You’re Using AI Wrong (And It’s Not Your Fault)
It’s late December. You’re looking back at another year of hustling, pivoting, and barely keeping up. And now everyone’s talking about AI like it’s the magic answer to everything.
Here’s the truth: You’ve probably tried AI. Maybe you’ve used it to write a few emails, clean up some notes, or draft a social media caption. It was… fine. Helpful, even. But nothing game-changing.
And now you’re wondering: Is this it? Is this what all the hype is about?
No. It’s not.
The problem isn’t that AI doesn’t work for small businesses. The problem is that most business owners are using a Ferrari to deliver pizza. The tool is powerful—you’re just not using its real engine.
Here’s what this post will do: I’m going to show you exactly how AI becomes your strategic planning partner in 2026. Not a writing assistant. A partner. And I’ll give you the exact prompts to make it happen—no guessing, no tech jargon, just copy, paste, and plan your best year yet.
The 2026 Shift: AI as Your Strategic Co-Pilot
Trend: From Task Assistant to Strategic Thinking Partner
In 2026, the businesses that win won’t just use AI to write faster. They’ll use AI to think better.
Here’s what that means for you: AI can now analyze your business model, spot blind spots you’re too close to see, and challenge your assumptions like a $10,000-per-hour consultant—except it costs nothing and works at 2 AM when inspiration strikes.
Why this matters: Most small business owners are operating solo or with tiny teams. You don’t have a board of advisors. You don’t have a strategy department. You make decisions in a vacuum, based on gut feeling and whatever article you read last week.
AI changes that. Completely.
Your First Power Move: The 90-Day Strategic Planning Prompt
Stop asking AI to write your newsletter. Start asking it to build your roadmap.
Copy this prompt. Use it today:
“Act as a business strategy consultant with 20 years of experience in [your industry]. My primary business goal for 2026 is [insert your specific goal, e.g., ‘increase monthly recurring revenue from $15K to $25K’ or ‘launch a second revenue stream that generates $5K/month’]. Based on this goal:
- Generate a detailed 90-day action plan with 5 key initiatives, listed in priority order.
2. For each initiative, identify the top 2 potential obstacles I’m likely to face.
3. Suggest specific, measurable KPIs I should track weekly to know if I’m on course.
4. Recommend one ‘quick win’ I can execute in the next 7 days to build momentum.”
What just happened? You didn’t ask AI to do something for you. You asked it to think alongside you. That’s the shift.
Run this prompt right now. You’ll get a strategic plan that’s customized to your reality—not generic advice ripped from a blog post written in 2019.
Your Second Power Move: The Competitive Intelligence Prompt
You know what kills small businesses? Not knowing what’s actually working in your market while you’re busy guessing.
AI can scan patterns, trends, and competitive landscapes faster than you can scroll Instagram. Use it.
Copy this prompt:
“I run a [describe your business, e.g., ’boutique marketing agency focused on health and wellness brands’] and my main competitors are [name 2-3 competitors or describe the type]. Analyze current market trends in my industry for 2026. Then:
- Identify 3 emerging opportunities my competitors might be missing.
2. Suggest 2 positioning strategies that would differentiate my business.
3. Highlight 1 threat I should prepare for in the next 6 months.
4. Recommend a bold move I could make in Q1 2026 to stand out.”
This isn’t theory. This is actionable intelligence. And you just got it in 60 seconds.
But Here’s the Problem: You Need More Than Two Prompts
These two prompts will change how you plan your year. Truly.
But if you’re serious about 2026—if you want to finally feel ahead instead of behind—you need a complete system.
Because here’s what happens: You use these prompts, you get excited, and then next week you’re stuck again. You need a prompt for cash flow planning. One for customer retention strategy. One for pricing analysis. One for team productivity. One for content strategy that actually converts.
And you don’t have time to figure those out on your own.
That’s exactly why we created The Ultimate Guide to Using AI to Run Your Business: 87 Practical Solutions.
This isn’t a theory book. It’s not another “AI is amazing” manifesto. It’s a done-for-you prompt library that covers:
✅ Strategy & Planning (like the prompts above, but 20 more)
✅ Marketing & Content (stop guessing what to post)
✅ Sales & Customer Success (close more, retain better)
✅ Operations & Finance (streamline everything)
Every prompt includes:
- The exact copy-paste text
- Customization tips so it fits YOUR business
- Implementation advice so you know what to do with the output
87 prompts. $14. Your entire 2026 playbook.
And here’s the kicker: This price goes up after New Year. Right now, you can get a year’s worth of strategic advantage for less than lunch.
👉 Get Your 2026 AI Playbook for $14
2026 Is Your Year—If You Decide It Is
You’ve spent enough time feeling behind. Enough time watching other business owners “get it” while you’re still figuring it out.
The gap between you and them isn’t talent. It’s not luck. It’s tools and systems.
AI is that tool. But only if you use it right.
Start with the two prompts above. Then get the other 85. Walk into January with a plan, a strategy, and the confidence that you’re not just keeping up—you’re getting ahead.
👉 Download Your 87-Prompt Advantage Now
Now Over to You:
What’s your biggest AI frustration right now? Are you stuck on knowing what to ask? Overwhelmed by all the options? Or just not sure how it applies to YOUR specific business? Drop a comment below—let’s talk about it.
