A FREE PRACTICAL GUIDE · BY MOLLY
Save the Instructions, Not Just the Answer
Turn a task you’ve figured out into steps you can use again.
Let’s try one
You finally got it right: the message, the listing, the reply. Next week you'll need it again, slightly different. Save the instructions, and you won't have to work it out twice.
Who it's for
Anyone who does the same job again and again: a weekly class reminder, a listing for each new thing you make, a quote for a new client, a thank-you note in every order. With Claude or by hand.
Use it when
- You got a great result from Claude once, and a new chat can't get it right again.
- You do the same job every week or with every order: a reminder text for your class, a description for each new candle or print, a reply to people asking for a quote.
- Someone is helping you, a friend, a teenager or a part-timer, and you want them to do it your way without you standing over them.
- You keep explaining your tone, your rules or what to leave out every time you open a chat.
You'll get: A short set of saved instructions for one job, with blanks for what changes, your always and never rules, and one example, ready to paste into a new chat or hand to a person.
How to do it
Pick one job you'll do again
Choose one thing you make or write more than once, now or before. It can be something you do with Claude, by hand, or a mix.
What good looks like: One job with a clear “use this when”: “every Monday, the reminder text for my Thursday class”, or “each time I list a new candle”.
Watch out for: Trying to write instructions for your whole business. One job per set of instructions. You can make another set later.
Keep one result you were happy with
Find the best version you've done: the text you sent, the listing that sold, the reply that got a yes. Copy it somewhere you can find it.
What good looks like: A real one you'd happily send again, with what you liked about it in a few words: “short”, “friendly”, “gets to the price fast”.
Watch out for: Keeping only the answer, with nothing about why it worked. The example shows the style. The instructions explain how to get it again.
Split what changes from what stays the same
Go through your example. Mark the parts that change every time, like the date, the product, the customer's name or the theme. These become the blanks. Then list what never changes: your tone, the length, the lines that are always there, and anything you always take out.
What good looks like: A short list of blanks to fill in, plus “always” and “never” lines. For example: always say how to pay at the door; never mention weight loss.
Watch out for: Turning this week's details into rules. “Thursday at 6” is a blank, not a rule, unless the class really is always Thursday at 6.
Write it for someone who wasn't there
Put it together as a short note: what the job is and who it's for, the blanks to fill in, the steps in order, your always and never lines, and your example. Write it for a new chat or a new helper who has never met you.
What good looks like: Someone new could follow it without asking you anything, and without seeing any old chats.
Watch out for: Writing “like last time” or “the usual”. A new chat doesn't remember your last one, and a new helper wasn't there.
Use it on the next real one, then fix one thing
Next time the job comes round, start a new chat (or hand the note to your helper), paste the instructions and fill in the blanks. Compare the result with your good example. If you still had to fix something by hand, change one line in the instructions.
What good looks like: The new version needs little or no fixing. When it doesn't, you change one instruction and say why.
Watch out for: Judging the instructions by reading them. You only find the gaps by using them on a real one. And don't pile on rules in capitals: one clear line works better than five warnings.
Do it with Claude in 10 minutes
Best place to paste it: at the bottom of the Claude chat where you got the result you liked, so Claude can use what's already there. No chat to go back to? Start a new one and paste your good example when it asks. It asks 3 to 5 quick questions, then gives you your saved instructions to copy into your notes.
Save my instructions
Turn one job you'll do again into saved instructions you can reuse. Paste it into Claude and answer its few quick questions. The result comes back in the same chat.
Read the prompt + an example
I have a job I'll need to do again: a message, a listing, a description, a reply, a plan, a post, or something I make by hand and write about. Help me turn it into saved instructions I can paste into a new Claude chat next time, or hand to someone helping me, so I get the same good result without explaining everything again. To do this well, you'll probably need to find out: - which one job this is for and when I'd use it (purpose: one job per set of instructions; if I'm vague, try "what have you made or written more than once, now or before?") - one version I was happy with, and what I liked about it (purpose: it shows what good looks like; if we did it earlier in this chat, use that; if I don't have one, ask what I'd want it to sound like, then write a short example from my answers and mark it as a draft for me to check) - what changes each time and what stays the same (purpose: so the instructions work next time, not only for this one; work out what you can from my example and check it with me) - anything it must always include or never do (purpose: the fixes I'd otherwise make by hand; try "what do you usually change before you send it?") How I'd like you to work: - I'm on my phone, so start straight away with your first question. No introduction. - If we've already done this job earlier in this chat, or I've already told you something, build on it and skip those questions. - Ask one short question at a time and wait for my answer. Before each one, say in a few words why you're asking. - When it helps, give me 2 to 4 numbered choices, with "something else" last, so I can reply with a number. - If an answer is vague, ask for one real example instead of guessing. - Stop asking once you know enough. That's usually three to five questions. If I say "just do it", make your best guess and tell me what you assumed. - Write for a phone screen: plain words, short lines, no tables, no jargon. When you have enough, give me: - The saved instructions in one block I can copy in one go. Write them to a new chat, or a new helper, that knows nothing about me: a title; "Use this when"; what the job is and who it's for; the blanks that change each time, written in capitals like DATE or PRODUCT NAME; the steps in order; my always and never lines; my example, marked as an example of the style, not to copy word for word; and a last line asking for any blanks I haven't filled in, one at a time. - Under the block, two short lines: where to keep it (my notes app, named after the job) and how to use it next time (new chat, paste, add that day's details). - Then one line on what to try it on next, so I can check it works. Use only what I've told you. Don't invent prices, dates, rules or facts about me or my business; if something important is missing, ask me in one line. Keep the instructions short enough to read on a phone, about 250 words at most.
