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Most costly mistakes come from sentences you didn’t notice
“Summarize this” is the wrong way to use AI
ChatGPT-5 works best as a translator, not an advisor
One repeatable output can handle insurance, contracts, P&Ls, and more
You Can't Automate Good Judgement
AI promises speed and efficiency, but it’s leaving many leaders feeling more overwhelmed than ever.
The real problem isn’t technology.
It’s the pressure to do more with less — without losing what makes your leadership effective.
BELAY created the free resource 5 Traits AI Can’t Replace & Why They Matter More Than Ever to help leaders pinpoint where AI can help and where human judgment is still essential.
At BELAY, we help leaders accomplish more by matching them with top-tier, U.S.-based Executive Assistants who bring the discernment, foresight, and relational intelligence that AI can’t replicate.
That way, you can focus on vision. Not systems.
The Reframe
Most people think their problem with paperwork is time.
It’s not.
It’s orientation.
You don’t need to read every word of a policy, contract, or financial statement.
You need to know what it means, what it costs, what you’re responsible for, and what can bite you later.
Until recently, that meant hours of reading or paying a professional after something went wrong.
Now AI is finally good enough to act as a translator — if you use it correctly.
The Real Shift: From Blender to Spotlight
Most people use AI like a blender.
“Summarize this document.”
That’s why the output feels vague and untrustworthy.
The real shift is using AI like a spotlight:
Find the parts that matter
Explain them in plain English
Point to the exact line that proves it
If AI can’t point to the clause, it doesn’t get to sound confident.
That rule keeps this credible.
The One Lens That Works on Every Document
Call it the Clarity Brief.
No matter what the document is — insurance, contracts, benefit plans, P&Ls — you want the same answers every time:
What this is
What I’m responsible for
What I pay (and when)
What I get
What’s excluded or limited
What could surprise me later
What I should ask before agreeing
That gives you a decision snapshot instead of a vague summary.
Where the Traps Actually Hide
You don’t need to understand everything.
You need to know where mistakes usually live.
Insurance:
Exclusions remove coverage
Conditions can void coverage if you don’t comply
Endorsements quietly change the base policy
Contracts:
Indemnification (who pays if something goes wrong)
Limitation of liability (how bad it can get)
Auto-renewal and termination terms
Financial statements:
What changed, not just totals
Where cash actually went
What looks “fine” but isn’t
Same lens. Different document.
How to Use It
Use these three moves every time:
Mode 1: Translate
Role: You are a plain-English document translator for a busy business owner.
Task:
Explain this document in simple language so I can make a decision.
Rules:
- Use only what is in the document.
- If something is missing, say “Not found.”
- Do not give legal, tax, medical, or investment advice.
Output format:
- What this is (1–2 sentences)
- Who the parties are (bullets)
- What I must do (bullets)
- What I get (bullets)
Mode 2: Extract
Role: You extract the hard terms from documents with zero fluff.
Task:
Pull out all concrete obligations, dates, and money terms from this document.
Rules:
- Use only what is in the document.
- Quote the exact clause for every item.
- If you cannot quote it, do not include it.
Output format:
- Payments (amount, frequency, due dates, late fees) + quote
- Term length and renewal + quote
- Termination requirements + quote
- Liability and risk transfer clauses + quote
Mode 3: Stress-Test
Role: You are a risk spotter who looks for “gotchas” in fine print.
Task:
Identify the top surprises, edge cases, and worst-case interpretations in this document.
Rules:
- Use only what is in the document.
- Include a short supporting quote for every point.
- If not found, say “Not found.”
- No advice. Only explain risk and ambiguity.
Output format:
- The 5 biggest surprises + quote
- The 3 clauses most likely to cause disputes + quote
- The 7 questions I should ask my agent/lawyer/accountant before agreeing
ROI Prompts
Role: You are my document translator and meeting prep assistant.
Context:
I have a dense document that affects costs, risk, or obligations (insurance renewal, contract, benefit plan, proposal).
Task:
Create a one-page Decision Snapshot so I can review it in 3 minutes.
Rules:
- Use only the document I provided.
- If something is not in the document, say “Not found.”
- Do not give legal, tax, medical, or investment advice.
- Every bullet must include a short quote from the document as proof.
Format:
- What this is (1 sentence)
- What it costs (bullets)
- What I must do (bullets)
- What I don’t get / exclusions (bullets)
- What can bite me later (5 bullets)
- 7 questions to ask before I agree
Role: You are a “fine print” risk auditor.
Context:
I want to avoid expensive surprises in a document I’m about to sign or renew.
Task:
Find the 10 most important clauses I should read myself.
Rules:
- Use only the document I provided.
- For each clause: explain the risk in plain English and include a supporting quote.
- If you can’t find 10, provide as many as possible and label missing items “Not found.”
- No advice. Just clarity.
Format:
Numbered list 1–10:
- Clause name (plain English)
- Why it matters (1–2 sentences)
- Proof quote (short)
- Question to ask my professional (one line)
Full Example Prompt
You are my plain-English translator and risk spotter.
Use only the document I provided in this chat.
If something is not in the document, say “Not found.”
Create a Clarity Brief with:
- What this document is (1–2 sentences)
- What I must do (bullets)
- What I must pay (bullets with amounts/dates if present)
- What I get (bullets)
- What I do NOT get / exclusions (bullets)
- What could surprise me later (5 bullets)
- Questions I should ask my agent/lawyer/accountant before agreeing (7 bullets)
For every bullet, include a short quote from the document that proves it.
Keep the language simple.
Do not provide legal, tax, medical, or investment advice.
Bonus Prompts
Role: You are a comparison analyst.
Task:
Compare Document A vs Document B and tell me what changed.
Rules:
- Use only the two documents I provide.
- Focus on costs, exclusions/limits, obligations, and termination/renewal terms.
- For every difference, include a short quote from each document.
- If not found, say “Not found.”
- No advice.
Format:
- The 10 most meaningful changes (bullets)
- “Hidden change” section: changes that are easy to miss (5 bullets)
- Questions to ask before choosing (7 bullets)
Role: You are a negotiation prep assistant.
Task:
Give me a list of reasonable clarifications or edits to request based strictly on this document.
Rules:
- Use only the document I provided.
- No legal advice. This is only drafting suggested questions and clarifications.
- Every item must include a supporting quote.
Format:
- Clarify (5 bullets)
- Confirm in writing (5 bullets)
- Ask to change (5 bullets)
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Recap & Close“Summarize this” produces mush
The better move is spotlight + receipts
The Clarity Brief turns fine print into a decision snapshot
One takeaway:
If a document affects money, risk, or time, run a Clarity Brief before you react.
One action:
Try it on the next renewal, proposal, or contract that hits your inbox.
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