# Build one repeatable workflow | AI Basics for Business Owners

> Lesson 6 of AI Basics: build one repeatable workflow with a human review step, and measure the full time it takes.

Source: https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics/lesson-6

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4.  /AI Basics: Build a workflow

AI basics · Course contents

[00Overview](https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics)

[01Choose a first task](https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics/lesson-1)

[02Understand chatbots](https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics/lesson-2)

[03Write a clear brief](https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics/lesson-3)

[04Check and protect](https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics/lesson-4)

[05Create a document](https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics/lesson-5)

[06Build a workflow](https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics/lesson-6)

-   [What you will learn](#sec-what-you-will-learn)
-   [The basics](#sec-the-basics)
-   [Five minute exercise](#sec-five-minute-exercise)
-   [Copy this prompt](#sec-copy-this-prompt)
-   [Takeaway](#sec-takeaway)
-   [Completion check](#sec-completion-check)

[07Final project](https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics/project)

[08Sources](https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics/sources)

For business owners
No coding required
Practice with fictional data

LESSON 06 / 06 · 8–10 MIN

## Build one repeatable workflow

By [Andrew Heldenmuth](https://andrewheldy.dev/about), founder and operator of Ascension AI.

### What you will learn

Create a small routine you can test, review, and reuse.

### The basics

A workflow is a repeatable sequence of steps. Start with a frequent task such as drafting replies to ordinary appointment requests. Write down the allowed input, the draft you need, the checks a person performs, and who approves the result.

Use this simple sequence: prepare safe information, generate a draft, review it, then decide whether to use it. Save the successful prompt and checklist together. Your first workflow can be entirely manual; connecting a chatbot to email or customer systems is a separate decision that needs a security and permissions review.

Measure the complete task. Include preparation, prompting, checking, and corrections. Compare that total with doing a similar task manually. A faster first draft is only useful if the finished result meets your standard.

### Five minute exercise

1.  Spend one minute starting a timer and choosing the fictional request below.
2.  Spend two minutes producing a draft with the reusable prompt.
3.  Spend two minutes checking facts, tone, and commitments. Record the total time and corrections needed. Save the reviewed draft without sending it.

### Copy this prompt

Copyable promptCopy prompt

Draft a customer reply for a fictional bicycle repair shop.

Customer request: “Can I bring my bicycle in this week? The gears are making a noise.”
Approved facts: We accept appointment requests by email. Availability has not been checked. Cost and completion time are confirmed only after inspection.

Write a friendly reply under 80 words that acknowledges the request and asks which day the customer prefers.
Do not diagnose the problem or promise availability, a price, or a completion date.
After the draft, list facts or decisions the owner must confirm before sending.
Produce a draft only.

### Takeaway

A useful AI workflow includes human review and a realistic measure of effort.

### Completion check

Can you identify the input, output, reviewer, and approval step? Did you record total time, including corrections? Keep testing if review takes longer than doing the task yourself.

[← Create a document](https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics/lesson-5)[Next: Final project →](https://andrewheldy.dev/resources/ai-basics/project)