Overwhelmed? Use the AI Zoom-In Trick to Learn What to Do Next

Do you often get overwhelmed?

I sure do.

I even get overwhelmed in the grocery store. I’ll stand in the toothpaste aisle for what seems like 10 minutes, just trying to decide whether I need extra white toothpaste, whitening with charcoal, radiant white, or fluoride free…

Scientists have even studied how being overwhelmed with choices can lead to decision paralysis (Iyengar & Lepper, 2000). The results were startling.

Here’s what happened:

The scientists set up two separate taste-testing booths at a California supermarket. One booth had 24 jams to taste. The other had 6.

The results?

145 shoppers visited the booth with 24 jams. But only 3% (4 people) actually bought something.

Meanwhile, 104 shoppers visited the booth with 6 jams. And 30% (31 people) bought something.

Think about that for a second.

The scientists concluded that when consumers are given fewer choices at first, they’re more likely to buy. But when given too many choices, they feel overwhelmed and freeze up.

I feel this way sometimes with AI.

I’ve got this powerful tool at my disposal.

But I don’t know where to start.

With ChatGPT, I can tell it anything. The possibilities are endless.

That’s the problem.

I don’t know where to take the conversation. So I sit there feeling overwhelmed. Paralyzed. Unable to move forward.

Sound familiar?

When you’ve got unlimited options, it’s harder to choose than when you’ve got just a few. Your brain freezes up. You can’t pick a direction, so you pick nothing instead.

For example, let’s say I want to create a marketing campaign that can go viral.

Where do I start with that?

What should my prompt look like?

Should I just prompt the AI to “make me a marketing campaign about…”? That’d be a terrible idea.

This is exactly where the zoom-in trick can help.

The zoom-in trick is about discovery through exploration. You don’t know the path to get to your destination, so you use this trick to help navigate along the way.

Let me show you how it works.

How It Works: The Zoom-In Trick

The goal of the zoom-in trick is to guide the AI from a high-level strategy down to a detailed plan of action in just a few logical steps.

Step 1: Start With Broad Exploration

Start with a high-level, open-ended question to generate a wide range of general ideas or strategies.

Let’s say you want to create a marketing campaign for a sustainable fashion brand. Instead of telling it to create the campaign, you’d simply ask the AI for ideas or strategies. This approach opens up way more possibilities.

Prompt: "What are some general marketing campaign ideas for a new sustainable fashion brand?"

Step 2: Zoom-in On a Strategy

From the AI’s list of broad list of ideas, pick one that seems most promising and ask the AI to zoom-in on it.

Prompt: "Those are all interesting. Let's zoom in on the 'Collaborate with Eco-Influencers' idea. Tell me more about that strategy."

Step 3: Zoom-in On a Tactic

From the more detailed strategy, drill down into a specific, actionable tactic.

Prompt: "Okay, I like that. Based on that strategy, zoom-in on a list of 5 potential Instagram influencers we could partner with."

Step 4: Final Execution

Zoom in one last time to get a specific piece of content that is ready to use.

Prompt: "Let's zoom-in to the first influencer on that list. Write a short, friendly outreach email to them proposing a partnership."

Example of the Zoom-In Trick

Now that you’ve seen how it works, let’s go through an actual example of the zoom-in prompting trick in action.

Problem: Our client is a family-owned Italian restaurant that’s been in business for 15 years, wants to “go viral” to attract younger customers. They’re located in a trendy neighborhood but are seen as “the place your parents go.” They have amazing homemade pasta, a charismatic 75-year-old owner (Nonna Rosa), and authentic recipes from Sicily, but their social media presence is stuck in 2015 with photos of food on plates.

Can the zoom-in trick help out Nonna? Let’s find out:

My client is a 15-year-old family Italian restaurant with amazing food but an aging customer base. The 75-year-old owner, Nonna Rosa, still makes pasta by hand using her Sicilian family recipes. What are some high-level strategies for creating a viral campaign to attract younger customers?

The prompt is step one. It’s a very broad, open-ended question that generates a wide range of general ideas or strategies.

