Editor’s Note
I’m excited to share today’s feature from guest author , who brings a wealth of experience in startups, writing, and digital product creation. In this piece, she walks through a practical, step-by-step way to create your own AI Assistant.
Claudia is a German-born digital nomad helping creators turn writing into solopreneurship. After leaving the corporate world behind, she built a career in startups, earned degrees in economics and digital health, and even founded her own health-tech company. Today, she shares her journey and lessons through her newsletter, guiding others to build freedom-driven online businesses.
At Build to Thrive, my goal is to surface exactly these kinds of actionable insights: ideas, tools, and strategies that help founders and solopreneurs transform their work into assets that compound over time.
I hope you’ll take away not just tactics, but inspiration to keep building on your own terms.
—Juan
We all know how powerful AI can be for writers and online creators.
From speeding up content creation to helping you run your business more efficiently. But knowing how to actually use it in your own workflow is where many people get stuck.
If that’s you, you’re not behind. You’re exactly where so many thoughtful creators find themselves: seeing the potential, but unsure how to begin.
Here’s the good news: you don’t need to overcomplicate your entire process or become a tech expert. Today, I’ll show you how to create an AI agent with ChatGTP.
Let’s break it down.
Step 1: Make sure you’re using ChatGPT Plus
Custom assistants (called GPTs) are only available with a ChatGPT Plus subscription. It’s $20/month and gives you access to GPT-4 and the option to create your own bots.
Go to chat.openai.com, log in, and make sure you’re using GPT-4. (You’ll see it in the top center of your screen.)
Step 2: Click “Explore GPTs” in the sidebar
On the left side of your screen, you’ll see a button labeled GPTs. Click that.
This will take you to a directory of featured assistants. In the top right corner of that screen, click the Create button.
Step 3: Choose the “Easy” builder
Now you’ll see a split screen:
On the left side, ChatGPT asks you questions like:
What do you want this GPT to do?
What should its tone be?
What should it avoid?
On the right side, you’ll see a live preview of your assistant as it’s being built. It updates automatically based on your answers.
Take your time answering the left side prompts, it’s like giving your assistant a job description.
Step 4: Copy and paste these instructions (and tweak them)
Use this as a starting point:
You are a personal writing and publishing assistant for [your name], a [describe your niche or audience].
Your tasks include:
– Brainstorming newsletter topics
– Creating outlines for weekly posts
– Drafting in my voice: [describe your tone]
– Editing for clarity and flow
– Writing CTAs that sound human
– Turning long-form content into short Notes (under 100 words)
– Suggesting titles, headlines, and tags
Adjust the text so it fits your workflow and tone.
Step 5: Name it and save it
Give your GPT a name (like “Writing Buddy” or “Content Coach”) and make sure to select “Only Me” when publishing—this keeps it private.
Once you click “Publish,” your assistant will appear in the sidebar under “Your GPTs.”
To use it again later, just click its name from the sidebar, like opening a saved conversation.
Why this is worth doing
Instead of starting from scratch every time, you now have a tool that understands your voice, goals, and workflow. It saves time, reduces creative friction, and keeps you in flow.
And let me make this very clear: this isn’t about replacing your creativity but supporting it.
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Ways I can help you:
Critical thinking on your business challenge
Strategic alignment, goal setting and execution
Using AI to help you save time and become more productive
Here is a free GPT I built to help you turn annual goals into a 90-day execution plan. It will give you a taste of how psychology and systems work hand in hand.
The 90-Day Sprint Program is more than what you will get with the GPT. It is a Strategic Execution Partnership. I work alongside you as a guiding partner to cut through the noise, sharpen your goals, and design a 90-day roadmap that drives real progress. Together, we set clear, measurable priorities and build an accountability system that keeps you moving forward.
If you would like to explore working together, send me a message. I would love to connect.
Juan Salas-Romer is President & CEO of NHR Group, a firm that builds, invests in, and transforms companies and properties. He holds a BS in Entrepreneurship from Babson College and an MBA in Finance from Boston College. With two decades of experience across finance, real estate, hospitality, and education, he is drawn to opportunities others often overlook.
His focus is uncovering potential in underperforming assets and turning it into lasting growth. He also partners with founders as a strategic ally, helping them clarify vision, make sharper decisions, and build businesses that endure.
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Thanks Juan and Claudia for this excellent article. Really makes it extremely clear how (and why) to build your own agents in ChatGPT. A great resource that I am bookmarking. 🙏