Until last week I would have said people already have project instructions and skills in place, but I have been kinda shocked to find out differently. A lot of people use AI, write about it, have virtually no documentation to create context. After my big Claude dilemma, I threw everything existing out and I now have ten new project instruction docs that sit in varying ways across all projects (and a little spreadsheet to manage their distribution and reviews!). Still testing, but so far, pretty good! One turned into a skill yesterday, woo hoo. I don't understand why people use AI with no persistent context, but I appreciate you taking us all through it and yelling it at the people slouching in the back 😆
A spreadsheet to manage your project instruction docs. You've built a meta-system for your system. (I say this with genuine respect and mild concern for your free time.)
The fact that one turned into a skill means the docs are earning their keep. That's the inflection point most people never reach.
By spreadsheet, I mean a very simple one - zero formulas, no fuss but sanity saving to know a certain document if touched needs to be updated in four exact projects.
Also, turning a document into a skill is now so easy from inside the chat, absolutely no excuses anymore!
Have been stuck in the Naked Chat Escape room myself only with no voice offering clues as to how to get the next tier. The bit on Claude CoWork projects was quite timely. How'd you know? Will colab with AI to develop custom instructions and knowledge base.
Until last week I would have said people already have project instructions and skills in place, but I have been kinda shocked to find out differently. A lot of people use AI, write about it, have virtually no documentation to create context. After my big Claude dilemma, I threw everything existing out and I now have ten new project instruction docs that sit in varying ways across all projects (and a little spreadsheet to manage their distribution and reviews!). Still testing, but so far, pretty good! One turned into a skill yesterday, woo hoo. I don't understand why people use AI with no persistent context, but I appreciate you taking us all through it and yelling it at the people slouching in the back 😆
A spreadsheet to manage your project instruction docs. You've built a meta-system for your system. (I say this with genuine respect and mild concern for your free time.)
The fact that one turned into a skill means the docs are earning their keep. That's the inflection point most people never reach.
By spreadsheet, I mean a very simple one - zero formulas, no fuss but sanity saving to know a certain document if touched needs to be updated in four exact projects.
Also, turning a document into a skill is now so easy from inside the chat, absolutely no excuses anymore!
Zero formulas is the right call. The system that actually gets used beats the elaborate one that doesn't.
(I have a graveyard of Notion databases that can confirm this.)
😜
Have been stuck in the Naked Chat Escape room myself only with no voice offering clues as to how to get the next tier. The bit on Claude CoWork projects was quite timely. How'd you know? Will colab with AI to develop custom instructions and knowledge base.
Naked Chat Escape room. I'm stealing that. (With credit. Probably.)
Custom instructions are the right first move. Even a rough version changes the dynamic immediately. You don't need it perfect. You need it to exist.
Thanks Nick, that is a great start to unwrapping the burrito!
Plenty more layers to go. Some of them are messy. (That's how you know it's a real burrito.)