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The only prompt pattern you need first: Goal · Format · Boundaries

Goal: Replace vague asks with a daily GFB trio until “say it clearly” becomes a reflex.

Best for: Anyone whose chats start with “help me with this” and then spiral.

GFB is the house pattern on iswarp. Goal says what done looks like. Format says the shape. Boundaries say what must never happen (and when to ask you). Everything else—roles, rubrics, negatives—hangs off this skeleton.

Why beginners skip this

Dropping only a goal with no format or boundaries lets the model freestyle into unusable output. Write the three-pack once.

Step 1 — The template

Copy the GFB blank card below and fill it with today’s messiest real ask.

Goal: [what “done” looks like in one sentence]
Format: [bullets / table / email / length]
Boundaries: [must include / must avoid / ask me if unsure]
Input: [paste or attach]

Say the words out loud once. If you cannot fill Goal, you are not ready to chat—you are still clarifying the task.

Step 2 — Weak vs strong

Example

Filled prompt

Weak: Help me with this email.

Strong:
Goal: Reply to a customer who waited 4 days; keep the relationship.
Format: 120–150 words, 3 short paragraphs.
Boundaries: No blame on the customer; offer one clear next step; do not invent compensation amounts; no “Absolutely!” opener.
Input: [their email + my note: I can offer a Tue 15:00 HKT call]

What good output looks like

  • Tone stays calm without fake discounts
  • One next step you can actually keep
  • Length lands near the ask
  • You could hand it to a teammate without rewriting the facts

Step 3 — Save and reuse

Pin the empty GFB block in notes, or paste it into Project instructions as “Replace vague asks with a three-part template you” Version it when you add a new permanent Boundary (see prompt templates you can version).

Restate my Goal, Format, and Boundaries in three lines before you answer. If anything conflicts, ask me—do not guess.
Example

Filled prompt

Apply GFB to these messy notes. No invented facts. Return: (1) a filled GFB block I can reuse (2) the draft artifact (3) three self-checks I should run before send.
Notes:
---
Need a Friday all-hands blurb about the search redesign. Ship is internal-only. Do not promise mobile yet. Keep under 90 words. Audience: whole company, not just eng.
---

What good output looks like

  • GFB block filled from the notes (internal-only, no mobile promise)
  • Draft ≤90 words, company-wide tone
  • Self-checks include “did I invent a mobile date?”

Close the loop

Write one line: next time I run with format or boundaries missing, I refuse.

Example

Filled prompt

I keep getting vague replies to "fix my email."
Rewrite as GFB for this job: Goal=ask manager to move 1:1 from Thu to Fri 15:00 HKT; Format=6 lines max; Boundaries=no guilt language, no inventing her calendar.
Return the GFB prompt only.

What good output looks like

  • Goal/Format/Boundaries all present for “Replace vague asks with a three-part template you ”
  • One example beats stacked IMPORTANT words
  • Version/date kept when template changes
  • Pass/fail: zero clarifying turns on live task
Example

Filled prompt

Fuzzy ask: "help with the deck."
GFB: Goal=trim deck to 6 slides for eng review; Format=slide titles only; Boundaries=no new metrics.
Return GFB only.

What good output looks like

  • One example beats stacked IMPORTANT words
  • Version/date kept when template changes
  • Pass/fail: zero clarifying turns on live task
  • Goal/Format/Boundaries all present for “Replace vague asks with a three-part template you ”

Red flag

“Just handle it” with no three-line GFB; unknowns unmarked—rewrite before run.

Save this card

Card: If goal · format · boundaries will not fit three lines, you are not ready for “just handle it.”. Keep this beside the tool; read before you start.

Before you start

Keep the last failing output visible. You will repair the prompt for “Replace vague asks with a three-part template” against that failure—not a fresh toy ask. Guide: prompt-goal-format-boundaries. Keep the real job visible the whole time; a blank box means stop and fetch the artifact first.

How to use this week

This week for a real task write goal / format / boundaries in three lines; fill any missing line before run.

Close the week by quoting aloud the refuse line you actually used once. If you cannot, rerun Practice now and date the pass/fail (Asia/Shanghai).

Pitfalls

PitfallFix
Goal that is just “write better”Name the reader + done state
Format missing lengthAdd word/section caps
Boundaries that are only vibesBan concrete phrases and inventions
Skipping InputPaste the raw material

Field note: if the ask will not fit three lines (goal · format · boundaries), you are not ready for “just handle it.” Save the working trio with today’s date.

Practice now

Echo request: ask model to restate G/F/B before answering (Asia/Shanghai).

Boundary pair: one allowed example + one refused example (Asia/Shanghai).

Boundary example: one allowed + one disallowed output sample (Asia/Shanghai).

GFB-live drill: Goal/Format/Boundaries as three labeled lines before body (Asia/Shanghai).

GFB drill: write Goal / Format / Boundaries as three labeled lines before the ask body (Asia/Shanghai).

Thin-spot drill: rewrite the Save card with real nouns from your work (repo, doc, inbox). Generic placeholders fail the drill.

Tonight for a real task write goal / format / boundaries in three lines; fill any missing line before run.

Reality check: after Practice now, write one sentence you will refuse next time—and keep it on the Save card dated Asia/Shanghai.

Today card (copy) — prompt-goal-format-boundaries: 1. Artifact I will produce: ___ 2. Pass/fail check: ___ 3. Refuse-line if tempted to skip verify/send: ___ (date: Asia/Shanghai) 4. One never-do from this guide: ___

Extra pass: do the card on a real file today—reading alone does not count.

One sentence takeaway

Goal / format / boundaries three lines once; fill any missing line.

Next

Few-shot · Negative constraints · Copy-paste packs · Beginner mistakes

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