You're using ChatGPT wrong.

Here's my (exact) setup before I even prompt:

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Step 1. Create a Project for your task

→ Click "Projects" → New Project.

→ Name it after your recurring task (e.g., "Hooks").

→ Use this guide to create projects in ChatGPT, Claude & Grok: ruben.substack.com/p/ho…

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Step 2. Write custom instructions once

→ Inside your Project, click "Instructions."

→ Give context about yourself (copy the template).

→ ChatGPT will remember this in every chat.

Template to copy paste:

✦ Your role: "[who you are]"

✦ Your style: "[how you write/work]"

✦ Your audience: "[who this is for]"

✦ Banned words: "[words to avoid]"

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Step 3. Upload your best work as files

→ Click "Files" inside your Project.

→ Upload 2-3 examples of your best work (as .md).

→ Less but quality information. Don't dump 50 doc.

→ More tips here: ruben.substack.com/p/ho…

Pro tip:

✦ Create a Google Doc with only your best stuff

✦ Download as markdown

✦ Upload that single file.

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Step 4. Turn on 'Extended Thinking'

→ Click the model dropdown

→ Select "thinking" reasoning model.

→ Use it for strategy, analysis, or complex tasks.

→ Yes, it takes longer. The depth is worth it.

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Step 5. Turn on "Search"

→ Click the search icon before prompting.

→ or simple type "/search" and enter.

→ Use it when you need facts, stats, or current info.

→ It forces to cite sources instead of guessing.

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Before your next prompt, check these three:

1. Am I inside a Project?

2. Is Extended Thinking on?

3. Is Search on (if I need accuracy)?

Set these first. Then prompt.

Top 1% of ChatGPT users do this. Now you can too.

If you enjoy this kind of setup, restack it ♻️ to your network to help them setup ChatGPT better, too.