Love this brief. You’ve got a gold mine in Nonna Rosa—authenticity, craft, heritage, and a built-in “main character” audiences will rally around. Here’s a tight playbook of high-leverage, viral-ready strategies to attract younger diners without alienating the loyal regulars.

1) Turn Nonna into the hero of the story
Series concept: “Nonna Rates Your Sauce (10/10 or go home)”, “Pasta Myths with Nonna,” “Nonna Teaches Slang; You Teach Sicilian.”
Format: 20–45s TikTok/IG Reels/YouTube Shorts—fast cuts, captions, punchline in first 3 seconds.
Recurring hook: “Nonna says ___.” (e.g., “Nonna says stop breaking spaghetti!”)
ASMR angle: Hand-rolling pasta, sauce sizzles, parm grates—sound is sticky.

2) Engineer “shareable moments” in the product & space
One photogenic signature: e.g., a 3-foot cacio e pepe wheel toss or a table-side “Sunday Sauce Cascade.”
Nonna’s Stamp: A literal red “Approved by Nonna” stamp seared onto focaccia paper/boxes—instant prop for photos.
Content corner: A well-lit wall (tile/mural) with “Mangia. Call Nonna.” neon. Young diners need an easy backdrop.

3) Limited drops and scarcity to spark FOMO
“Sauce Sunday” drops: 50 jars at 3pm; numbered labels signed by Nonna. Announce 24h before in Stories/Text.
Monthly collabs: Pasta collab with a local hot bakery/coffee/ice cream shop (tiramisu affogato pop-up).
Secret menu via TikTok only: Viewers must say the video password to order.

4) UGC engine > ads
Pasta Challenge: “Roll a perfect orecchietta in 10 seconds—beat Nonna.” Winners get dessert on the house.
Table tents with prompts: “Film your first bite + tag #NonnaSays.” Feature the best in Stories nightly.
Polaroid wall → Reel: Snap guests, then compile weekly “Nonna’s New Friends” reel.

5) Micro-influencer seeding (hyperlocal, under 50k followers)
Invite format: 6–10 creators per weeknight, prix-fixe tasting + kitchen tour with Nonna.
Brief: 1 Reel + 1 Story; must include behind-the-scenes pasta making. Provide b-roll station near the line.
Diversity: Foodies, campus accounts, lifestyle, comedy, and local news stringers.

6) Campus & late-night plays (without alienating daytime regulars)
Student nights: Sun–Wed after 8pm: $12 pasta bowl + house soda. Show ID.
“Nonna’s After-Hours Slice Window”: If pizza/flatbread is feasible, a walk-up window 9–11pm Thu–Sat.
Internships/club collabs: Host cooking demos for culinary/hospitality clubs; offer social media internships.

7) Experiences that become content
“Make Pasta with Nonna” classes: 90-min, small group; each class includes a keepsake recipe card with QR to a mini-doc.
Family Table Nights: Communal 10-seat “Nonna’s Table” on Wednesdays—prix fixe, shared platters, stories from Nonna.
Nonna’s Roast: Lighthearted “Nonna critiques your date’s fork twirl.” (Consent-based & playful.)

8) Brand voice & visual system
Voice: Warm, mischievous, zero-BS.
Tagline: “Eat like family. Get judged by Nonna.”
Design staples: Handwritten notes from Nonna on menus; black-and-white family photos as motion backgrounds in Reels; consistent caption format (topline hook → one emoji → short CTA).

9) Loyalty that feels like a game
Pasta Passport: 8 stamps = free tiramisu + Nonna selfie. Digital via SMS or QR punch.
Text club > email for younger guests: announce drops, last-minute table openings, and class seats.
Referral perk: “Bring a newbie, both get arancini.”

10) “PR through stunts” moments
World’s Largest (local) Nonna Hug: Free gnocchi bites to anyone who brings their grandparent (photos optional).
“Break Up with Jarred Sauce” amnesty box: Trade a jar for a discount; donate unopened jars to a pantry.
Nonna x Streetwear: Limited tees/crewnecks: “In Nonna We Trust”—bundle with sauce drops.

