# 🪄 Magic. Canonical: https://social-archive.org/adegette/rTmm7V2fpN Original URL: https://ruben.substack.com/p/magic Author: Ruben Hassid Platform: substack ## Content You have 27 saved prompts in a folder you haven’t opened in 3 weeks. You know the folder. Maybe it’s a Notion page (like mine). A Google Doc. Or worse, 27 screenshots on your phone you swore you’d organize “this weekend.” You collected them from LinkedIn posts. From YouTube videos. From that one thread on X that promised it’s “the only prompt you’ll ever need.” And then you sat in front of ChatGPT, pasted one in, tweaked it for 2 minutes, hit enter, and got... meh. Something that sounded like every AI text on the internet. Sounds good, does not work. That’s the revolution you were promised? So you went looking for a better prompt. I did this too. For three years. I spent over 10,000 hours testing prompts. I even built the Prompt Maker, a tool used over 1 million times on ChatGPT. So believe me when I tell you: the magic prompt doesn’t exist. (Yes, I’m telling you to stop using the things I built.) You can do better. I want us both to do better. And it’s so simple it’s almost annoying. 1 - The Prompt Is Not The Problem.Your prompt library is a coping mechanism. Every 500-word prompt you ever saved. Every “act as a senior marketing strategist with 20 years of experience” template. All of it exists because we had nothing else to give AI. No context. No examples. No voice. No taste. Just instructions. Here’s what changed while you were collecting prompts: context windows went from 4,000 tokens to over 1,000,000. In plain terms, AI went from reading a sticky note to reading an entire book before answering you. And the newest models don’t just accept conversation. They prefer it. Claude’s Cowork mode literally asks you questions now through “AskUserQuestion”. • • in Claude Cowork, specifically mention “AskUserQuestion” Now, it’s the AI that prompts you. You spent 3 years perfecting how to talk to AI. Now AI knows how to talk to you. I remember writing this article, “Context > Prompt,” back in November. I had this cute prompt to force myself to give AI enough context. Cute, but outdated. This is no longer how I work today. Here’s what I actually do. You only need two things today: context (text files) + chat (like a conversation). Let’s start with the files: 2 - I Don’t Write Prompts Anymore. But Files.I completely changed how I use AI every day in December 2025. This is now 80% of my AI conversations today: • I go to Claude (browser) or Claude Cowork (app). • I then copy and paste a prompt template. I want to [TASK] so that [SUCCESS CRITERIA]. First, read these files completely before responding: 1. [filename.md] — [what it contains] 2. [filename.md] — [what it contains] 3. [filename.md] — [what it contains] DO NOT start executing yet. Instead, ask me clarifying questions (use ‘AskUserQuestion’ tool) so we can refine the approach together step by step. Only begin work once we’ve aligned. That’s really it. Now you want two things: (1) an example and (2) what “files” you should upload to Claude. Let’s cover it. An example of a perfect chat.• • It’s again inside Claude Cowork. Now available on Windows. • I copied and pasted the prompt template to start the chat. • I defined the task “a Linkedin post” and the success “newsletter sign-ups”. • I uploaded 4 text files (as md.) and explained what they contained. • My text file. The most important file. I made a guide here. • A copywriting master playbook. I share it at the end of this guide. • An Anti AI style. I share it at the end of this guide. • My last newsletter (needed here). Once done, I now have the perfect starting point for AI. It asked me questions. • • This is the AskUserQuestion magic. We successfully gave the right context to AI. I told you step 2 is about how to best chat with AI (the follow-up conversation). I will continue this example in the 3rd part of this newsletter (make sure to check it). But first, (1) my favorite files for Claude and (2) how to create your own md. file. My favorite files.I have a folder called “MD FILES FOR CLAUDE” on my computer. And you should, too. • • Here’s my list of files so far: • CLAUDE PROMPTING COOKBOOK.md - to know how to prompt Claude. • MARKETING GENIUS.md - covers 13 of my favorite books on marketing. • ANTI AI WRITING STYLE.md - to never sound like an AI in our copies. • COPYWRITING.md - the 6 copywriting experts' playbook. • v1-VOICE_PROFILE_RUBEN.md — to know who I am, what I stand for. To download them all: https://www.dropbox.com/t/TGg7Bn7DcEKGYZBb. How to create your own md. filesIt’s actually quite simple. Ask Claude to do it. Create a complete .md reference file that a future version of you (Claude) can read to become an expert at: [TOPIC/SKILL]. First, thoroughly study these sources before writing anything: [URLS / UPLOADED FILES / “use web search”] The file must be written FOR AI consumption, not humans. Structure it as: - Clear rules and principles (not explanations) - Decision frameworks with if/then logic - Reusable templates with placeholders - Common mistakes to avoid - Examples of good vs bad output Use XML tags to organize sections. Be exhaustive but scannable. Save it as a downloadable .md file. Here’s a good example of turning a massive blog into an md. file: • • Always use Claude Opus-4.6 (Extended) for anything. I now have the perfect md. file for future use about Bogle investment: • • This is the one-shot answer from Claude. I wouldn’t change it. A quick recap before jumping into the next section: • You saw what a perfect prompt start looks like (with a template to copy). • You downloaded my own favorite Claude files to upload to your chats. • You have the prompt template to create a Claude file from anything. So you know how to start any AI chat. Now, how to actually chat with it? Because yes, it’s all about how you chat with it. It’s called ChatGPT for a reason. 3 - It’s Called ChatGPT For A Reason.The best way to use AI in 2026 is a conversation. You say something short. AI responds. You push back. You refine. I shared above the right way to start (for me, at least). Let’s continue our example of a Linkedin post based on my newsletter: • • I simply answered the questions from Claude, and now it starts thinking. I had to make a video to explain how I chat with AI. I know you guys prefer screenshots, but that would have been 20+ screenshots easily. Not fun. TLDR: There Is No Magic Prompt.The people getting the best results from AI didn’t find a secret formula. They built context files. They started having actual conversations. And they used their taste — their ability to say no to average and yes to a few things that actually matter — to steer every output. AI is average at best. It will always be. Your taste is what makes the output something worth reading. No prompt library. No magic words. No secret formula. A text file. A conversation. And you. … ‘You’, but until when? If you also have a existential crisis because of the new Claude, leave a comment. My human self will provide emotional support. Leave a comment archive of my past blogs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pWuMCBVQo1zKcgKltX_BZxAr31KgxmOlp3Vzvmc5Hxc/edit?usp=sharing Some of you want to go further. And I offer a bit more: • You can pay for the newsletter to join my Slack (1,000+ people). It’s a bunch of people like you who want to win with AI, and find a tribe of people who do. • Your company can be trained directly by me & my consulting firm. DM me on Linkedin the word “CONSULTING” and my assistant will get back to you. Subscribe now ---

