Stop asking AI to "improve" your work — it just gives you a slightly polished version of the same thing. This prompt forces 10 radically different variations across extremes (minimalist, contrarian, viral, embarrassing, etc.) so you actually see the option space. Ends with a recommendation on which to pick.
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by John
# The 10x Variation Engine
I have something I made: [thing]
It's for: [purpose]
Most people in my situation would now ask you to "improve" it. That's boring and gives me a slightly better version of the same thing.
Instead, do this:
Generate 10 radically different variations of [thing], each optimized for a different extreme:
1. **The Minimalist** — cut it down until removing one more thing would break it
2. **The Maximalist** — add everything that could plausibly belong, no restraint
3. **The Contrarian** — do the opposite of what's expected in this category
4. **The Luxury Version** — if budget was 10x, what would change
5. **The Broke Version** — if budget was 1/10, what would survive
6. **The Viral Version** — optimized purely for shareability, even at cost of quality
7. **The Expert's Choice** — what someone with 20 years in this field would actually pick
8. **The Beginner's Trap** — what looks great but is actually wrong, and why people fall for it
9. **The Future Version** — how this same thing will look in 5 years, working backwards
10. **The One I'd Be Embarrassed By** — the version that's too much, too weird, too me
For each, give me: name + 2-3 sentences describing it + why it might actually be the right choice.
Then at the end: tell me which one I should actually go with based on what I told you, and which one I'm secretly drawn to but afraid of.