Build to Thrive

Build to Thrive

Build to Thrive | The Blueprint | Week of September 22nd, 2025

Prompts, Tools and Trends to grow smarter, scale efficiently and stay ahead

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Juan Salas-Romer
Sep 22, 2025
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Editorial Note:

Last week, I connected with some of the Blueprint’s most engaged readers to hear directly what’s working and where we could raise the bar. Many of you shared how much you value the content, calling it “useful,” “timely,” and “helpful.” That feedback means a lot.

But you also challenged me (in the best way) to go deeper. A common theme came through: you want more hands-on AI prompts, practical hacks to speed up growth, and sharper coverage of the trends that are shaping the business landscape right now.

So that’s the direction we’re headed. Going forward, you can expect a stronger focus on AI tactics, prompt-engineering tips, and curated news to help you stay ahead of the curve.

This edition is the first step in that shift. I hope you’ll find it even more actionable.

Thank you for your support.


In this edition:

PROMPTS: Use ChatGPT version 4 or over. Click on the PIP Card below to go to prompt
Adaptive Prompt Optimizer
Market and Competitive Insight Deep Dive
Scaling Strategy and Operational Bottlenecks Audit
FEATURED ARTICLE: StableCoins were Built to Bypass Banks. Now they are becoming banks
AI BUSINESS TREND REPORT: Top 5 Curated Stories of the Week
BIG IDEA: Run a 3-Day Automation Audit Sprint
AI OPERATIONS CO-PILOT: Save hours each week running your operation

Adaptive Prompt Optimizer

PROMPT:

“[Paste your prompt here]

Please generate 3 optimized variations that:

- Reduce token length without losing clarity

- Standardize outputs in [preferred structure, e.g., table, checklist, JSON]

- Add clear "always do / never do" guardrails

- Balance cost vs performance

Also explain trade-offs for each variation so I can pick the best fit.”


Market & Competitive Insight Deep Dive

PROMPT:

“I operate in [market/industry/geography], with our current product/service [brief description]. Our main competitors are [list competitors]. Using recent data (past 6-12 months), generate:

A trend analysis for this market relevant to customer behavior, regulation, and tech.

A SWOT comparing us to the competitors.

Three product or positioning ideas that fill gaps identified by the SWOT. Format the output with headings, bullet points, and include rationale for each proposed idea.”


Scaling Strategy & Operational Bottleneck Audit

PROMPT:

“We are currently at [size metrics: revenue, team, customer base]. Key functions include [list], and we are experiencing issues such as [pain points]. Please:

Audit and identify the top 5 operational bottlenecks or risks that could hinder our scale over the next 12 months.

For each, suggest possible solutions (tools, process, hiring, etc.) with pros/cons.

Deliver a prioritized action plan (first-steps, medium, long term).
Use headings, estimated effort vs impact for each item.”


FEATURED ARTICLE: Stablecoins Were Built to Bypass Banks. Now They’re Becoming Banks.


Known someone who could benefit from this resources? Share below and let’s help out.

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AI Business Trends: Top 5 Curated Stories of the Week

1. Amazon’s Seller Assistant: Agentic AI Steps In
Amazon rolled out a new AI “Seller Assistant” to automate parts of product launches — listings, analytics, and more.
👉 Takeaway: If you sell on Amazon, test it this week. If not, steal the idea: automate your “product → listing → feedback” loop with scripts or tools.
Read more

2. If Anyone Can Do It, AI Will Do It Better
A sharp Substack essay warns as soon as tasks become routine, AI eats them.
👉 Takeaway: Audit your ops — what’s repetitive? Offload those tasks to AI so you can focus on strategy, community, and nuance.
Read more

3. 27 AI Tools That Actually Deliver ROI
Nate tested 100+ tools; only 27 were worth it.
👉 Takeaway: Pick 2–3 from his list that map to your time sinks. Run a 1-week test, measure hours saved, then swap in the next.
Read more

4. How to Start a Lean, AI-Native Startup
HenryThe9th shows how to build with minimal infra, heavy API leverage, and ruthless focus.
👉 Takeaway: Build your MVP on existing APIs. Keep everything lean except your differentiator.
Read more

5. How AI Works at Startups vs. Enterprises
Startups win by moving fast, iterating messy. Enterprises stall in bureaucracy.
👉 Takeaway: Adopt “good enough” AI. Deploy quickly, monitor, tweak. Perfection kills speed.
Read more


💡 Big Idea: Run a 3-Day Automation Audit Sprint

Small team? Here’s a tactic to reclaim 5–10 hours/week:

  • Day 1: List all recurring, annoying tasks. Measure time wasted.

  • Day 2: Pick 2–3 tasks. Use cheap AI tools to automate part of them.

  • Day 3: Test, tweak, and document workflows.

You don’t need a lab. Off-the-shelf tools + a focused sprint = instant leverage.


Here’s an AI tool that will help you save hours each week

Operations Co-Pilot

Your behind-the-scenes partner for building a business that runs smoothly, consistently, and without constant firefighting.

This GPT is designed to help founders and teams:
✅ Streamline workflows – spot bottlenecks and eliminate wasted steps.
✅ Create clear SOPs – turn messy processes into step-by-step checklists and templates anyone can follow.
✅ Automate & systemize – recommend the best-fit tools to save hours each week.
✅ Track what matters – define KPIs and dashboards so you know exactly how operations are performing.
✅ Scale with confidence – get a phased roadmap with quick wins, medium-term fixes, and long-term foundations.

Whether you need to clean up client onboarding, billing, project management, HR, or marketing workflows, your Operations Co-Pilot makes it simple, repeatable, and scalable.

💡 Perfect for: agencies, consultants, startups, e-commerce brands, and service businesses ready to grow without the chaos.

Here is my LinkedIn profile for more information: Juan Salas-Romer | LinkedIn

Message me if you wish to contact me:

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