You're using AGI level Claude on default settings.
That's like driving a Ferrari like a golf cart:
Setting 1: Model
Pick the Opus 4.8 model (the best model right now).
You only access it with a $20/month plan.
Setting 2: Effort
Same box. Set Effort to High (for complex tasks).
Claude reasons before it answers instead of blurting the first thing. Single biggest quality jump.
Setting 3: Tools
Hit the " " in the chat box.
Turn on Web search. Turn on Research for .
Without it Claude guesses from memory.
With it, it checks live sources before answering.
Setting 4: Connectors
Settings > Connectors.
Link Gmail, Slack, Drive, Notion.
Claude now reads your actual workspace.
Tip: turn them on per-chat. Saves tokens.
Setting 5: Skills
Settings > Skills.
Type /skill-creator. Teach Claude how YOU work.
Build your process once, and Claude runs it on its own every time after. Like training an employee.
Setting 6: Projects
Go to claude .ai > Projects > Create one.
Upload your files & add instructions.
Every chat inside the project remembers your context, so you set it up.
Setting 7: Workspace mode
Top of the app: Chat / Cowork / Code.
Chat answers you. Cowork builds files on computer.
The real PDF. The real spreadsheet. In your folder.
Setting 8: Instructions
Settings > Global instructions.
No more repeating "keep it short" in every chat.
Set the rules once, they stick forever.
Setting 9: Memory
Settings > turn on "Search and reference chats."
Claude remembers what you told it last week.
No more re-explaining yourself every morning.
Honest take:
You don't need all 9 on day one.
Model Thinking Tools gets you 80% there.
Where Claude falls short:
No image generation. Use ChatGPT.
Not the best at real-time search. Use Grok.
Not the best at everything. No tool is.
But for writing, thinking, analyzing, working with your files? Nothing's close.
Set up all 9. It takes a day.
Then you'll understand why everyone switched.
To download my (personally created) Claude skills:
1. Go to
how-to-ai.guide.
2. Subscribe for free. Don't pay anything.
3. Open my welcome email (most skip this).
4. Hit the automatic reply button inside.
5. Click on Notion link. Go to 'Claude Cowork' folder.