Show Notes
A practical, updated quick-start to go from ChatGPT newbie to pro in 7 minutes, with tips you can apply to business workflows, prompts, and Mac integration.
Quick start: what to use and how
- You’re on the paid version. GPTs (custom bots) aren’t essential—they’re often overrated.
- Projects are the core: a collection of your uploaded files to train ChatGPT plus a space for custom instructions.
- Example: build a project with your work samples and a set of instructions that guide how to turn your input into a polished output (e.g., a blog post from your story).
- Use Projects to centralize your context and accelerate repeatable outputs (like drafts for common business tasks).
Prompts: how to structure for best results
- Prompts are what you tell the model. More context usually means better results. Four levels of prompt detail:
- Level 1: Basic prompt (e.g., write an email to my boss about a raise). The model knows little about you.
- Level 2: Add context (you’re a mid-level marketer at Company X, with specific daily tasks).
- Level 3: Add work examples stored in the project (your past outputs, results, metrics).
- Level 4: Add persuasive-writing examples and successful emails (from real-world wins) to guide tone and structure.
- Practical takeaway: provide as much relevant context and examples as you can to nudge the model toward your desired output.
Model types and when to use them
- Two model paradigms:
- Chain-of-thought / deeper reasoning models: slower, better for complex, multi-step problems.
- Chat models: fast, back-and-forth iterations for drafting and quick turns.
- Parker’s guideline:
- For complex tasks, start with the deeper-thinking option (01).
- For quick pings and drafts, use the faster option (03 mini or GPT-4-like).
- Core idea: tailor the model to the task complexity and desired turnaround time; provide ample context regardless of model.
Tools you should know about
- Search: like a Google inside the chat, but not ideal for deep research.
- Not available on chain-of-thought models; use a chat model if you need quick lookup, but be skeptical of accuracy.
- Deep research: go-out-and-back-with-sources mode.
- Best for papers, reports, citations, and links. Returns sources and evidence you can cite.
- Image: generate visuals when needed (cartoony style, but handles quick visuals).
- Canvas: a connected document editor that opens alongside ChatGPT for editing workflows.
Mac app and the Companion feature
- Companion is a key productivity boost:
- Bound to a hotkey, keeps context on hand without leaving your current task.
- Drafts and prompts you can refine on the fly.
- How to use it effectively:
- Draft a raise email using a targeted prompt, then use snippets to produce variations.
- Snippets are reusable prompts/templates. Example: a concise prompt that outputs multiple variations.
- Snippet strategy:
- Use a concise prompt (e.g., “GPT key concise”) to trim output.
- Generate multiple variations:
- Variation 1: direct and professional
- Variation 2: warm and appreciative
- Variation 3: crisp and authoritative
- Variation 4: confident and results-focused
- Practical caveat: the Mac app is great for focus sessions, but don’t rely on it exclusively for heavy, day-to-day work—use the main app for longer work sessions.
- On-screen context: Companion can show auto-suggestions and even take screenshots of your current screen to inform prompts.
- Quick tip: you can start typing in Chrome or other apps, and Companion will offer app-specific prompts or context-aware suggestions.
Practical takeaways and best practices
- Build a strong project: store your best work samples and your custom instructions in one place.
- Always add context: the more you tell the model about who you are and what you’ve done, the better the output.
- Use deep research for credibility: when you need sources, evidence, or citations, use the deep research tool.
- Leverage Canvas for documents: keep drafts and edits organized side-by-side with ChatGPT outputs.
- Use Snippets to scale: create a library of prompt templates and tone styles; remix outputs quickly.
- Use the Companion for focus: don’t rely on it for every task, but use it to accelerate repetitive workflows and rapid drafting.
- Don’t overdo it: if a draft is too long or verbose, trim with concise prompts or request variations focused on brevity.
Next steps
- If you want more depth, Parker suggests a Master Class on the channel to level up further.
Links
- Parker Rex YouTube Channel (ChatGPT mastery content)
- ChatGPT (OpenAI's AI assistant)
- OpenAI Platform (for deeper dives and API access)