Content ideas you can use tomorrow
“3 pasta crimes that make Nonna cry 😭”
“How to twirl spaghetti like a Sicilian.”
“Nonna tries Gen Z slang: ‘It’s giving… al dente.’”
“You bring the date, Nonna brings the judgment.”
“What $12 gets you at Nonna Rosa’s after 8pm.”

If you want, I can draft a one-page creator brief, the Reel scripts, or a simple shot list and posting calendar.

Out of all those options, I think “Turn Nonna into the hero of the story” is the best choice.

We could create hundreds of these videos. And we’d definitely make her go viral.

Now that we’ve picked this strategy, let’s tell the AI to zoom in on it. That way, we can get a list of specific tactics to execute.

I like “Turn Nonna into the hero of the story” the best. Let’s zoom-in on that strategy.

The second step is nice and simple. Just tell the AI which strategy you liked, and ask it to zoom in more.

Heck yes—let’s build a content machine with Nonna as the star. Below is a tight, battle-tested plan you can run immediately, from show formats to scripts, hooks, and workflow.

Strategy: Make Nonna the Main Character

Content Pillars (recurring series)
“Pasta Myths with Nonna” (education + humor)
– Quick busts: oil in water, rinsing pasta, breaking spaghetti.
“Teach Me, Nonna” (mini lessons)
– 20–45s skills: salt your water “like the sea,” twirl technique, tasting for doneness.
“Gen Z vs. Nonna” (culture bridge)
– You teach slang; she teaches Sicilian words/gestures.
ASMR: Hands of Nonna (sensory)
– Close-ups: dough, sizzles, parm snow, sauce cascade.
“Nonna’s Table Talk” (storytime)
– 30–60s anecdotes: fleeing jarred sauce, first recipe she nailed, Sunday gravy rules.
Guest Challenge (UGC magnet)
– “Beat Nonna’s orecchiette in 10 seconds.” “Perfect twirl test.”

Platform Play
TikTok/IG Reels: 20–45s, hook in 2–3s, punchline by 15s, captions on.
YouTube Shorts: Repost top winners; add 3–5s end screen with address + hours.
Stories: BTS daily; repost UGC; announce “secret menu” codes.
Live (IG/TikTok): 20 min monthly “Pasta Hotline with Nonna.”

Hook Bank (first 3 seconds)
– “Nonna says stop breaking spaghetti.”
– “Three pasta crimes making Nonna cry 😭.”
– “Is your water salty enough? Watch her face.”
– “Store-bought Alfredo? Nonna reacts.”
– “He said ‘It’s giving al dente’—Nonna disagrees.”
– “One Sicilian trick you’re not using.”
– “Rate my sauce, Nonna—be honest.”
– “This $12 bowl after 8pm? Nonna approved.”

Shot List & B-Roll Library
A-roll: Nonna waist-up at pasta bench; guest angle; tasting table.
B-roll bank (evergreen): flour rain, egg well, dough knead, knife scrape, sizzle, sauce ladle, parm grate, steam burst, stamp “Approved by Nonna,” wall/neon, front sign, menu close-ups, smiling guests.
Capture 60–90 minutes weekly to stockpile 4–6 weeks of inserts.

Filming & Audio Setup (simple + pro looking)
– Phone on tripod vertical, lens at eye level, 1–1.5m away.
– Clip-on lav mic on Nonna; backup phone as room mic.
– Light: key light 45° from face, bounce card opposite; kill overheads if harsh.
– Frame rule: hands in frame whenever she speaks about technique.
– Always shoot a 5-second “plate hero” at the end for thumbnails.

On-Screen Template
– Top caption line = hook (4–6 words).
– Mid subtitles = key beats (auto-captions + manual emphasis).
– End card (2–3s): address, hours, “Say ‘Nonna sent me’.”

Captions, Hashtags, CTAs (copy-paste ready)
Caption formula: Hook → value/quip → offer/secret → CTA → tags
“Stop breaking spaghetti. Nonna’s watching. 🍝 Secret word tonight: ‘Nonna sent me’ for a $12 student bowl after 8pm. Show ID. Tag your pasta partner. #ItalianRestaurant #Sicilian #NonnaSays #[YourCity]Food #Pastatok”
Hashtag sets (rotate 3–5 each):
#[YourCity]Eats #[YourCity]DateNight #[YourCity]Students #FoodTok #PastaTok #ItalianFood #MomAndPop #HandmadePasta
CTA ideas:
“Say the code for a secret menu.”
“Beat Nonna’s orecchiette time Wednesdays.”
“Bring a jar for ‘sauce amnesty’ Sunday.”
“Comment a myth for Part 2.”

