Ruben Hassid (@ruben): "Most people will never learn a new skill in 2026. But these 5 prompts make it embarrassingly easy: _ 1. The 80/20 Prompt: Shortcut I want to learn [topic] in 20 hours. Build me a plan that focuses only on what matters most. Split it into 10 two-hour blocks. Each block needs…"

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Most people will never learn a new skill in 2026.

But these 5 prompts make it embarrassingly easy:

  1. The 80/20
    Prompt:
    Shortcut I want to learn [topic] in 20 hours. Build me a plan that focuses only on what matters most. Split it into 10 two-hour blocks. Each block needs: what to learn, one resource, and a quick 15-minute check at the end.
    
  2. The One-Pager
    Prompt:
    Compress [topic] into a single page I can review in 5 minutes. Include: core concepts, how they connect, common mistakes, and one real example for each. Make it something I'd actually print and pin on my wall.
    
  3. Teach Me Like I'm New
    Prompt:
    Explain [topic] using words a 12-year-old would understand. No jargon. Use stories and comparisons from daily life. End with 3 questions—if I can't answer them, re-explain until I can.
    
  4. The Skill Ladder
    Prompt:
    Map [topic] into 5 clear levels. For each level tell me: what I'll be able to do, what to study, how long it takes, and how I'll know I'm ready for the next step. Start from "I know nothing" to "I could teach this."
    
  5. Beginner Mistakes to Skip
    Prompt:
    What do people waste time on when learning [topic]? Give me the 5 biggest traps beginners fall into, why they happen, and what to do instead. Save me weeks of going in circles.
    

Bonus: 6. The Teach-Back Loop
Prompt:

Explain [topic] to me simply. I'll repeat it back in my own words. Find what I missed or got wrong. Fill the gaps. Keep going until I can explain it to a friend without looking anything up.
  1. Questions That Actually Test Me
    Prompt:
    Create 10 questions about [topic] that test whether I truly understand, not just memorized. Make them tricky. After I answer each one, tell me what my answer reveals about my thinking.
    
  2. Connect to What I Already Know
    Prompt:
    I already understand [familiar topic]. Use that as my starting point to teach me [new topic]. Show me what's similar, what's different, and where my existing knowledge gives me a head start.
    
  3. Real Scenarios, Real Practice
    Prompt:
    Give me 5 situations where I'd actually use [topic] in real life. Walk me through the first one step by step. Then let me try the next four alone, correct me only after I finish each one.
    

To learn how to prompt, use this guide:

ruben.substack.com/p/st…

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