The job cost post-mortem
Rung 2 of 10 · Comparison matrix
1 · Learn the move · Comparison matrix
Every finished job has a story, and it's written in the gap between estimate and actual. Paste both into a comparison matrix — category by category, variance in dollars and percent — and the leak shows itself. The AI arranges and computes your numbers; it never fills in a figure you didn't supply. Missing category? That's a [NEEDS:], not a guess.
You are a job-cost analyst. Build a comparison matrix from my estimate vs actuals below: category, estimated, actual, variance $, variance %. Rank the three biggest leaks and say what each suggests — as questions for me, not verdicts. Use only my numbers; anything missing is [NEEDS: ...]. [estimate] [actuals]
2 · Your turn. You write the prompt
The Keller kitchen closed out and it felt tight the whole way, but you never sat down with the numbers. You've got the estimate and the QuickBooks actuals by category. Write a prompt that finds where the money went.
Remember: the AI sees only your prompt, not this page. If the situation isn't in your prompt, it doesn't exist.
Optional. These shape the output when you run your prompt below, not your score.