# Bulletproof your next big plan before you commit to it

> It names the assumption you'd never write down, before it costs you months.

Tell AI your plan, then have it imagine it's 6 months later and the plan failed. It explains each likely cause, the warning signs, your hidden assumption, and a stronger revised plan.

- Page: https://thesolocreators.com/prompts/plan-pre-mortem/
- Category: Make smarter decisions
- Made for: Coaches, Consultants, Small business owners, Everyone
- Works in: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini
- Time: About 10 minutes
- Effort: Just copy and paste

## The prompt

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

```text
Run a pre-mortem on my plan. Imagine it's [TIME FRAME, e.g. 6 months] from now and this plan has clearly failed. My plan, in 3 to 5 sentences: [YOUR PLAN, e.g. launch a group program in March]. Success would have looked like: [YOUR GOAL, e.g. 15 paying members by April]. List every realistic reason it failed, specific to my situation rather than generic. For each one, write a short story of how it played out, the assumption behind it, and the early warning signs I'd notice. Then tell me the most likely failure, the most dangerous failure, the biggest hidden assumption I'm making, a revised plan with changes tied to each failure, and a checklist of 3 to 5 things to verify before I commit. If you need more context, ask me questions one at a time first.
```

## Step by step

1. Describe your plan in 3 to 5 sentences and what success would look like.
2. Paste the prompt with your plan filled in, and answer its questions.
3. Check every item on its checklist before you commit.

## What you'll get

Specific failure stories with warning signs, the most likely and most dangerous failures, your hidden assumption, a revised plan, and a pre-launch checklist.

## Good to know

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

**How long does it take?** About 10 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: time frame, your plan and your goal. You can skip any, and your AI will ask for them.

**What will I get back?** Specific failure stories with warning signs, the most likely and most dangerous failures, your hidden assumption, a revised plan, and a pre-launch checklist.

Idea spotted on X, shared by @itsolelehmann: https://x.com/itsolelehmann/status/2051373618727469152. 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.