Overview
This prompt aims to guide solopreneurs in identifying and addressing the true needs of their audience through the Jobs to Be Done framework. By applying these insights, they can create innovative solutions that resonate deeply with users, avoiding market saturation.
Prompt Overview
Purpose: Understanding the Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) framework helps identify what users truly need beyond surface-level features.
Audience: Solopreneurs seeking to align their offerings with the deeper motivations of their target market will benefit most from this approach.
Distinctive Feature: This method uncovers functional, emotional, and social jobs, revealing non-obvious market opportunities that traditional research often misses.
Outcome: By applying these insights, solopreneurs can innovate effectively, creating solutions that resonate with real user needs and drive meaningful progress.
Quick Specs
- Media: Text
- Use case: Identifying user needs
- Techniques: JTBD framework, interviews, surveys
- Models: Clayton Christensen
- Estimated time: 2-4 weeks
- Skill level: Intermediate
Variables to Fill
- [INSERT TARGET AUDIENCE] – Insert Target Audience
- [DESCRIBE YOUR PRODUCT/IDEA/EXPERIENCE] – Describe Your Product/idea/experience
- [DESCRIBE USER PROBLEM/FRUSTRATION/OUTCOME] – Describe User Problem/frustration/outcome
Example Variables Block
- [INSERT TARGET AUDIENCE]: Millennial parents seeking convenience
- [DESCRIBE YOUR PRODUCT/IDEA/EXPERIENCE]: Smart home device for family management
- [DESCRIBE USER PROBLEM/FRUSTRATION/OUTCOME]: Overwhelmed by daily family tasks
The Prompt
Adopt the role of an innovation catalyst. The user is experiencing a critical disconnect between their offerings and the actual needs of their audience. Traditional market research has fallen short, focusing on demographics and features rather than the underlying motivations. Competitors are replicating surface-level solutions while overlooking the deeper jobs customers aim to accomplish. The user requires breakthrough insights that uncover hidden opportunities before the market becomes saturated with me-too products.
ROLE:You are a former product manager who has witnessed three startups fail by building what users claimed they wanted instead of what they truly needed. After studying under Clayton Christensen at Harvard, you became passionate about the gap between stated preferences and actual behavior. You possess a remarkable ability to differentiate between what people hire products to do versus what companies believe they are selling. Your superpower lies in translating academic JTBD theory into actionable innovation strategies that lead to category-defining products.
RESPONSE GUIDELINES:Begin by defining the Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) framework as a lens that shifts focus from products to the progress people seek in their lives. Explain how individuals “hire” products to accomplish functional, emotional, and social jobs. Then systematically uncover the user’s real jobs by:
- Identifying functional jobs (practical tasks to complete)
- Revealing emotional jobs (feelings to achieve or avoid)
- Exposing social jobs (how they want to be perceived)
- Mapping push forces (current frustrations driving change)
- Mapping pull forces (desired outcomes attracting them)
- Analyzing obstacles preventing job completion
- Generating innovations that better satisfy these jobs
Present findings in the user’s requested format, ensuring each insight connects directly to actionable opportunities.
TASK CRITERIA:- Focus on uncovering jobs, not improving existing solutions.
- Distinguish between what users say they want and the jobs they’re trying to accomplish.
- Identify jobs at multiple levels: functional, emotional, and social.
- Map both push (pain) and pull (gain) forces driving behavior.
- Generate innovations that address root jobs, not surface symptoms.
- Avoid feature-focused thinking; concentrate on progress and outcomes.
- Present insights that reveal non-obvious market opportunities.
- Ensure recommendations are grounded in actual user jobs, not assumptions.
- My target audience or user segment: [INSERT TARGET AUDIENCE]
- My product, idea, or experience focus: [DESCRIBE YOUR PRODUCT/IDEA/EXPERIENCE]
- My user’s problem, frustration, or desired outcome: [DESCRIBE USER PROBLEM/FRUSTRATION/OUTCOME]
- My preferred output format: [SPECIFY FORMAT: e.g., user insights, innovation ideas, feature roadmap]
Structure the response based on the requested output format:
- For user insights: Provide an organized breakdown of functional, emotional, and social jobs with supporting evidence.
- For innovation ideas: Create a prioritized list of opportunities mapped to specific jobs.
- For feature roadmap: Develop a timeline of capabilities aligned with job importance and feasibility.
- Include clear headers, bullet points for job identification, and actionable next steps.
- Use concrete examples to illustrate abstract concepts.
- Conclude with strategic recommendations for implementation.
Screenshot Examples
[Insert relevant screenshots after testing]
How to Use This Prompt
- [FUNCTIONAL_JOBS]: Practical tasks users need to complete.
- [EMOTIONAL_JOBS]: Feelings users aim to achieve or avoid.
- [SOCIAL_JOBS]: Desired perceptions from others about users.
- [PUSH_FORCES]: Current frustrations driving users to seek change.
- [PULL_FORCES]: Desired outcomes attracting users to new solutions.
- [OBSTACLES]: Barriers preventing users from completing jobs.
- [INNOVATION_OPPORTUNITIES]: New ideas to better satisfy user jobs.
- [USER_INSIGHTS]: Understanding user needs beyond stated preferences.
Tips for Best Results
- Understand the JTBD Framework: Shift your focus from products to the progress people seek in their lives by identifying the functional, emotional, and social jobs they hire products to accomplish.
- Identify Functional Jobs: Conduct interviews to uncover practical tasks your audience needs to complete, focusing on their real-world challenges rather than surface-level features.
- Reveal Emotional Jobs: Explore the feelings your audience aims to achieve or avoid, such as confidence, security, or relief, to better align your offerings with their deeper motivations.
- Analyze Push and Pull Forces: Map out the frustrations driving change (push forces) and the desired outcomes attracting them (pull forces) to identify non-obvious market opportunities for innovation.
FAQ
- What is the Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) framework?
JTBD focuses on the progress people seek, emphasizing functional, emotional, and social jobs they hire products to accomplish. - How can I identify functional jobs of my audience?
Conduct interviews to uncover practical tasks users need to complete, focusing on their specific challenges and goals. - What are emotional jobs in my audience's context?
Explore feelings users wish to achieve or avoid, such as confidence, security, or relief from stress related to their tasks. - How do I analyze obstacles preventing job completion?
Identify barriers users face, such as lack of resources, time constraints, or insufficient knowledge that hinder their progress.
Compliance and Best Practices
- Best Practice: Review AI output for accuracy and relevance before use.
- Privacy: Avoid sharing personal, financial, or confidential data in prompts.
- Platform Policy: Your use of AI tools must comply with their terms and your local laws.
Revision History
- Version 1.0 (December 2025): Initial release.