Why your AI needs a better BRAIN

Author

Jeff Sauer
June 21, 2025

In partnership with

Inside The Framework Powering Our AI Systems

I've been thinking about something that keeps coming up in conversations about AI.

Everyone wants to jump straight to building complex agents and systems... but they're skipping the fundamental building blocks.

It's like trying to run before you can crawl.

And that's exactly why I want to talk about BRAIN today - the methodology we've refined over hundreds of iterations that makes the difference between AI that gives generic, unreliable outputs and implementations that consistently deliver exceptional results.

First, let's talk about why you need building blocks if you want a future of sophisticated agents and systems.

Simple. You need to master the fundamentals before tackling the advanced stuff.

You wouldn't build a house without understanding how to make a stable foundation. Same principle applies here.

What's fascinating is the gap between general knowledge and deep knowledge in any domain.

Think about the difference between getting advice from a generic blog post written by a recent college grad (or a general AI chatbot) versus consulting with a true specialist with decades of experience.

One touches maybe 3% of potential insights. The other draws from the full spectrum of real-world experience.

This same principle applies to AI. 

When you use generic AI, you're getting the least common denominator - that 3% that's broadly available to everyone. It appeals to the general population and our 5-second attention span culture, but lacks the depth that creates real value.

This is where the BRAIN methodology comes in.

BRAIN isn't just a catchy acronym - it's the systematic approach we use to create reusable AI assets that tap into deep, specialized knowledge:

B - Benefit

Start with the end result you want the AI to deliver - not the task. This is where most people get it backward. Don't tell AI how to do its job; tell it what outcome you need. AI will figure out the most efficient path to get there. If you're unclear about your desired result, you'll waste cycles and end up with mediocre outputs.

R - Research

Provide the examples, context, and knowledge needed to work effectively. This is your intellectual capital - transcripts from coaching calls, documents you've created, books you've written, client work you've done. Don't have proprietary content? Deep research has never been easier to do, but having your unique insights is what creates the competitive edge.

A - Architecture

Create a structure and flow for how you want your implementation to operate. This is where 99% of AI implementations fail. Without a mental or visual map of what you're trying to achieve, your system will break the second something doesn't go exactly as planned. You need to be able to diagnose leaks in the system.

I - Instructions

Develop clear guidance the model will follow. This isn't just a basic prompt - it's a prompt on steroids with guardrails, tone cues, and specific rules. The secret? You can have AI write this for you and iterate until it's right.

N - Normalize

Review, test, and refine the output until it's repeatable and shareable. This is the step nobody does, but it's the difference between general results and great results. 

Any AI implementation we build typically undergoes 10-30 hours of testing and refinement (Normalization) before we consider it production-ready.

Here's what most people miss: the brain behind the BRAIN is you.

Your expertise, your processes, your unique insights - these are what transform ordinary AI into something exceptional. The methodology simply gives you a framework to transfer that expertise into a reusable asset.

When it comes to building AI bots specifically, this methodology is absolutely crucial. You can build a basic bot in minutes, but the difference between a good one and a great one is following this systematic approach and putting in the work.

Sometimes, it's actually easier to tap into someone else's brain first to see how it's done. That's why we're putting forward our Battle of the Bots Workshop.

We're not only helping you build your own BRAIN-powered bots, but you'll also get to see behind the curtain of our own systems - the same ones we use to power our seven-figure business.

I promise you'll walk away with both the methodology and practical examples you can immediately implement in your business.

To Your AI-First Success,
Jeff Sauer

P.S. The Battle of the Bots starts in just 3 days, and this might be the last email we're sending about joining us. Join Battle of the Bots here

P.P.S. I've created three ways to help you succeed, depending on how much support you need:

Join our FREE Community: Get instant access to our resource library, growth tools, and a network of forward-thinking entrepreneurs.

ProfitSchool Pro: Join our live sessions multiple times per week where I personally guide you through implementing AI-first systems that scale.

Done-For-You Solutions: Let our expert team build custom AI automations that increase your profit per employee and help you scale without adding headcount. [See if this is right for your business]

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Coming Up at ProfitSchool

Tuesday, June 24 - 11 AM EDT

You've been told to hustle harder, work smarter, and push through. But what if the secret to 10x growth isn't more effort, but better alignment? What if the very energy you're burning through could be precisely mapped, optimized, and even augmented with intelligent systems to unlock your true potential?

This call is Open to all Newsletter Subscribers

Tuesday, June 24  -1 PM EDT

DAY 1: Build With B.R.A.I.N.

  • The strategic foundation behind every effective AI assistant

  • Key differences between bots, assistants, agents, and systems

  • Complete breakdown of the B.R.A.I.N. framework

  • Live walkthrough as we sketch your first assistant

  • Interactive exercise where you'll outline your bot's benefit + inputs

  • Clear homework to draft your first bot idea using B.R.A.I.N.

This call is for ProfitSchool Pro Members

Wednesday, June 25 - 11 AM EDT

Price your services for profitability and value. Explore how AI can analyze historical project data to generate more accurate time and cost estimates. We'll also discuss using AI to model pricing strategies and effectively communicate the value linked to your rates, ensuring you're compensated fairly for the results you deliver.

This call is for ProfitSchool Pro Members

Thursday, June 26 - 1PM EDT

DAY 2: Gemini vs. GPT

  • Watch Mercer and Jeff go head-to-head using different platforms

  • Mercer's build method using Google Gemini + Gems

  • Jeff's build method using Custom GPTs in ChatGPT

  • In-depth comparison of strengths + weaknesses of each platform

  • Live builds where we create the same bot on different platforms

  • Interactive breakout to determine which approach fits YOUR work style

  • Guided homework to choose your platform + map your build steps

This call is for ProfitSchool Pro Members

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