A Guide for Friends
A curated path for friends who keep asking: okay, but what should I actually do?
I get this question a lot. Here's what I'd tell you over coffee.
One note before you start. AI isn't a tool you use once and master. It's a collaborator you grow with. The people getting real value aren't the ones chasing every new model: they're the ones who built clear thinking habits first, then let AI amplify them. Start small. Stay curious.
Before you sign up for anything, look at what people are already doing with AI. Inspiration before instruction.
Three places to start, each one a different kind of work:
Why this first: you'll learn faster once you can see yourself in someone else's workflow. Skip the feature tours. Look at outcomes.
This is the AI I use. Built for partnership, not performance.
This referral link gets you $20 in extra usage when you upgrade to Pro. Free tier is generous enough to start.
Why this order: Anthropic's courses are short, practical, and free. Finishing the first two gives you a baseline most AI users never build. Most people are winging it. You won't be.
Once you've got the basics down, this is where the real upgrade happens.
What you'll get: A structured curriculum on AI literacy. Not a prompt pack. Not a get-rich-quick course. Actual pedagogy.
Why I recommend it: most "AI courses" are prompt lists with a Gumroad page. Mindvalley treats AI as a discipline worth teaching properly. It's also where I send friends who want to go from "I used Claude once" to "I think with AI now."
When you want AI to run things for you, not just chat with you. Two different tools for two different problems.
What it is: Anthropic's desktop app that lets Claude run on a schedule. Weekly research briefings. Monday morning summaries. Recurring scans. Claude executes on its own while you work on other things.
Why I recommend it: Native to the Claude ecosystem. No external orchestration layer, no glue code. If the task involves Claude thinking or producing something on a schedule, this is the right tool. It's what I use for my weekly company check-in.
Cost: Included in Claude paid plans.
Want a proper intro? Anthropic Academy has a free course: Introduction to Claude Cowork.
How I'd Learn n8n if I Had to Start Over in 2026 (Nate Herk)
What you'll learn: Visual workflow automation between apps. When a Typeform is submitted, create a Notion page. When an email arrives, send it to a Slack channel. The glue that moves data around without code.
Why Nate: he explains it like a human, not a developer. If you want an easier on-ramp, try Zapier first. Same concept, gentler learning curve.
When to use which: Cowork when Claude needs to do the thinking. n8n or Zapier when you're just moving data between apps.
If you wanted to copy my setup, here's what I'd hand you. Tiered by where you are.
This is what I do professionally. If you want a configured Claude setup, a custom CLAUDE.md that reflects how you actually work, and two or three bespoke skills for your job: that's my AI Onboarding Sprint.
For longer or different session types: see all booking options.
Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I actually use. Everything else is a plain link with no kickback.
Questions? Push back? Email me.