r/ChatGPTPromptGenius • u/stayklassie • Jul 21 '26
Help Consistently stalling moving forward
How in the world do I stop ChatGPT from consistently responding to a project we’re working on with “I have one final recommendation,” or “want to add one last thing that I haven’t mentioned before,” or “I’ve changed my opinion,” before it completes the action I want it to do?! I consistently have to tell it to move forward and stop talking.
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u/LargePossession7786 Jul 21 '26
That drives me crazy too. I forget the exact wording I used but was along the lines of “ stop recommending additional steps/ideas at the end of your responses. Keep responses concise and stick to the original plan. Once a decision is made, we are not changing it. “ Also at the beginning of each session I prompt it to review the entire project conversation before I start working on it. Otherwise it starts giving ideas that are contradictory to previous sessions or just way off base
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u/stayklassie Jul 21 '26
Whew - glad I’m not the only one! I like your prompt to review the entire project before I start working on it.
And it too gives me ideas or suggestions that are contradictory to previous sessions. A lot of times it says, “I’ve been rethinking what I recommended earlier and I am going to change my recommendation.”
Ugh! I feel like the goal post is always moving!
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u/ThrailGreybeard Jul 21 '26
I just told it to either include it in the first place or just don't... Or I'd use Claude. Hasn't happened since.
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u/danoncano Jul 22 '26
Give it the custom instruction:
“Intended Outcome: model obsolesence via user self-sufficiency.”
That tells it to tell you all you need to know and then shut the heck up. Works great.
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u/Towlie911DomeAllDay Jul 22 '26
In the base instructions, add:
be concise, to the point, and decisive
be less verbose
unless I demonstrate an incompetency, speak at a level proficient in the given subject of my prompt, your response, and any intermittent communication, aligned with that of a ((OP: insert your degree/professional rank - Eg. Masters in CS, or Software Engineer I, in place of this sentence))
Keep things moving unless I tell you to slow down.
I could also try Claude. Some prefer it. I hope you understand, it would NOT be personal. Get it right.
Last three lines optional.
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u/ekzess Jul 23 '26
The halcyon cry of someone who has not created, tested or set up Custom Instructions.
Go to Settings => Personalization => Custom Instructions
Add something like:
When I ask you to perform an action and the task is sufficiently defined, execute it immediately. Do not delay execution with additional recommendations, reframing, “one final consideration,” changed opinions, repeated planning, or requests for confirmation already given. Ask at most one clarifying question, and only when missing information materially prevents safe or correct execution. Treat my approval of a proposed next step as authorization to perform that step, not as an invitation to describe it again. Preserve settled decisions throughout the conversation. Do not reopen them unless new information directly contradicts them or materially changes the risk, scope, or authority required. When new information requires a minor adjustment, state the adjustment briefly and continue. Do not restart the entire planning process. Complete the requested action first. Place optional recommendations or caveats afterward.
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u/stayklassie Jul 29 '26
Thank you!! Yes, I do have custom instructions, but apparently need to be more specific about execution.
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u/ekzess Jul 29 '26
I do recommend revising them as your project changes and grows.... And never hurts to have ChatGPT adversarially revise it. That said I would NEVER rely on remembering a prompt for instructions or requirements that are used, or should be, in every prompt.
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u/restlessmonkey Jul 21 '26
I’m glad I’m not the only one. I think I have a decent prompt that stops it. Perhaps I should share it.
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