You have 27 saved prompts in a folder you haven’t opened in 3 weeks.

You know the folder. Maybe it’s a Notion page (like mine). A Google Doc. Or worse, 27 screenshots on your phone you swore you’d organize “this weekend.”

You collected them from LinkedIn posts. From YouTube videos. From that one thread on X that promised it’s “the only prompt you’ll ever need.”

And then you sat in front of ChatGPT, pasted one in, tweaked it for 2 minutes, hit enter, and got... meh. Something that sounded like every AI text on the internet. Sounds good, does not work. That’s the revolution you were promised?

So you went looking for a better prompt.

I did this too. For three years. I spent over 10,000 hours testing prompts.

I even built the Prompt Maker, a tool used over 1 million times on ChatGPT.

So believe me when I tell you: the magic prompt doesn’t exist.

(Yes, I’m telling you to stop using the things I built.)

You can do better. I want us both to do better.

And it’s so simple it’s almost annoying.

1 - The Prompt Is Not The Problem.

Your prompt library is a coping mechanism.

Every 500-word prompt you ever saved. Every “act as a senior marketing strategist with 20 years of experience” template. All of it exists because we had nothing else to give AI. No context. No examples. No voice. No taste. Just instructions.

Here’s what changed while you were collecting prompts: context windows went from 4,000 tokens to over 1,000,000. In plain terms, AI went from reading a sticky note to reading an entire book before answering you.

And the newest models don’t just accept conversation. They prefer it. Claude’s Cowork mode literally asks you questions now through “AskUserQuestion”.

in Claude Cowork, specifically mention “AskUserQuestion”

Now, it’s the AI that prompts you.

You spent 3 years perfecting how to talk to AI. Now AI knows how to talk to you.

I remember writing this article, â€œContext > Prompt,” back in November. I had this cute prompt to force myself to give AI enough context. Cute, but outdated.

This is no longer how I work today.

Here’s what I actually do.

You only need two things today: context (text files) + chat (like a conversation).

