Stop Using ChatGPT Like a Google Search Bar: The 3 C’s That Actually Get Results
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If you’ve ever typed “write a YouTube script” into ChatGPT and gotten back beige, bland, sounds-like-a-robot nonsense…
It’s not you.
It’s your prompt.
Or more specifically—it’s how you're using the tool in the first place. And I say that with love, because I’ve been there. I’ve rage-quit more AI convos than I can count. I’ve gotten fluff that sounds like it was written by a sleep-deprived intern. I’ve begged ChatGPT for brilliance and gotten back a glorified 7th grade book report.
But here’s what changed everything for me:
I stopped using ChatGPT like a vending machine—and started using it like a team member I actually had to train.
Let’s talk about how.
💥 Why Your AI Outputs Are Still Trash (No Shade, Just Truth)
Most people approach AI like this:
Drop in a vague prompt
Get back a generic response
Blame the tool when it’s “not helpful”
But ChatGPT is not Google. It’s not magic. And it sure as hell isn’t a mind reader. If you want scroll-stopping scripts, email copy that actually sounds like you, or content ideas that don’t make you cringe—you’ve gotta treat ChatGPT like the assistant it is.
That means you need a system.
So let me introduce you to mine:
🔑 The 3 C’s of Getting Better Results from ChatGPT
1. Context: Be Specific or Be Disappointed
If you’re giving ChatGPT vibes and expecting results, that’s your first problem.
Too many people open the tool and type something like,
“Can you write a podcast script for me?”
…with zero background, zero direction, and zero context.
Here’s what you should do instead:
🧠 Give it your background:
“I’m a burnout coach who works with high-achieving solopreneurs. I’m currently launching a productivity system for neurodivergent founders.”
📎 Upload relevant materials:
Brand voice guide, Ellyn-isms, offers, ideal client bio, etc.
📝 Prime the prompt:
“I want to write a script for a podcast episode teaching my audience how to use ChatGPT more effectively, especially for content creation. My vibe is witty, direct, and emotionally intelligent.”
When you give it more to work with, it gives you more to work with. Period.
❗️Pro tip: Don’t assume ChatGPT will “figure it out” just because you dropped in a link. That’s like emailing a VA a Google doc and expecting them to read your mind.
2. Conversation: Train It Like a Teammate
One of the biggest mindset shifts?
Stop thinking of ChatGPT like a command center. Start thinking of it like a coworker.
When you hire a new team member, you don’t give them one vague task and fire them after their first try. You train them. You give feedback. You iterate.
Same goes for ChatGPT:
Tell it what worked and what didn’t.
Ask it to beef things up, add voice, or rewrite using a different framework.
Upload your voice guide (like my “Ellyn-isms”) to keep it on-brand.
I literally name all my GPTs. My C-suite GPT is named Chelsea. She’s my AI CMO. She gets me. And that only happened because I trained her over time—just like I would any new hire.
Also? Don’t let AI be a yes-person. If you tend to validation-seek (🙋♀️ guilty), tell your GPTs to push back when something’s off. Otherwise, they’ll just regurgitate what you want to hear—and that’s not helpful.
3. Continuity: Stop Starting From Scratch Every Time
This is one of the biggest mistakes I see:
👎 Open a new chat every time
👎 Re-explain your context again and again
👎 Waste time training ChatGPT from the ground up every time you want a caption
Instead?
👉 Keep dedicated conversations for specific tasks:
“Newsletter Writer”
“LinkedIn Content Assistant”
“Instagram Caption Hub”
When you find a convo that works—don’t close it out. Keep the continuity. ChatGPT remembers your preferences, your tone, your feedback. That convo becomes smarter the more you use it.
⚠️ Caveat: Sometimes you will need to start fresh—if the chat lags, gets repetitive, or hits its data limit. But even then?
Ask ChatGPT to summarize the current convo so you can transfer what it’s learned to a new one.
⚙️ Bonus Tips: Optimize Your GPT Game
Use custom GPTs. They’re like AI agents trained for specific roles. And yes, they should have names.
Upload knowledge. SOPs, brand guides, bios—anything to make your AI smarter.
Set boundaries. Tell ChatGPT what you don’t want (no fluff, no clichés, no “Dear CEO” energy).
💬 Your Turn: Stop Getting Beige Outputs
AI isn’t here to replace your voice—it’s here to amplify it.
But only if you train it to sound like you.
So if you're tired of yelling at your screen because ChatGPT gave you another boring-ass response, try the 3 C’s:
Context. Conversation. Continuity.
And if you’re ready to actually use AI like the legacy-building solopreneur you are…
👉 Visit my AI Hub for plug-and-play GPTs, a free AI starter guide, and the tools I use to run my burnout-proof business with AI by my side.
🗣️ Drop your ChatGPT fails in the comments.
Let’s roast those cringey prompts together.
And if you found this helpful? Share it with your biz bestie.
Your assistant Chelsea will thank you later. 💻✨
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It’s a theme-based weekly structure that helps you know exactly what to focus on every day—so you’re not switching between 17 roles at once. You can learn more about the process here »
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I use a priority matrix inside Notion + AI audits with my GPT to cut through the chaos and identify true revenue drivers.
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Absolutely—but Notion + AI dramatically reduce the friction. Use whatever system works for your brain, but the framework still applies.
