A Spaghetti Western on Getting Better Results from AI

AI prompting is no longer a quiet office task — it’s a showdown at high noon.
Done right, you walk away with gold. Done wrong, you’re left staring at the dust.

Let’s saddle up, holster some prompt engineering tricks, and see what makes a prompt The Good, The Bad, or The Ugly.

Scene 1: The Showdown — Good vs. Bad vs. Ugly

Picture three gunslingers stepping into the ring:

GunslingerPromptWhat Happens
Tuco (The Ugly)“Create a business idea related to education.”Scatter shot list: “An app,” “A course,” no real story.
Angel Eyes (The Bad)“Write a business plan for an education startup.”Dry, generic bullets; no edge, no local context, nothing to convince an investor.
Blondie (The Good)“Act as a startup founder preparing an investor pitch. Create a one page plan for an AI powered learning platform for under-resourced rural Indian schools. Make it data-backed and easy to scan.”Crisp, contextual, persuasive — and worth the gold.

The gunslinger who survives isn’t the fastest; it’s the one who aims before firing.

Scene 2: Anatomy of a Killer Prompt

Like a well‑balanced revolver, a good prompt has parts working in harmony:

  1. Intent – What outcome do you want?
  2. Context – Who’s it for? Where’s it used?
  3. Role – “Act as…” sets AI’s perspective.
  4. Constraints – Tone, length, format.
  5. Clarity – No wandering words; stay sharp.
  6. Power Styles – Western‑style prompt moves:
    • Think Before You Answer: Plan, verify, then shoot.
    • Debate Yourself: List pros/cons; sharpen the aim.
    • Structured Thinking: Divide history/current/future.
    • Step‑by‑Step: Count the paces before firing.

Like the best gunslinger squinting before drawing — a good prompt takes a beat to focus.

Scene 3: Quick‑Draw Engineering Tricks

Straight from the AI engineer’s toolbox:

TrickWhat it does
Few-shot promptingShow sample answers; AI imitates style.
IterationFire, check the target, adjust, fire again.
Tone controlDefine “friendly,” “bold,” “data-backed.”
Chain of thoughtAI thinks out loud before the answer.
Role prompting“You’re a tough critic…” brings new perspective.

Like oiling your six‑shooter, these tricks keep your prompts firing true.

Scene 4: Don’t Just Accept — Challenge

Most treat AI like a vending machine. But in the Wild West, nobody survived by being passive.

Tell AI: “That’s not what I meant,” or “Go deeper.”
The AI adjusts, sharpens, and gives you something richer.

It's not about proving it wrong; it’s about shaping the story — the real duel happens after the first answer.

Scene 5: The Gunslinger’s Cheat Sheet

A formula forged in countless duels:

“Act as a [role]. I want you to [task]. The context is [background]. Output: [format], [tone], [constraints].”

Example:

“Act as an education policy analyst. Debate the pros & cons of AI grading in rural Indian schools. Bullet points, data-backed, cite 2 credible sources.”

Scene 6: Power Moves from the Workshop Saloon

Straight from our workshop showdown:

  • Don’t rush your shot → Think-before-you-answer
  • Weigh every angle → Debate yourself
  • Carve the story into parts → Structured thinking
  • Count your steps → Step-by-step
  • Show past duels → Few-shot

These aren’t tricks — they’re survival skills in AI town.

Final Shootout: What Makes the Difference?

“There are two kinds of users in this world, my friend.
Those who give vague prompts… and those who get results.”

When you:
✅ Give context
✅ Define role & tone
✅ Debate, iterate, refine
…you step out of the dust, richer in insight.

Riding into the Sunset

Prompting isn’t magic. It’s craft — like a gunslinger adjusting his aim.

Don’t settle for The Ugly. Don’t stop at The Bad.
Prompt like The Good: thoughtful, deliberate, and ready for a duel.

Because in the AI Wild West, the right prompt wins the gold.

Ready to draw? Your next masterpiece starts with a smarter prompt.