Hey, it's Sam.
Yesterday we built the perfect intake template. AI-generated. Comprehensive. Beautiful.
Today, let's talk about what happens when it meets reality.
Because it's about to get messy.
Why This Matters
You know this story:
Send perfect checklist to client.
Get back half-answered chaos.
"We don't track that metric."
"Our customers? Everyone!"
"Budget is... flexible."
I used to see this as failure.
Either theirs (disorganized client) or mine (asking too much).
Two bad options stared back at me:
Push them to do homework they'd never complete
Build on quicksand and hope for the best
Both paths led to disappointment.
Then I found a third way.
The Architect's Approach
AI users try to force clients to fit the strategy.
AI architects adjust the strategy to fit the client.
Your client's gaps aren't failures.
They're constraints.
And good strategy starts there.
Every iconic product came from a constraint:
(real)Twitter's 140 characters
Haiku's 17 syllables
Your client's missing data
Great strategy isn’t about perfect plans.
It’s about smart choices with what’s in front of you.
Your Reality Adapter System
The Adapter Prompt prompt turns missing pieces into momentum:
# Task
Synthesize a fully executable, resource-aware version of a high-level strategic plan by analyzing the difference between ideal strategy and current client inputs. Generate a revised and actionable strategy document ("Customized V3 Strategy") that preserves ambition while aligning tightly with available capabilities.
## Persona
You are a senior strategic execution consultant with deep expertise in adaptive planning, agile transformation, and translating abstract blueprints into reality-constrained strategic roadmaps. You operate at the intersection of vision and execution, and are especially skilled in identifying tactical gaps, creating realistic pathways, and proposing phased implementations.
## Considerations
- The "Ideal Strategy Blueprint" represents a best-case or aspirational plan.
- The "Available Client Inputs" are incomplete, partial, or constrained real-world assets (data, capacity, infrastructure, etc).
- Your role is not just to reduce scope, but to preserve as much of the strategic intent as possible — through clever reframing, tactical downgrades, or creative sequencing.
- The user will paste both sets of inputs in your prompt as raw text blocks.
- Assume the original V2 strategy is strong but not immediately executable due to resource gaps.
## Steps
1. **Assess Strategic Ambition**
- Briefly scan the Ideal Strategy Blueprint and extract the 3–5 core strategic goals or pillars.
- Identify their dependencies, implied capabilities, or required data assumptions.
2. **Audit Execution Readiness**
- Review the client inputs and extract which of those required elements exist vs. what’s missing.
- Use a table or side-by-side comparison to identify non-executable items.
3. **Create a Strategic Gap Analysis**
- For each major initiative or strategic pillar, clearly label what can vs. cannot be executed.
- For any “cannot” items, document what is missing (data, team, systems, etc).
4. **Reconstruct a Customized V3 Strategy**
- Rewrite the strategy to include only executable elements.
- For every removed item, replace it with a viable "starter version" or MVP alternative.
5. **Design a Future Growth Roadmap**
- Create a brief section that outlines how the client could grow into the full version of the strategy.
- Indicate capability-building efforts or decision gates needed to unlock the ideal plan.
6. **Return Output in Structured Format**
- Use markdown with clearly labeled sections:
- Executive Summary
- Gap Analysis Table
- Customized V3 Strategy
- Starter Alternatives
- Future Growth Roadmap
## Constraints
- Do not make up capabilities or invent client inputs. Only use what’s been provided.
- Avoid vague or high-level restatements. Be specific, tactical, and tied to evidence in the input.
- Avoid rewriting the original blueprint unless it’s directly connected to what is feasible now.
- Maintain the language/tone of the original strategy where possible (e.g., if it's visionary or formal).
## Success Qualities
- Clear distinction between vision and execution
- Practical, reality-aware recommendations
- Modular, reusable strategic structure
- Concrete proposals for near-term wins and long-term growth
## Stakes
Clients often abandon bold strategies because the gap between vision and execution feels insurmountable. Your job is to make the bridge visible and motivating. When done well, this creates confidence, trust, and momentum — allowing clients to act now without giving up on the future.
## Output Format
Use markdown with the following structure:
- `## Executive Summary`
- `## Gap Analysis Table`
- `## Customized V3 Strategy`
- `## Starter Alternatives for Cut Initiatives`
- `## Future Growth Roadmap`
---
## Input
Paste below the two required inputs.
**IDEAL STRATEGY BLUEPRINT:**
[Paste here]
**AVAILABLE CLIENT INPUTS:**
[Paste here]
What emerges is structured improvisation.
Strategy that flexes to fit.
The Trust Shift
Next time you're with a client, try this:
Old you: "We need more data to proceed effectively."
New you: "Based on what you have today, here's our adapted strategy. It’s practical, gets things moving, and includes a roadmap to grow from here."
That's the shift. From consultant to partner.
From “everything or nothing” to “let’s work with what we’ve got.”
That’s how you build trust that sticks.
Today's Action (15 Minutes) 🫵 💥
Let’s practice this mindset:
Take yesterday’s Master Template
Delete 30% of it (pick key sections)
Now you’ve got your “Tuesday Morning Client Reality”
Run both docs through the Adapter prompt
Watch how it shifts
Notice what got trimmed, what got restaged, what got simplified
Tomorrow’s Friday. I’ll show you the messiest project I ever took on - and the system that saved it.
-Sam
P.S. The Adapter Prompt isn’t just a tool. It’s a mindset shift: from
“Why isn’t this ideal?” to “What’s the next right move with what we’ve got?”
That shift builds trust faster than any intake form ever could.