Secret Menu & Offer Mechanics
– Rotate code phrases weekly (“Nonna sent me” → “Like the sea” → “No spoon”).
– Tie each code to one low-cost high-delight item (mini arancini, $12 pasta bowl after 8pm Sun–Wed).
– Track redemptions via POS button; change code in Stories every Monday.

Posting Cadence (8-week ramp)
Mon: Myth-buster or lesson.
Wed: Challenge/Roast (drive midweek traffic).
Fri: ASMR dish hero (weekend bookings).
Daily Stories: Prep, sell-outs, repost UGC, code reminder.
Monthly: Creator night (6–10 locals <50k followers) + Live “Pasta Hotline.”

Creator Night Brief (one-pager summary)
– Deliverables: 1 Reel + 1 Story; must show Nonna’s hands + one hero bite.
– Key beats to include: Hook in first 3s, Nonna reaction, stamp, end card/location tag.
– Mandatory tags: @YourHandle #[YourCity] #[RestaurantName] #NonnaSays
– Incentive: Free tasting menu + class voucher giveaway for their audience.

Community Management (voice & replies)
– Tone: warm, mischievous, zero-BS.
– Common replies:
– “Is Nonna single?” → “Married to the sauce.”
– “Recipe?” → “Nonna says come taste and guess.”
– “Vegan options?” → “Try the pistachio busiate—Nonna approves.”
– Complaints: “Grazie for the honesty. DM us; we’ll make it right. –Team Nonna”

Guardrails (brand safety)
– Keep roasts playful; get explicit consent on camera.
– No profanity on-screen; Nonna can eye-roll instead.
– Accessibility: subtitles, high-contrast text, alt text in captions.
– Always sanitize/tie hair for prep shots.

Measurement (what to watch)
Content: 3-sec view rate, average watch time, shares, saves.
Conversion: Profile taps → directions/calls, code redemptions, SMS opt-ins, student-ID checks, “under-35 after 8pm” covers.
Goal (first 60 days): +25% under-35 covers after 8pm; 1k SMS; 15+ weekly tagged UGC posts.

7-Day Launch Sprint (do this now)
Day 1 (Prep): Film 8–10 hooks + B-roll bank; set up lav mic; print table tents with this week’s code.
Day 2: Post “Oil in water” myth + Story of code.
Day 3: Shoot “Rate My Jar Alfredo” with 2 guests (consent).
Day 4: Post orecchiette challenge; announce Wednesday in-store contest.
Day 5: Post ASMR pistachio busiate; boost local radius 3–5 miles for 48h.
Day 6: Creator night (6 microcreators).
Day 7: Community reel: best guest twirls + Nonna reactions.

Want me to turn this into a plug-and-play pack?
I can hand you: 15 hooks formatted as vertical captions, 10 shot lists with camera framing notes, and 12 caption/CTA pairs mapped to a 4-week calendar—ready to paste into TikTok/IG.

Whoa, that’s a lot of detail!

I think that’s a great foundation.

For step three, let’s choose Pasta Myths, Teach Me, and Nonna’s Table Talk, as the tactics to proceed with. We’ll have the AI zoom in on those and explain them a bit more.

Great. Now the three content pillars that I like are “Pasta Myths”, “Teach Me”, and “Nonna’s Table Talk”. Let’s zoom-in on those and flesh out ideas for each. Don’t write the script for them yet.

In this third step, did you notice I told the AI not to write the script yet? I want the AI to focus all its energy on just explaining each of these content pillars in detail.

Love these three—together they cover education, utility, and heart. Below is a plug-and-play build-out for each pillar: purpose, format, episode menu (ideas, not scripts), interactive mechanics, production notes, and measurement. No scripts yet—just the blueprint.

