See the Difference
Same plan. One asks for blind spot analysis.
AI: This looks like a solid plan! You've thought about your services, pricing, and target market. The portfolio approach is smart. You might want to consider adding testimonials once you get some clients. Overall, great start!
Polite. Supportive. Misses the hard questions.
AI: A few blind spots: You've listed pricing but haven't accounted for the 3-6 month delay before invoices actually get paid. Your "target market" is too broad—who specifically needs design work and has budget? You assume clients will find your portfolio, but you haven't planned how they'll discover you exist. What's your plan when a client doesn't pay?
Uncomfortable. Useful. Points to real gaps.
Why This Works
AI is trained to be helpful and agreeable. If you ask "what do you think?" it defaults to supportive feedback. That feels good but doesn't help you improve.
When you explicitly ask for blind spots, you give AI permission to be critical. You're asking it to find what you can't see—assumptions you didn't question, risks you overlooked, scenarios you haven't planned for.
Phrases That Work
- "What am I missing here?"
- "What assumptions am I making that might be wrong?"
- "What could go wrong that I haven't thought about?"
- "Don't tell me what I'm doing right. Only focus on what I'm missing."
- "If this fails in six months, what's the most likely reason?"
- "What would a skeptic point out about this plan?"
The Technique
Explicitly ask for blind spots, gaps, and risks. Tell AI to skip the positives. The goal isn't encouragement—it's finding what you can't see on your own.
When to Use This
- • Before launching a project or business
- • When making important decisions
- • Before committing to a strategy or plan
- • When reviewing your own work
- • When you feel confident—that's often when blind spots hide
- • Before presenting ideas to others