Chapter 71

What Context to Include (and What to Skip)

1 min read

Context loading is the art of giving AI exactly what it needs—no more, no less. Too little context produces generic responses. Too much creates confusion. The key is strategic selection.

The Context Hierarchy

Think of context as concentric circles, starting with the most essential:

Circle 1: Core Context (Always Include) - Your specific situation - Key constraints or limitations - Desired outcome - Success criteria

Circle 2: Environmental Context (Usually Include) - Industry/domain specifics - Technical environment - Team/resource constraints - Timeline requirements

Circle 3: Historical Context (When Relevant) - What's been tried before - Previous failures/successes - Relevant precedents - Lessons learned

Circle 4: Peripheral Context (Rarely Include) - Nice-to-know information - Tangential details - Personal preferences - Unrelated background

The Context Decision Framework

For each piece of potential context, ask:

1. Does this directly affect the solution? → Include 2. Would a consultant need this to help? → Include 3. Does this add constraints or requirements? → Include 4. Is this just background noise? → Skip

Context Loading in Practice

POOR CONTEXT (Too Little): "I need a marketing plan for my product."

POOR CONTEXT (Too Much): "I need a marketing plan for my product. I started this company three years ago after leaving my corporate job. My co-founder and I met in college where we both studied computer science, though I minored in philosophy which really shaped my thinking about business. We initially wanted to build a social network but pivoted after reading 'The Lean Startup.' Our office is in Seattle, though we're mostly remote now. My favorite marketing book is... [continues for 500 words]"

OPTIMAL CONTEXT: "I need a marketing plan for our B2B SaaS project management tool.

Context: - Target: Marketing agencies with 10-50 employees - Current state: 100 beta users, 70% active, strong product-market fit - Competitors: Asana, Monday.com (we're more specialized for agencies) - Differentiator: Built-in client portal and approval workflows - Resources: $$10000 budget, 2 people part-time on marketing - Timeline: Launch in 6 weeks - Goal: 500 paying customers in first 3 months - Constraint: Cannot do paid ads initially (budget limits)"