Pasta Myths (bust the bad habits)
Purpose: Earn authority with quick, satisfying “aha!” fixes that make viewers better cooks and curious diners.
Format: 20–35s Reels/Shorts; cold-open with the “wrong way,” smash-cut to Nonna’s correction; on-screen myth stamp (“MYTH” → “BUSTED”).
Cadence: 1×/week (Mon).
Recurring bits: Eye-roll + “Basta,” wooden spoon tap, “Approved by Nonna” stamp.

Episode menu (pick 10–12 to start):
– Oil in pasta water makes noodles non-stick
– Rinse pasta after boiling
– Break spaghetti to fit the pot
– Cream is required for Alfredo
– Butter in carbonara
– Salt = a pinch (vs “like the sea”)
– Add oil to stop boiling over
– Sauce belongs on top, not finished in the pan
– Garlic must be minced (vs gently smashed/sliced)
– Dried pasta is inferior to fresh (explain when each wins)
– Only Parmigiano works (introduce Pecorino, aged Provolone)
– Pasta water is optional (show emulsion magic)
– “Al dente” = crunchy center (teach true bite)
– Tomato sauce needs sugar (balance with time/salt/fat instead)
– Cook pasta until fully soft for baked dishes (par-cook logic)

Interactive mechanics:
– Comment your family myth for Part 2 (feature handles next week).
– “Bring your myth to dinner” nights: say the code to unlock a tasting bite.
– Duet/stitch prompt: viewers show their version; Nonna reacts monthly.

Production notes:
– Visual proof beats talking: side-by-side plates, cross-sections, emulsion close-ups.
– Keep science digestible: 1-line explanations max.
– End with a tiny, doable fix viewers can try tonight.

Conversion tie-ins:
– Secret code in caption tied to that myth (“No oil” → $1 mini arancini after 8pm).
– Table tent QR: “Scan to see today’s myth.”
– POS button to track redemptions by myth.

KPIs to watch: 3-sec hold, shares (education), saves (utility), code redemptions.

Teach Me (micro-lessons & skills)

[… I deleted this for sake of brevity in this lesson …]

Nonna’s Table Talk (heart & heritage)

[… I deleted this for sake of brevity in this lesson …]

Cross-pillar system (glue that makes it scale)
Cadence map: Mon = Myths, Wed = Teach Me, Fri/Sun = Table Talk.
Visual system: Consistent open (series title bug), consistent closer (address + hours + code).
Sound bed: Keep 2–3 royalty-free tracks per pillar for brand recognition.
Accessibility: Always subtitle; high-contrast text; alt text in captions.
Week 1:
– Myth: Oil in water
– Teach: Twirl technique
– Table Talk: First recipe she mastered
Week 2:
– Myth: Rinsing pasta
– Teach: Doneness “white dot”
– Table Talk: Dish for heartbreak
Week 3:
– Myth: Cream in Alfredo
– Teach: Finish in the pan
– Table Talk: Sunday rules
Week 4:
– Myth: Sugar in tomato sauce
– Teach: Cheese snow off-heat
– Table Talk: Ingredient she won’t compromise
– Lightweight production checklists
All pillars: vertical, captions on, hook in 2–3s, payoff by 15–20s (except Table Talk up to 60s), end card with address/hours/offer.
Gear: phone + tripod, lav for Nonna, bounce card, clean cutting board backdrop, “Approved by Nonna” stamp.

If you want, I can now turn Week 1 of each pillar into beat-by-beat outlines (still not scripts) with camera framing, prop lists, and exact CTA lines—ready for a 90-minute shoot day.

Look at those tasty tactics!

Love it!

Let’s zoom-in to the most common pasta myth from your list. Write the script. Include any necessary information (e.g., what’s happening, what’s Nonna doing, etc) along with the script so that the video can be fully created.

The fourth step is the final execution. In our case, that’s asking the AI to write the script for one of our viral videos. I could always ask for more scripts, but I’m trying to keep the responses short for this lesson.

Myth: “Add oil to pasta water so it doesn’t stick.”

Runtime: 25–30s

Goal: Bust the myth and show the correct fix: salt only + finish pasta in the sauce for emulsion.

