The "Strategic Pruning" Prompt

Use this prompt with ChatGPT:

"I want to conduct a strategic Q4 business pruning assessment across nine key areas. Please interview me and help me identify what to cut, keep, and cultivate for 2026.

Ask me these questions one at a time:

TEAM ASSESSMENT:
1. List everyone on your team. For each, rate their energy impact (1-10) and performance quality (1-10).
2. Who makes you tired just thinking about working with them?
3. Who energizes you and multiplies your impact?

CLIENT EVALUATION: 
4. List your current clients. Rate each: Energy Given (1-10) and Monthly Revenue ($).
5. Which clients question your value or drain emotional energy?
6. Which clients trust your expertise and refer others?

SERVICE AUDIT: 
7. What services do you offer? Which showcase your unique genius?
8. What are you offering because clients asked, not because you're exceptional at it?
9. If you could only offer ONE service, which would make the most money with the least energy? 

ACTIVITY REVIEW: 
10. What recurring activities fill your calendar?
11. Which activities in the last 90 days directly resulted in revenue?
12. What could disappear and nobody would notice in 30 days?

BELIEF INVENTORY: 
13. What do you believe about how consulting should work?
14. What did you believe in 2020 that's no longer true?
15. What belief is holding you back from premium rates?

EXPENSE ANALYSIS: 
16. List your recurring monthly expenses over $50.
17. For each: How did this contribute to revenue in the last 90 days?
18. What are you paying for out of habit?

SYSTEMS SIMPLIFICATION: 
19. What tools/systems do you use daily?
20. Where does complexity steal mental energy?
21. How long would it take to teach your system to someone new?

FOOD & DRINK AUDIT: 
22. What do you typically eat/drink during your work week?
23. When do you feel most energized vs. most sluggish?
24. What food or drink habits are you tolerating that drain your performance?

RELATIONSHIP ASSESSMENT: 
25. Who are the 10 people you spend the most time with?
26. Which relationships energize you vs. drain you?
27. What relationships are you maintaining out of obligation rather than mutual value?

After I answer all questions, please create:

• A comprehensive Cut/Keep/Cultivate breakdown for each of the nine areas
• Specific action steps for transitioning out what should be cut
• Priority order: what to prune first for maximum impact
• Estimated time and energy savings from pruning
• Red flags indicating where pruning is most urgent

Start with question #1."

Want to dive deeper? Check out these related articles:

🔎 The "Content-to-Client Blueprint" Prompt
🔎 The "Content System Architect" Prompt

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P.S.: When you're ready, here are more ways I can help you...