Stop Typing. Start Engineering. (The R.C.F. Protocol)
In my last Sentient column, I told you to stop saying “please” to the AI.
I explained why “The “Polite Prompt” Trap” leads to mediocre results, and I gave you the “Constraints” to fix it.
That was the defense. Now we play offense.
Most people treat the prompt box like a chat window. They type a sentence, hit enter, and hope for the best.
“Write an email about my new product.”
This is the beachball approach. You are batting it blindly into a crowd and hoping the AI somehow catches it. (I actually teach a concept called ‘Beachball Marketing’ to new entrepreneurs: same problem, different context).
The 55/35 Protocol requires us to move from “Chatting” to “Engineering.” You don’t write a prompt. You build it layer by layer based on your wisdom.
The Architecture: R.C.F.
I use the exact same three-part architecture. It applies to marketing, coding, and strategy.
If you skip one, the structure collapses.
1. The Role (Who is the AI?)
If you don’t assign a role, the AI defaults to “Helpful Assistant.” This is boring. You want a specialist.
Bad: “Help me write an ad.”
Good: “Act as a Direct Response Copywriter with 20 years of experience in high-ticket sales.”
Why it works: It narrows the training data. It tells the AI which part of its “brain” to access.
2. The Context (Who are you?)
The AI doesn’t know you. It doesn’t know your business. You have to upload your brain into the context window.
Bad: “I sell shoes.”
Good: “I am launching a premium leather boot brand called VengaBoots. Our target audience is urban professionals who value durability over trends. The tone should be rugged but sophisticated.”
Why it works: Wisdom requires context. Without this, you get generic fluff.
3. The Format (What is the output?)
Set yourself up for success. Don’t let the AI guess the format. Never let the AI decide.
Bad: “Give me some ideas.”
Good: “Output a Markdown table with 3 columns: [Headline Idea], [Psychological Hook], [Estimated CTR]. Provide 10 variations.”
Why it works: It forces the AI to be dense and scannable.
The “Before and After”
Let’s look at the difference this architecture makes in the real world.
The Amateur Prompt:
“Write a welcome email for my newsletter about AI.”
The R.C.F. Prompt:
[ROLE] Act as a Newsletter Growth Specialist who specializes in high-retention onboarding sequences.
[CONTEXT] I am launching “VengaDragon,” a digital magazine about AI and Business. My readers are smart professionals. They hate fluff. They want actionable value.
[FORMAT] Write a Welcome Email (max 200 words). Use a punchy, direct tone. Include a bulleted list of what they can expect. End with a question to drive replies.
The first prompt gives you a generic “Hello everyone!” email.
The second prompt gives you a strategic asset that builds a business.
Your Homework
For your next 5 interactions with AI, I want you to try the R.C.F. Protocol.
Before you hit enter, check the architecture:
Did you assign a Role?
Did you set the Context?
Did you define the Format?
If you build the structure correctly, the AI will fill it with gold.
Become a VengaDragon
Most people are still chatting with AI like it’s a toy. In the Sentient column, we treat it like a weapon.
If you are ready to graduate from “amateur prompter” to “AI engineer,” get on the list. We build every Wednesday.
Share this protocol with someone who needs to stop being polite to their computer.
Venga!
Mark (VengaDragon)