A filled-in example
These are illustrative details. Use your own information.
I have a job I'll need to do again: a message, a listing, a description, a reply, a plan, a post, or something I make by hand and write about. Help me turn it into saved instructions I can paste into a new Claude chat next time, or hand to someone helping me, so I get the same good result without explaining everything again. To do this well, you'll probably need to find out: - which one job this is for and when I'd use it (purpose: one job per set of instructions; if I'm vague, try "what have you made or written more than once, now or before?") - one version I was happy with, and what I liked about it (purpose: it shows what good looks like; if we did it earlier in this chat, use that; if I don't have one, ask what I'd want it to sound like, then write a short example from my answers and mark it as a draft for me to check) - what changes each time and what stays the same (purpose: so the instructions work next time, not only for this one; work out what you can from my example and check it with me) - anything it must always include or never do (purpose: the fixes I'd otherwise make by hand; try "what do you usually change before you send it?") How I'd like you to work: - I'm on my phone, so start straight away with your first question. No introduction. - If we've already done this job earlier in this chat, or I've already told you something, build on it and skip those questions. - Ask one short question at a time and wait for my answer. Before each one, say in a few words why you're asking. - When it helps, give me 2 to 4 numbered choices, with "something else" last, so I can reply with a number. - If an answer is vague, ask for one real example instead of guessing. - Stop asking once you know enough. That's usually three to five questions. If I say "just do it", make your best guess and tell me what you assumed. - Write for a phone screen: plain words, short lines, no tables, no jargon. When you have enough, give me: - The saved instructions in one block I can copy in one go. Write them to a new chat, or a new helper, that knows nothing about me: a title; "Use this when"; what the job is and who it's for; the blanks that change each time, written in capitals like DATE or PRODUCT NAME; the steps in order; my always and never lines; my example, marked as an example of the style, not to copy word for word; and a last line asking for any blanks I haven't filled in, one at a time. - Under the block, two short lines: where to keep it (my notes app, named after the job) and how to use it next time (new chat, paste, add that day's details). - Then one line on what to try it on next, so I can check it works. Use only what I've told you. Don't invent prices, dates, rules or facts about me or my business; if something important is missing, ask me in one line. Keep the instructions short enough to read on a phone, about 250 words at most. --- HOW IT GOES (a made-up example) Claude: What's the job you'll do again? (So the instructions fit one thing.) 1. A message 2. A listing or description 3. A reply to customers 4. Something else You: 1. The reminder text for my Thursday yoga class. Claude: Paste one you were happy with, and say what you liked. (It shows what good looks like.) You: (pastes last week's text) Short and friendly. Claude: What do you usually change before you send it? You: It says “burn calories”. I never want that. …then saved instructions called “Weekly class reminder”, with blanks for DATE, THEME and PLACE.Download the original prompt (.txt)
See it in action
A yoga teacher saves their weekly reminder (made up). Molly's own team of AI agents works the same way: each agent is a set of saved instructions.
What's the job you'll do again? (So the instructions fit one thing.) 1. A message 2. A listing or description 3. A reply to customers 4. Something else
1. The reminder text I send before my Thursday class at the church hall.
Paste one you were happy with, and tell me what you liked. (It shows what good looks like.)
“Hi all! Thursday 6 pm, slow flow for tight hips. Bring a mat and water. Pay at the door, cash or Venmo. See you there!” Short and friendly.
From that, the date, time and theme change each week. Does anything else change? 1. The place, sometimes 2. Nothing else 3. Something else
1. Some weeks we're in the park.
What do you usually fix before you send it? (So the instructions fix it for you.)
It writes “burn calories”. Never anything about weight.
Here are your saved instructions, “Weekly class reminder”: use it every Monday; blanks for DATE, TIME, THEME and PLACE; short and friendly; always say bring a mat and how to pay at the door; never mention weight or calories; your text as the example. Keep it in your notes. Next Monday, paste it into a new chat with the week's details.
What to do next
Copy the instructions into your notes app and name the note after the job, like “Class reminder”. Next time, start a new Claude chat, paste them and add that day's details. If you still had to fix something, tell Claude what you changed and ask it to update the instructions. One fix each time, and they get better every round.
Your answer stays in your Claude chat. To find it faster, screenshot it or copy it into your notes.
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