Let’s be real: ChatGPT is impressive-but also infuriating. Ask it for advice, and you often get safe, filtered, vaguely positive “guidance” that sounds like it was copy-pasted from a blog written by a committee of polite robots.
That’s not what you need when you’re making hard decisions, facing tight deadlines, or building something real.
After testing hundreds of prompt variations across projects-from business copywriting to AI tool reviews to side hustle design-I’ve found five prompts that consistently force ChatGPT to be honest, practical, and genuinely helpful.
These aren’t just gimmicks. They work because they flip the tone, pressure, and context of the conversation-so instead of giving you what it thinks you want to hear, ChatGPT starts speaking like a brutally honest friend.
Here they are.
1. “What would an honest expert tell me that most blog posts wouldn’t?”
This one cuts through surface-level answers instantly.
You’re not asking for a tutorial. You’re asking for the stuff buried in the second half of a podcast episode-the insights that only come out when the mic’s been on for 40 minutes.
Use this when ChatGPT is giving you:
- Lists of “top 5 tips” that feel generic
- Overly balanced pros and cons
- The same advice you’ve read 100 times
Example:
Prompt: “I’m thinking of launching a productivity newsletter. What would an honest expert tell me that most blog posts wouldn’t?”
ChatGPT response (summarised):
“Newsletter growth is brutally slow unless you already have distribution. You’ll burn out by week 6 if you don’t batch content. People unsubscribe if you sound too perfect.”
Perfect. That’s actually helpful.
2. “Forget sounding smart-give me the raw, boring, specific answer you’d give a close friend who needs help right now.”
This is your go-to when ChatGPT starts performing.
The default style is to sound polished, articulate, and… vague. You’ll get big ideas, but no execution. This prompt breaks that.
Use it for:
- Client communication
- Strategy trade-offs
- Copywriting critiques
- “What should I actually do today?”
Example:
Prompt: “I have 2 hours to improve my freelance offer page. Forget theory-what’s the raw advice you’d give your friend?”
Result:
- “Your CTA is buried. Fix it.”
- “That sentence about ‘transformational results’ doesn’t mean anything. Use real outcomes.”
- “Ditch the testimonial that says ‘great experience.’ Use one with a number.”
Now we’re in business.
3. “Break this down like you’re explaining it to someone who’s smart, busy, and has heard all the BS before. What’s the part no one wants to admit?”
This is my favorite when I want insight, not information.
It shifts the tone into “whispered hard truth” mode. Use it for:
- Trend analysis (“Is this AI tool actually useful?”)
- Marketing (“What are people afraid to say about this strategy?”)
- Product design (“What’s the feature nobody wants to maintain?”)
Example:
Prompt: “What’s the truth about using AI to write sales emails that most LinkedIn posts leave out?”
ChatGPT might respond:
“People can spot a generic AI email instantly. If you don’t layer in past interactions, timing, and context, even a well-written email feels cold. AI saves time-but it can kill trust if you’re lazy.”
That’s insight. Not fluff.
4. “What would a grumpy senior expert say about this? Not the polite version-the blunt one.”
This one forces ChatGPT to step out of polite middle-management mode.
Use this when you’re building something and want a sanity check. It works especially well for:
- UX writing
- Product plans
- Startup ideas
- Social posts
Example:
Prompt: “Here’s a tweet I’m planning to post. What would a grumpy senior marketer say about it?”
Response:
“It sounds like you’re trying too hard to be clever. No one cares about your clever metaphor. Just tell me what’s in it for me.”
Helpful? Painfully so.
Bonus: Run all of this inside Chatronix
If you want to use these prompts in a real system, not just a tab that you lose every Friday…
Chatronix is built for this.
- Store and tag your honest prompts by category: strategy, copy, positioning, etc.
- Compare how ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini answer the same brutal question
- Run built-in AI detection and tone-check tools to make sure it actually sounds huma
- Build workflows: product feedback → messaging → landing page → follow-up emails
I’ve used these exact prompts inside Chatronix to:
- Rewrite offers
- Rescue underperforming landing pages
- Pitch better
- And finally hit publish on pages I’d procrastinated for weeks
→ Try it now: Chatronix
5. “List 3 brutally honest truths about this topic that would probably offend someone-but help me make a smarter decision.”
Warning: this one is spicy.
It tells ChatGPT: drop the filter, and give me the uncomfortable stuff.
Use it when:
- You’re picking between two offers
- Trying to validate a product idea
- Writing about a controversial subject
- Making an investment or career decision
Example:
Prompt: “I’m considering launching a cohort-based course. Give me 3 brutally honest truths that might hurt-but would help.”
ChatGPT answer (summarised):
- “Everyone overestimates how many people want live calls.”
- “Most people don’t finish the course-they just want the status of enrolling.”
- “Unless your content is 10x better than YouTube, you’re competing with free.”
Ouch. And exactly what you need to hear.
Final thought
Most people use ChatGPT like a polite intern.
But if you tweak the tone, push back, and ask for uncomfortable clarity, you’ll get something way better than AI-generated fluff.
You’ll get the kind of answers you’d expect from a mentor after two drinks and zero patience for BS.
Start there. Chatronix ai
And save the prompts that hit. They’re gold.