The 2-Minute AI Setup
A free guide by Kamran Imam — Instagram · TikTok · YouTube
If your AI gives you generic answers, it’s not the AI — it’s that it knows nothing about you. Four set-once settings fix that. Total time: about two minutes per app, and every single answer afterward gets better.
1. Custom instructions (the big one)
Both Claude and ChatGPT have a settings field for “what should the AI know about you.” Most people leave it blank. Paste this, filled in:
I'm [name], a [role] in [field]. I'm usually working on: [2-3 recurring things]. Answer style: direct and practical, skip the disclaimers I didn't ask for, use plain language, and give me the answer first before the explanation. When I ask for writing, my voice is [3 adjectives]. Assume I'm smart but busy. When you're not sure about a fact, say so instead of guessing.That last sentence quietly upgrades reliability more than any other line.
2. The memory decision
Memory means the AI remembers things across chats. Decide once: ON if you mostly use it for your own work and want compounding context. OFF (or per-chat) if you share the account, discuss sensitive client work, or just don’t like the idea. Either is fine — deciding is the point. Check what’s already in memory (both apps let you view and delete entries) — you might be surprised what’s accumulated.
3. One Project (or folder) for your repeated work
Both apps let you group chats with shared context and files. Make ONE for your main recurring work — “My Business,” “Job Hunt,” “Content” — and drop the relevant files in it once: your resume, your service list, your brand notes. Now every chat inside it starts warm instead of cold.
4. A saved prompt library
A plain note on your phone titled “Prompts.” Every time a prompt works well, paste it there. Six months from now this note is worth more than any guide on this site — including this one. Starter set: /r/codes.
The before/after test
Ask the same real question before and after setup — something like “help me plan next week.” The before answer is a horoscope. The after answer mentions your actual work. That gap is what you’ve been leaving on the table.
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