The Negative Space Prompt: Why Real Strategy is What You Leave Out

90% of a Strategy is about the Negative Space.

Most people think strategy is about stacking more—

❌ more ideas

❌ more tactics

❌ more slides.

But the best strategies? They subtract.

Welcome to the uncomfortable truth: 90% of strategy is about what you don’t do. The sharpest thinkers embrace that. We call this The Negative Space. It’s the art of knowing what not to chase—and having the courage to stand by it.on you:

The Problem:

When strategy tries to do everything, it does nothing.
More isn’t better. It’s just... more noise.

We’ve all been there:

• Too many goals.

• Too many priorities.

• Too many small things are eating up the big focus.

That’s not a strategy. That’s fear disguised as activity.

What the Best Strategies Do:

• They kill zombie projects

• They deprioritize by design

• They trade complexity for clarity

• They say “no” to protect what matters

The negative space isn’t a gap. It’s a frame—shaping everything you say yes to.

How You Know Your Strategy is Failing:

Try explaining it in one sentence. Can’t do it without over-explaining, adding slides, or apologizing? Then you don’t have a strategy. You have a busy plan, trying to sound smart.

Strategy Is a Choice, Not a Collection

• Choosing not to enter that market is a strategy.

• Saying no to one more channel is a strategy.

• Dropping that flashy idea? Also strategy.

You're not being negative. You're being intentional.

Prompts to Practice the Art of Strategic Omission

Here are 3 powerful prompts you can run in ChatGPT to sharpen your strategic negative space:

Prompt 1: Kill the Clutter

[ROLE]: You are a strategy consultant trained to simplify complex business plans into what matters most.

[TASK]: Review this strategic plan and identify what can be eliminated without impacting core goals.

[CONTEXT]: The team is overloaded with initiatives and lacking focus. Refocus on what will move the business.

[FORMAT]: Bullet point list of what to eliminate, and why.

Output Example for Oriental Bank Puerto Rico:

❌ Live activations – High cost, low volume channel with minimal conversion. Not aligned with a digitally native target.

❌ TV ads – Broad reach, but inefficient for a 25–40 demo that consumes digital-first content.

❌ Out-of-home – Lacks urgency and call-to-action flexibility. Better to reallocate to performance channels.

✅ Focus on digital banners, TikTok, and influencers—channels where young professionals already engage.

Prompt 2: Define the Trade-Off

[ROLE]: You are a strategist who helps leadership teams make bold, clear decisions.

[TASK]: List the top 3 trade-offs this company needs to make to simplify its strategic roadmap.

[CONTEXT]: We’re trying to do too many things at once and can’t focus. We need to say no to grow.

[FORMAT]: Table with columns: What to Deprioritize | Why It’s Low Impact | What It Protects

Output Example for Oriental Bank Puerto Rico:

What to Deprioritize	Why It’s Low Impact	What It Protects
Brand equity TV campaign	Too expensive, not reaching the core demo effectively	Budget for high-conversion TikTok and performance media
In-branch promotions	Low foot traffic among 25–40 year olds	Focus on mobile-first experiences
Multi-language campaign variations	English works for most urban Gen Z and Millennials	Faster time-to-launch with clearer messaging

Prompt 3: Say It in One Sentence

[ROLE]: You are a messaging strategist.

[TASK]: Rewrite this strategy in one compelling sentence that a 10-year-old could understand.

[CONTEXT]: If we can’t explain it simply, it won’t align the team or drive action.

[FORMAT]: One sentence only. Clear, bold, and free of buzzwords.

Output Example for Oriental Bank Puerto Rico:

✅ We help young Puerto Ricans get the money they need—fast, simple, and straight from their phone.

Bonus: Try The Elevator Pitch

[BONUS OUTPUT]: Provide a 2–3 sentence elevator pitch that skips the obvious. Assume stakeholders already know the brand’s positioning. Focus instead on what the competitive analysis revealed. Deliver one clear insight and one action-oriented next step. The tone should be confident, concise, and conversational—as if dropping a quick voice note that drives alignment.

Output Example for Oriental Bank Puerto Rico:

✅ Despite strong brand awareness, Oriental’s personal loan strategy is spread too thin across underperforming channels. To drive real growth among 25–40-year-olds, we need to cut legacy tactics and double down on digital-first, mobile-native touchpoints like TikTok and influencer performance media.

Simplicity is a decision.

Real strategy happens in the negative space.
Protect it like your budget depends on it—because it does.

This framework helps you define what not to do—clearly, confidently, and in a way that makes the strategy stronger, not smaller. Use it to sharpen your decks, cut the noise, and lead with conviction (yes, even on slide one).

Want help building custom GPTs or simplifying your strategy to what matters?

Email us to schedule a call.