Master Claude
From Zero to System
Work through each step in order. Every section has action items and a place to capture your own answers before moving on.
Workbook based on the information shared by Drake at AI Foundations. Scroll down for video.
Account & Plan
Pick the right plan and get in the door
- Go to claude.ai and create an account (Google or Apple sign-in works)
- Review the plan options: Free (good for testing), Pro at $20/month (recommended once you're using it consistently)
- Start free. If you hit the message limit within a week, that's your signal to upgrade.
- Locate the model selector in the chat bar. Sonnet = everyday tasks. Opus = complex reasoning, coding, ambitious projects.
Prompting That Works
The GCAO framework — stop asking like everyone else
- Identify one task you do repeatedly that you currently do manually or inconsistently
- Write a GCAO prompt for that task in the space below
- Send it. If the output isn't right, iterate. Add "give me 6 more variations of #2" or "make it shorter and more direct."
- Keep going until you get something you'd actually use
Web Search & Vision
Real-time research and image analysis
- To activate, click the plus sign button in the chat bar and select Web Search — it turns blue when it is on.
- Use it to research a competitor, a prospective client's company, or a tool you're evaluating.
- Keep it on. It prevents Claude from generating outdated or inaccurate information.
- Click the plus sign button and select a screenshot, photo, or document to upload.
- Try it with a landing page, your LinkedIn banner, a piece of content, or a design you want feedback on.
- Ask Claude for specific, actionable feedback rather than a general reaction.
Artifacts
Build real tools with one prompt
- Go to the sidebar, click Artifacts to see templates and existing builds
- Think of one tool or calculator that would save you or your clients time. Could be an ROI calculator, a quiz, an intake form preview, a decision framework.
- Write a prompt describing exactly what inputs and outputs you want. Be specific.
- Send it using Opus for better code output
- Once built, hit Publish in the upper right and copy the link — it's now shareable
Your AI Operating System
Custom instructions — set once, runs forever
- Go to the bottom left corner, click your profile icon, then Settings, then General.
- Find the box labeled "Personal preferences Claude should consider."
- Paste your completed profile there and hit Save Changes.
- Identity — Who you are, what you do, who you serve
- Communication Style — Tone, format, what to avoid
- Goals and Priorities — What you are focused on right now
- Daily Structure — Time constraints and non-negotiables
- Avoidances — What you never want to see in a response
Projects
Dedicated workspaces with permanent context
- Open sidebar → click Projects → New Project
- Each project has: uploaded files (SOPs, brand guidelines, client docs) + its own custom instructions layered on top of your personal ones
- Use one project per major area: a client account, a program, a content channel, a business unit
- You can invite team members to a project so everyone is working in the same context
Skills
Train Claude to run your repeatable tasks perfectly, every time
- Open sidebar → search tab → Customize → Skills → Create New Skill
- Use "Create with Claude" — it will walk you through building the skill with you
- Set an activation command so you can trigger it with a single phrase (e.g. "proposal" or "content brief")
- A skill is an SOP with examples. Anything you do more than twice should become a skill.
Connectors
Plug Claude into the tools you already use
- Open sidebar → search tab → Customize → Connectors
- Connect Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Slack, GitHub, or custom MCP servers
- Set approval rules: for listing/reading actions, auto-approve is fine. For creating, editing, or deleting, always require approval.
- Once connected, Claude can pull from multiple tools and synthesize in one response
Your Full Stack
How all four layers work together
You're Not Using a Chatbot Anymore
Most people open a blank chat and type a question. You just built a system. Custom instructions running in the background. Project workspaces with your knowledge loaded. Skills that run your repeatable tasks. Connectors pulling from your actual tools. That's the difference between using AI and running your business through it.
Want to go deeper?
Watch Drake's complete "Master Claude" training at AI Foundations to unlock even more advanced techniques.