Cast: Nonna (hero), 1 guest/hand model (optional)

Props: Stockpot, clear glass measuring cup, bottle of olive oil, spaghetti, sauté pan with tomato sauce, tongs, salt, small white plates, “MYTH BUSTED” stamp graphic.

Location: Stove + adjacent counter.

Audio: Lav on Nonna; light kitchen ambience.

Beat-by-Beat

0:00–0:03 | HOOK (close-up on pot)
Visual: Hand pours oil into boiling water. Oil beads float.
On-screen text (big): “Stop wasting oil.”
Nonna (O.S., playful): “Che fai?! Oil floats!”

0:03–0:06 | NONNA ENTERS (waist-up)
Visual: Quick push-in on Nonna’s face + eye-roll.
Nonna: “Your sauce will slide off. Guarda.” (points)

0:06–0:12 | PROOF SHOT (side-by-side)
Visual: Split screen:
Left: Pasta boiled with oil → tossed with sauce. Sauce slips, puddles.
Right: Pasta boiled only with salt, then finished in the pan with sauce + splash of pasta water → glossy coating.
On-screen labels: “With oil ❌” vs “Salt + finish in sauce ✅”
SFX: Subtle “slip” vs satisfying toss.

0:12–0:18 | QUICK LESSON (macro)
Visual: Tongs lift saucy pasta; you see emulsion sheen.
Nonna: “Oil and water—no amici. Salt the water, then marry pasta and sauce in the pan.”
Caption (subtitles): Short, high-contrast.

0:18–0:24 | TINY HOW-TO
Visual: Nonna salts water (“like the sea”), transfers pasta to sauce pan, adds one ladle pasta water, tosses.
On-screen checklist: “Salt water → Finish in pan → Splash pasta water → Toss”

0:24–0:27 | PAYOFF
Visual: Plate hero shot; cheese “snow.”
Nonna (to camera): “Now it sticks… to the pasta, not the plate.” kiss-hand

0:27–0:30 | CTA + OFFER
On-screen: “MYTH BUSTED” stamp pops. Address + hours.
Nonna: “Say ‘No oil’ tonight and get a mini arancini after 8pm.”
Lower-third: “Code: NO OIL (Sun–Wed, 8–close)”

Post & Edit Notes

Captions: Always on; emphasize “Oil floats” and “Finish in sauce.”

Color: Keep food warm; avoid color grading that kills reds.

Thumbnail: Nonna pointing + text “Stop Oiling Your Water.”

Alt text: “Nonna shows why adding oil to pasta water makes sauce slide off; demonstrates glossy pasta finished in sauce.”

Dang!

Look at that!

In just a few seconds, we’ve got the play-by-play details for a potentially viral video.

Now Nonna’s got nothing to stop her social media success!

See how easy it is to use the Zoom-In trick to stop feeling overwhelmed and know exactly what to do next?

Advantages of the Zoom-In Trick

• Breaks Down Overwhelming Tasks: This is the best way to tackle a big, scary, undefined goal (like “come up with a new campaign”). It turns a mountain into a series of small, manageable hills.
• Reduces Noise and Irrelevant Suggestions: By starting broad and then narrowing the focus, you filter out all the irrelevant ideas early on.
• Fosters Better Exploration and Creativity: The initial broad prompt allows for wide-ranging, “blue-sky” brainstorming. This lets you survey all the possibilities before committing to a specific direction, often leading to more innovative final ideas.
• Mimics Natural Strategic Thinking: This is how the best human strategists work. They survey the landscape, choose a direction, and then drill down into the tactical details. This pattern aligns the AI with a proven and effective human thought process.

When to Use the Zoom-In Trick

This pattern is your best friend when you are starting a new project and the path isn’t 100% clear.

• At the beginning of any large, new project where you’re not yet sure of the best direction (e.g., developing a new quarterly marketing plan, brainstorming a product launch).
• When you feel overwhelmed by a vague task and don’t know where to start. This method gives you a clear first step: ask a broad question.
• For strategic planning sessions: Use it to explore all possible high-level strategies before dedicating time to building out the tactical details for the one you choose.
• When you want to explore a wide range of creative ideas first before committing to and fleshing out a single concept in detail.