# Find the real reason a problem keeps coming back

> It labels every cause as evidence or a guess, so you don't fix the wrong thing on a hunch.

Describe a problem that keeps happening and the AI walks it back five layers, marking each cause as evidence or a guess. You end with the likely root cause and one test to confirm it.

- Page: https://thesolocreators.com/prompts/find-the-root-cause-of-a-repeat-problem/
- Category: Make smarter decisions
- Made for: Everyone, Small business owners, Coaches
- Works in: Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude
- Time: About 5 minutes
- Effort: Just copy and paste
- Published: 2026-10-23

## How do I find the root cause of a problem that keeps happening?

Ask the AI to run the 5 Whys on it, label each cause as evidence or a guess, and give one test to confirm the root cause. It fits repeat problems with a pattern, like no-shows, late invoices or a kid who's late every morning. For a one-off mess, a simple list of fixes is faster. Gemini, ChatGPT and Claude all work for this.

## The prompt

Fill in the parts in [square brackets], or leave them and the AI will ask you for them.

```text
Something keeps going wrong: [THE PROBLEM, e.g. clients cancel their second session]. Here's what I've noticed: [WHAT YOU NOTICED, e.g. most cancel by text the day before]. I've already tried [WHAT YOU TRIED, e.g. a reminder email two days ahead]. Use the 5 Whys method on it. For each why, give the likely cause, label it EVIDENCE or GUESS based only on what I told you, and say how I could check it. If the chain turns into pure guessing, stop and tell me. Finish with the most likely root cause and one small, cheap test that would confirm it this week. Ask me up to three questions first if something important is missing.
```

## Step by step

1. Write the problem in one sentence, plus what you've noticed and already tried.
2. Paste the prompt below into Gemini, ChatGPT or Claude and fill it in.
3. Run the one test it suggests before you spend money on a fix.

## What you'll get

A five-step chain of causes, each marked evidence or guess, ending in the likely root cause and one test to run.

## Good to know

**How do I find the root cause of a problem that keeps happening?** Ask the AI to run the 5 Whys on it, label each cause as evidence or a guess, and give one test to confirm the root cause. It fits repeat problems with a pattern, like no-shows, late invoices or a kid who's late every morning. For a one-off mess, a simple list of fixes is faster. Gemini, ChatGPT and Claude all work for this.

**Which AI tools does this work in?** It works in Gemini, ChatGPT and Claude. On this page, ChatGPT and Claude open with your prompt already typed in. No paid plan is noted for this one.

**How long does it take?** About 5 minutes. It's rated "Just copy and paste". There are 3 steps, listed above.

**What do I need before I start?** Just your details for 3 blanks: the problem, what you noticed and what you tried. You can skip any, and your AI will ask for them.

**What will I get back?** A five-step chain of causes, each marked evidence or guess, ending in the likely root cause and one test to run.

Idea spotted on Reddit, shared by u/mo-reewy: https://www.reddit.com/r/GeminiAI/comments/1xbnhis/im_not_an_expert_i_learned_this_stuff_on_my_own/. The prompt is The Solo Creators' own version.

## Go further

Ready-made skills in the Solo Creators AI Studio (https://thesolocreators.com/studio/) that fit this: Board of Advisors (Convene seven AI advisors who debate your decision, vote, and hand back a stress-tested verdict); Fact Checker (Every quote, number, date, and link in your draft checked against its real source, with the fixes handed back as tracked changes you accept or reject).

From AI Use Cases and Prompts by The Solo Creators: https://thesolocreators.com/prompts/. Free to use; please link back to the page when you share it.