims and unsupported earnings or performance promises.
- 04
Check relationships and links
- Bring
- Your actual program relationship and current program terms.
- Ask AI
- Help find unclear disclosure language or missing context.
- You check
- Verify program eligibility and place a clear relationship disclosure near the recommendation.
- Leave with
- A reviewed disclosure, correct links and approved creative.
Use the starting prompt
Review this disclosure and draft for clarity: [text]. My actual relationship is [relationship]. Flag any place a reader could miss that I may receive compensation. Do not certify legal compliance; identify questions to check against FTC guidance and the program terms.
- 05
Review approved outcomes
- Bring
- Visits, link clicks, approved commissions, reversals and work hours.
- Ask AI
- Summarize the funnel and suggest diagnostic questions.
- You check
- Reconcile with actual program reports. Clicks are not paid sales.
- Leave with
- A dated review of useful traffic, approved earnings and costs.
Use the starting prompt
Analyze these aggregate affiliate results: [counts, costs, hours, period]. Distinguish clicks, pending commissions, approved commissions and cash received. Show arithmetic, missing data and small-sample limitations. Suggest one test without inventing a benchmark.
Your working path
Find your first customer conversations
Leave with a relevant invitation and a respectful follow-up plan.
Open the companion tool or guide- 01
Define who to learn from
- Bring
- Your offer hypothesis and a description of the people it serves.
- Ask AI
- Identify observable signs that the problem may matter.
- You check
- Choose actual people or businesses from appropriate public sources or your network.
- Leave with
- A small list you have personally reviewed.
Use the starting prompt
For this offer [offer], suggest observable signs that a business might face the problem. Give research questions, not a scraped contact list. Do not infer private characteristics or invent contact information.
- 02
Prepare discovery questions
- Bring
- What you already know and what you need to learn.
- Ask AI
- Draft questions about current behavior and past attempts.
- You check
- Remove leading questions and listen without forcing your idea into the answer.
- Leave with
- Five questions about a real recent experience.
Use the starting prompt
Draft five discovery questions for [problem]. Ask about the last time it happened, their workaround, impact and prior attempts. Avoid asking whether they like my idea or hypothetical willingness to pay.
- 03
Draft an individual invitation
- Bring
- A verified relevant detail and an honest reason to contact the person.
- Ask AI
- Make the invitation concise and easy to answer.
- You check
- Check the recipient, contact preferences and every personal detail.
- Leave with
- One reviewed message, sent by you.
Use the starting prompt
Draft a brief invitation based only on [verified context]. Ask one low-pressure question about [problem]. Include no invented familiarity, urgency or results. Make declining easy. Do not send or schedule anything.
- 04
Follow up with value
- Bring
- The actual conversation and any promised resource.
- Ask AI
- Summarize agreed next steps and draft the follow-up.
- You check
- Check consent, dates, commitments and whether another message is welcome.
- Leave with
- A helpful follow-up matching what was discussed.
Use the starting prompt
Using these anonymized notes [notes], draft a follow-up with the agreed resource and next step. Do not add commitments or a sales pitch they did not ask for. If no follow-up was invited, suggest a respectful stop instead.
- 05
Decide on the next experiment
- Bring
- Actual conversations, requests and reasons for not proceeding.
- Ask AI
- Group objections and competing interpretations.
- You check
- Decide what evidence is strong enough to change the offer.
- Leave with
- One specific change with a success criterion.
Use the starting prompt
Group these observations [notes] into evidence, objections and open questions. Suggest one offer change and one test to evaluate it. Do not infer a conversion rate from incomplete counts or treat a compliment as a sale.
Your working path
Review the experiment each week
Leave with a record of the work and a decision you can explain.
Open the companion tool or guide- 01
Collect the real numbers
- Bring
- Time log, costs, activity counts and actual customer outcomes.
- Ask AI
- Help organize a consistent reporting table.
- You check
- Reconcile records and label estimates. Keep private customer data out of the prompt.
- Leave with
- A dated evidence log with a clear period.
Use the starting prompt
Structure these aggregate records [records] into hours, costs, activities and outcomes for [period]. Label missing values unknown and estimated values estimated. Do not treat missing data as zero.
- 02
Separate activity from results
- Bring
- The evidence log and the goal set before the experiment.
- Ask AI
- Map work completed to the intended customer action.
- You check
- Choose the outcome that actually indicates progress.
- Leave with
- A simple funnel with consistent denominators.
Use the starting prompt
From this log [log], separate activity, attention, intent, commitment and paid outcome. Explain denominators for any rate. Do not count my own test visits or test submissions as customers.
- 03
Account for the whole effort
- Bring
- Revenue received, expenses and all time spent during the same period.
- Ask AI
- Help spot omitted work and challenge the arithmetic.
- You check
- Check inputs and calculate consistently. Revenue is not profit.
- Leave with
- A cash contribution estimate and time record.
Use the starting prompt
Audit these totals [numbers]. Show the calculation, list omitted cost categories and distinguish collected revenue from pending amounts. Include selling, delivery, revision and support time. Do not give tax or investment advice.
- 04
Choose continue, change or pause
- Bring
- Your original success criterion, resource limit and actual evidence.
- Ask AI
- Lay out competing explanations and possible next tests.
- You check
- Make the decision based on the evidence and what you can afford to spend next.
- Leave with
- One decision with a reason and a limit.
Use the starting prompt
Compare this result [result] with my original criterion [criterion] and resource limit [limit]. Offer continue, change and pause options with evidence for and against each. Identify what would change my mind; do not guarantee an outcome.
- 05
Share a useful lesson
- Bring
- A reviewed result and what you are comfortable making public.
- Ask AI
- Draft a concise build-in-public update.
- You check
- Remove private details and label hypotheses, estimates and actual results.
- Leave with
- A truthful update and the next review date.
Use the starting prompt
Draft a build-in-public update using only [approved facts]. Include what I tried, effort and costs I choose to share, what happened, what I learned and the next test. Do not turn projections into results or invent a success story.
Start with a useful task.
These workflows are editorial templates, not autonomous agents. Supply information you have permission to use, check sources, and approve public actions yourself. Product capabilities and plans change; the prompts do not depend on a particular paid feature.
Background reading: Anthropic on simple workflows and evaluation; Google on helpful AI-assisted content; FTC guidance on endorsements.