5 things to do before you ever send a single prompt. This is why some people get incredible results and most people get mid answers.
Most people open Claude on the website, type something, get a so-so answer and close it. Then they say AI isn’t that useful.
The people getting great results usually don’t have better prompts. They have better setup. Here are the 5 things I’d do first, in about 20 minutes.
Do These 5 Things First
01
Get the desktop app
Go to claude.ai/download and install Claude Desktop (Mac, Windows, and Linux in beta). The website is great for chatting. The desktop app is where Claude can read and write files in folders on your computer, which is what turns it from a chatbot into something that does real work.
Anthropic is folding Cowork into regular chat. If you still see a Cowork option at the bottom left of the message box, pick it for file work. If you don’t, just describe the task in any chat and Claude handles it. (Claude Desktop help)
What you need: folder work on your computer and handing off tasks need a paid plan. Pro is $20 a month, or $17 a month billed yearly. Free still gets you memory, connectors, skills and up to 5 Projects, so you can start there. (Claude pricing)
02
Pick the right model and effort
Click the model name next to the send button. Here’s how I pick.
Sonnet 5.5 for most everyday work, like drafts and emails. Fast and smart.
Opus 5.5 for anything important, like strategy, complex writing or a big decision. It’s on paid plans and uses more of your limit.
In that same menu, click Effort and turn it up for hard problems. Thinking is always on for the 5.5 models, so effort is the dial that matters now. Higher effort is slower and uses your limit faster. (How effort works)
03
Build a workspace folder
Make one folder on your computer called My Claude Workspace, with these 4 folders inside it.
who-i-am/ holds the 3 files from step 4
active-work/ with one folder per current project
reference/ for your best past work, templates and examples
deliverables/ where Claude saves finished files
In the desktop app, ask Claude to work with your files and it will ask you to pick a folder. Choose this one. Folders you’ve allowed show up under Trusted folders. Now every task starts with context instead of from zero, and finished work lands in the right place.
04
Teach Claude who you are
Inside who-i-am/, create 3 short files. Fill in the templates yourself, or paste the interview prompt and let Claude write them with you.
Interview Me And Write My Files
You're helping me set up my Claude workspace so you understand me before every task.
Goal: write three short files for my who-i-am folder: my-role.md, my-voice.md and my-rules.md.
Steps:
1. Interview me one question at a time. Ask about my job, my priorities, who I work with, who I write for, how I like to be spoken to, and what annoys me about AI answers. Ask at most 10 questions.
2. Ask me to paste 2 or 3 things I've written myself (emails, messages, posts). Use them to describe my real voice, not the voice I think I have.
3. Draft all three files. Keep each under 200 words, written in plain bullet points.
4. Ask me what's wrong or missing, then revise once.
Output: each file as its own block with the filename on top, ready to copy or save straight into the folder.
Guardrails: don't invent facts about me. If I skip a question, leave a [FILL IN] placeholder. No em dashes and no corporate jargon.
File 1: my-role.md
I'm [YOUR NAME], [YOUR ROLE] at [COMPANY OR SITUATION].
My day-to-day involves: [YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES]
My current priorities are: [THE TOP 2 OR 3 THINGS YOU'RE FOCUSED ON]
I report to: [WHO] and work closely with: [KEY PEOPLE OR TEAMS]
The people I write for most: [CLIENTS / MY BOSS / MY AUDIENCE] and what they care about: [WHAT]
File 2: my-voice.md
How I write:
- Tone: [direct / casual / formal / warm but professional. Describe your real tone]
- I hate: [corporate jargon / filler words / passive voice / whatever bugs you]
- I love: [short sentences / bullet points / data-backed claims / whatever you prefer]
- Typical length: [e.g. emails under 120 words, posts under 200]
Examples of my real voice:
[PASTE 2 OR 3 THINGS YOU'VE ACTUALLY WRITTEN: an email, a Slack message, a post]
File 3: my-rules.md
Rules for working with me:
- Ask clarifying questions before starting any task that's vague.
- Show me your plan before you do multi-step work.
- Never delete, move or overwrite files without asking first.
- Save finished files to the deliverables folder, named [project]-[what it is]-[date].
- First drafts should be 90% ready. I want to tweak, not rewrite.
- Be direct. Skip the filler. No "Great question!" or "Absolutely!"
- If you're unsure about something, say so instead of guessing.
These 3 files are the difference between a generic answer and one that sounds like you wrote it. Spend 10 real minutes on them, especially the voice examples.
05
Set your standing instructions
Click your initials in the bottom left, then Settings, then Your Claude (called Account in the older layout). Paste this into Instructions and save. It applies to every conversation automatically. (Claude personalization help)
Standing Instructions
My name is [YOUR NAME]. I'm a [YOUR ROLE].
Rules for every conversation:
- If I've connected a folder or project files, read them before responding.
- Ask clarifying questions before starting any task that's vague. Don't guess.
- Show me your plan before doing anything multi-step. I want to approve the approach first.
- Never use em dashes. No corporate jargon. Write like a real person.
- Confirm before creating, deleting or overwriting any file.
- First drafts should be 90% ready. I review and tweak, I don't rewrite from scratch.
- Be direct. Skip filler like "Great question!" and get to the answer.
- When you're uncertain, say so and ask instead of making assumptions.
Now a one-line prompt like "draft a follow-up email to the client" works, because Claude already knows who you are, how you write and where your files live.
Total Setup Time
About 20 minutes. Download the app (2 min), pick your model (30 sec), make the folders (3 min), write your 3 files (10 min), set your instructions (5 min).