Every feature explained in plain English. The guide I wish someone gave me on day one.
Chat
The one you already know. Ask a question, get an answer. Best for quick tasks and one-off requests. If this is the only thing you’re using, you’re missing 90% of what you’re paying for.
claude.ai → New Chat
Projects
Chat with memory. Upload files, write custom instructions, and Claude remembers everything across every conversation inside that Project. Set one up for your job with your role, your goals, and your writing style. Never explain yourself twice.
claude.ai → Projects → Create Project → Set custom instructions
Cowork
Think Google Drive and Projects had a baby. Claude reads your files, creates documents, runs code, and executes multi-step tasks autonomously. This is where Claude actually does the work for you — not just answers questions about it.
Claude Desktop app → Cowork (sidebar)
Connectors + Plugins
Connectors plug Claude directly into Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, and Google Drive. It reads and acts inside those tools — no copy-pasting. Plugins are the same idea but community-built. Both live in the same place.
Settings → Customize → Connectors / Plugins
Skills + Skill Creator
Skills are saved instructions that live inside Claude and fire automatically when relevant. “Whenever I ask for a weekly report, format it like this.” Skill Creator is Claude’s built-in tool that interviews you about a process and builds a ready-to-install Skill for you. Browse pre-built ones too.
Settings → Customize → Skills → Browse or Create
Global Instructions + About-Me
Global Instructions is a prompt Claude reads before every single task, in every chat and Project. Set it once, it runs forever. About-me is where you tell Claude who you are, what you do, and what matters to you. One file is worth more than 50 random prompts.
Settings → Customize → Global Instructions / About Me
Extended Thinking
A mode where Claude reasons step by step before answering. It thinks longer, catches more edge cases, and produces significantly better output on complex tasks. Always pair it with Opus for the best results. Use it for anything important.
Toggle in the model selector → Extended Thinking ON → Select Opus
Scheduled Tasks + Dispatch
Scheduled Tasks let Claude run things automatically on a recurring schedule — daily, weekly, whatever you set. Dispatch lets you control Claude from your phone while it works on your desktop. Set a task from the couch, results are waiting at your desk.
Claude Desktop app → Cowork → Schedule a task / Dispatch from mobile
Opus 4.7
Claude’s newest and smartest model. Better vision, checks its own work, stops making things up when it doesn’t know. Always select it for anything important. Pair it with Extended Thinking every time. Available on Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise.
Model selector (top of chat) → Claude Opus 4.7
Where to Start
Day 1: Set up a Project with your role and context.
Day 1: Connect Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Slack.
Day 2: Write your Global Instructions and About-Me.
Day 3: Build your first Skill (or install a pre-built one).
Week 2: Try Cowork for a real multi-step task.
Ongoing: Always use Opus 4.7 + Extended Thinking for important work.
This cheat sheet tells you what each feature does. The Weekend Bootcamp walks you through setting up all of them — specifically for your job — in one weekend.
The Only AI Masterclass You Need
If this guide helped, but you’re looking to go deeper, I got you!! My 30-Day Challenge takes you from saving AI tips you never use to actually building with AI, step-by-step.
I show you exactly how I automated two e-commerce brands, my social media, and most of my personal life, then hand you the agents, workflows & systems to do the same. I’m teaching you every single thing I know with one lesson and one build a day.
Join the AI Masterclass →© 2026 Mariah Brunner. All rights reserved.