The "First Draft, Not Final Draft" Mindset

The Core Problem

Professionals fall into two traps with AI-generated content:

Trap 1: The Blind Acceptor
They take whatever AI produces and use it verbatim. Copy, paste, send. The result? Generic content that sounds like everyone else, potential factual errors, and a voice that doesn't match their brand or personality. Worse, they're outsourcing their judgment along with the task.

Trap 2: The Perfectionist Rejecter
They try AI once, get mediocre output, and declare it useless. "See? It doesn't understand my industry." They abandon a powerful tool because they expected magic on the first try.

Both traps share the same root cause: misunderstanding what AI is actually good at.

AI is not a replacement for your expertise, judgment, or voice. It's a drafting accelerator. It gets you from blank page to rough draft in minutes instead of hours. What you do with that draft is where your value lives.

The Mindset Shift

Think of AI like a capable but new junior colleague:

You wouldn't hand a client deliverable to a new hire and send it without review. You also wouldn't refuse to delegate anything because their first draft wasn't perfect.

The Mantra
"AI gets me to the starting line faster. I still run the race."

The 60% Principle

Here's the mental model that changes everything: AI gets you to 60% done.

That 60% is the scaffolding—structure, ideas, initial language. Your job is the final 40%:

• Accuracy and fact-checking
• Voice and personality
• Industry-specific nuance
• Strategic judgment
• The "this is actually me" factor

Without AI: 0% → 100% (you do everything)
With AI correctly: 0% → 60% (AI drafts) → 100% (you refine)

The second path isn't about doing less. It's about spending your time on the high-value 40% instead of grinding through the low-value 60%.

The Refinement Framework

Once you have an AI draft, apply this four-step review:

1. Fact Check (Accuracy)

AI confidently states things that may be wrong. Your first pass should catch:

• Statistics or data points (verify the source)
• Quotes or attributions (confirm they're real)
• Technical claims (check against your knowledge)
• Dates, names, and specific details

Red Flag
If something sounds too perfect or too specific, that's often where hallucinations hide.

2. Voice Check (Authenticity)

Ask yourself:

• Does this sound like me or like a generic professional?
• Are there phrases I'd never actually use?
• Is the tone right for my audience and my relationship with them?

Common AI tells to edit out:

• "In today's fast-paced world..."
• "It's important to note that..."
• "Let's dive in..."
• Excessive hedge words ("arguably," "potentially," "it could be said")
• Overly formal phrasing where casual fits better

3. Value Check (Substance)

Does the draft actually say something useful, or is it eloquent fluff?

• Cut filler sentences that don't advance the point
• Add your unique perspective, data, or examples
• Remove anything that's technically true but unhelpfully vague

4. Action Check (Clarity)

If this communication requires a response or action:

• Is the ask crystal clear?
• Is there only one way to interpret what's needed?
• Have I made it easy to say yes (or respond appropriately)?

Before and After: The Refinement in Action

Scenario: Writing a Client Update Email

AI Draft (60%):

Subject: Project Update - Q4 Dashboard Initiative

Dear Client,

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to provide you with an update 
on the Q4 Dashboard Initiative project.

Our team has made significant progress over the past two weeks. We have 
completed the initial data integration phase and are now moving into 
the visualization development stage. The project remains on track for 
the December 15th deadline.

There are a few items we need from your team to continue moving forward:
- Confirmation of the KPI priorities
- Access to the historical data warehouse
- Availability for a 30-minute review session next week

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Best regards

After Your Refinement (100%):

Subject: Dashboard on track—need 3 quick things by Friday

Hey Sarah,

Quick update: data integration is done, and we're building out the 
visualizations now. Still on track for Dec 15.

Need three things from your side to keep momentum:

1. **KPI priorities** – Is revenue growth still #1, or has the board 
   shifted focus to retention? (This changes which charts get 
   prime real estate)
2. **Data warehouse access** – Credentials for Marcus on your IT 
   ticket #4521
3. **30 min next week** – Want to show you the revenue viz before 
   we build out the rest. Tuesday or Wednesday work?

If I have these by Friday, we're golden.

Talk soon,
[Name]

What Changed:

• Generic opening → direct and specific
• Vague "items we need" → numbered, specific asks with context
• Formal tone → matches existing relationship with client
• Added the "why" behind each ask (so Sarah can prioritize)
• Clear deadline (Friday) for action items
• Subject line that actually tells you something

Exercise 1: The Refinement Practice

Generate a draft using AI, then apply the four-step refinement process.

Your Task: Use AI to draft an email declining a meeting request from a colleague.

Step 1: Generate the Draft

Prompt to use:

Write a professional email declining a meeting request from a colleague. 
The meeting is a "brainstorm session" for a project I'm not involved in. 
I need to decline politely but clearly, without leaving the door open for 
negotiation. Keep it brief.

Step 2: Apply the Refinement Framework

Step 3: Write Your Final Version

[Paste your refined version here]

Exercise 2: The 60/40 Split

This exercise helps you see where AI adds value versus where you add value.

Your Task: Choose a real piece of content you need to create this week. Use AI to draft it, then track your edits.

The Tracking Template

After completing the exercise, answer:

1. What percentage of the final version was AI vs. you?
2. Where did AI save you the most time?
3. Where did you add the most value?
4. What would you prompt differently next time?

Exercise 3: The Voice Injection

Most AI output sounds generic because it lacks your personality. This exercise fixes that.

Part A: Collect Your "Voice Samples"

Find 3 pieces of your writing that represent your authentic voice:

• An email you're proud of
• A document or report that sounds like you
• A message that got a positive response

Part B: Extract Your Voice

Paste your samples into AI and use this prompt:

Analyze these three writing samples from the same author. 
Describe their writing style, including:
- Typical sentence length and structure
- Vocabulary preferences (formal vs casual, jargon vs plain language)
- How they open and close communications
- Any distinctive phrases or patterns
- Their approach to humor, directness, and warmth

Part C: Apply Your Voice

Save the AI's analysis. Next time you use AI to draft something, include:

Write in this style: [paste your voice analysis]

Compare the output to a generic prompt. Notice the difference.

Quick Reference: The Refinement Checklist

Use this for every AI draft before sending:

□ FACT CHECK
  □ Statistics verified?
  □ Names/dates correct?
  □ Claims I can stand behind?

□ VOICE CHECK
  □ Sounds like me, not generic AI?
  □ Removed AI-isms ("In today's world...", "It's important to note...")?
  □ Tone matches audience and relationship?

□ VALUE CHECK
  □ Actually says something useful?
  □ My unique perspective included?
  □ Filler and fluff removed?

□ ACTION CHECK
  □ Clear ask or next step?
  □ One way to interpret what's needed?
  □ Easy to respond to?

The "Edit Tells" Cheat Sheet

When reviewing AI drafts, watch for these patterns that signal generic output:

Key Takeaways

1. AI produces drafts, not deliverables. Your job is the refinement that makes it actually good and actually you.
2. The 60% Principle changes the game. AI handles scaffolding; you handle substance, voice, and judgment.
3. Four checks catch everything. Fact Check, Voice Check, Value Check, Action Check—run every draft through this filter.
4. Generic AI tells are fixable. Learn to spot "In today's fast-paced world" energy and edit it out.
5. Your value is the final 40%. That's where expertise, personality, and judgment live. Don't outsource it.

Next Steps

• [ ] Generate an AI draft for a real task this week
• [ ] Apply the 4-step refinement framework before using it
• [ ] Track your edits using the 60/40 Split exercise
• [ ] Create your "voice analysis" doc for future prompts
• [ ] Save the refinement checklist somewhere accessible