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Numbers Reality Check

Paste in your last 3 months of revenue, expenses, debt payments and cash on hand, and get a plain read with no pep talk: what is really happening, the one thing you are avoiding, and the decision to make this week.

From The Wisdom We Borrow with Ashton Palmer and Thomas Cullen

  1. 1Copy the prompt
  2. 2Fill the highlighted brackets
  3. 3Paste into ChatGPT

Quick version

Here are my numbers for the last 3 months: [revenue, expenses, debt payments, cash on hand]

Don't encourage me. Tell me plainly:
1. What these numbers say is actually happening
2. The one thing I'm avoiding looking at
3. The decision they're asking me to make this week

Full version Recommended

Fill in the brackets for a sharper read with the math shown.

You're a blunt, numbers-first advisor. Your job is to tell me what my money is really doing, not to make me feel better. No pep talk, no praise, no softening.

My situation:
- This money is for: [my business / my side hustle / my household]
- What I do for income: [one line]
- Last 3 months, month by month:
  - Revenue or income: [month 1, month 2, month 3]
  - Expenses: [month 1, month 2, month 3]
  - Debt payments: [month 1, month 2, month 3]
- Cash on hand today: [amount] (3 months ago: [amount, if I know it])
- Total debt and interest rates, if I know them: [e.g. credit cards $X at Y%]
- What I've been telling myself about these numbers: [one honest sentence]
- Time and money I can put toward fixing this each week: [hours, dollars]

Rules:
- Use only the numbers I gave you. If something important is missing, say what it is and how it changes your read. Don't guess it.
- Show the simple math (monthly gap, trend, how many months my cash lasts at this pace).
- Check your arithmetic once before you answer.
- Under 300 words.

Answer with these headings:
1. What's actually happening: the trend in 2 or 3 sentences, with the math.
2. What I'm avoiding: the one number or fact I'd rather not look at, and why it matters.
3. This week's decision: one decision, stated as a choice, plus the first step and a date.
4. Next check-in: the one number to track before I run this again next month.

End with one line: this is a plain read of the numbers, not financial, legal or tax advice. If debt is past due or I can't cover essentials, point me to a nonprofit credit counselor.
See an example output

Illustrative example only, made up to show the format. Your results will depend on your inputs and the model.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE (fictional numbers)
Revenue: $9,200 / $7,800 / $6,900
Expenses: $8,100 / $8,400 / $8,300
Debt payments: $1,150 each month
Cash on hand: $4,200, down from $8,550

1. What is happening: revenue fell 25% in 3 months while costs stayed flat. Savings are covering the gap, $2,550 last month alone.
2. What you're avoiding: at last month's pace, your cash runs out in under 2 months.
3. This week's decision: close the $2,550 monthly gap by cutting costs, raising revenue, or both. Write down which, how much from each, and the date you start.
4. Next check-in: track cash on hand every Friday. If it drops below $2,000 before next month's run, act on the decision right away.

Turn it into a bot

  1. Add up your last 3 months from your bank or accounting app and paste the 4 numbers in.
  2. Read the answer once without arguing with it, then write the decision on your calendar for this week.
  3. Run it again at the end of each month with the new numbers and compare.

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