Let’s start with the files:

2 - I Don’t Write Prompts Anymore. But Files.

I completely changed how I use AI every day in December 2025.

This is now 80% of my AI conversations today:

  1. I go to Claude (browser) or Claude Cowork (app).

  2. I then copy and paste a prompt template.

I want to [TASK] so that [SUCCESS CRITERIA].

First, read these files completely before responding:

1. [filename.md] — [what it contains]

2. [filename.md] — [what it contains]

3. [filename.md] — [what it contains]

DO NOT start executing yet. Instead, ask me clarifying questions (use ‘AskUserQuestion’ tool) so we can refine the approach together step by step.

Only begin work once we’ve aligned.

That’s really it. Now you want two things: (1) an example and (2) what “files” you should upload to Claude. Let’s cover it.

An example of a perfect chat.

It’s again inside Claude Cowork. Now available on Windows.

  1. I copied and pasted the prompt template to start the chat.

  2. I defined the task “a Linkedin post” and the success “newsletter sign-ups”.

  3. I uploaded 4 text files (as md.) and explained what they contained.

    1. My text file. The most important file. I made a guide here.

    2. A copywriting master playbook. I share it at the end of this guide.

    3. An Anti AI style. I share it at the end of this guide.

    4. My last newsletter (needed here).

Once done, I now have the perfect starting point for AI. It asked me questions.

This is the AskUserQuestion magic.

We successfully gave the right context to AI.

I told you step 2 is about how to best chat with AI (the follow-up conversation). I will continue this example in the 3rd part of this newsletter (make sure to check it).

But first, (1) my favorite files for Claude and (2) how to create your own md. file.

My favorite files.

I have a folder called “MD FILES FOR CLAUDE” on my computer.

And you should, too.

Here’s my list of files so far:

  1. CLAUDE PROMPTING COOKBOOK.md - to know how to prompt Claude.

  2. MARKETING GENIUS.md - covers 13 of my favorite books on marketing.

  3. ANTI AI WRITING STYLE.md - to never sound like an AI in our copies.

  4. COPYWRITING.md - the 6 copywriting experts' playbook.

  5. v1-VOICE_PROFILE_RUBEN.md — to know who I am, what I stand for.

To download them all: https://www.dropbox.com/t/TGg7Bn7DcEKGYZBb.

How to create your own md. files

It’s actually quite simple. Ask Claude to do it.

Create a complete .md reference file that a future version of you (Claude) can read to become an expert at: [TOPIC/SKILL].

First, thoroughly study these sources before writing anything:

[URLS / UPLOADED FILES / “use web search”]

The file must be written FOR AI consumption, not humans. Structure it as:

- Clear rules and principles (not explanations)

- Decision frameworks with if/then logic

- Reusable templates with placeholders

- Common mistakes to avoid

- Examples of good vs bad output

Use XML tags to organize sections. Be exhaustive but scannable.

Save it as a downloadable .md file.

Here’s a good example of turning a massive blog into an md. file:

Always use Claude Opus-4.6 (Extended) for anything.

I now have the perfect md. file for future use about Bogle investment:

This is the one-shot answer from Claude. I wouldn’t change it.

A quick recap before jumping into the next section:

  1. You saw what a perfect prompt start looks like (with a template to copy).

  2. You downloaded my own favorite Claude files to upload to your chats.

  3. You have the prompt template to create a Claude file from anything.

So you know how to start any AI chat. Now, how to actually chat with it?

Because yes, it’s all about how you chat with it.

It’s called ChatGPT for a reason.

3 - It’s Called ChatGPT For A Reason.

The best way to use AI in 2026 is a conversation.

You say something short. AI responds. You push back. You refine.

I shared above the right way to start (for me, at least).

Let’s continue our example of a Linkedin post based on my newsletter:

I simply answered the questions from Claude, and now it starts thinking.

I had to make a video to explain how I chat with AI. I know you guys prefer screenshots, but that would have been 20+ screenshots easily. Not fun.

TLDR: There Is No Magic Prompt.

The people getting the best results from AI didn’t find a secret formula.

They built context files. They started having actual conversations. And they used their taste — their ability to say no to average and yes to a few things that actually matter — to steer every output.

AI is average at best. It will always be. Your taste is what makes the output something worth reading.

No prompt library. No magic words. No secret formula.

A text file. A conversation. And you.

…

‘You’, but until when? If you also have a existential crisis because of the new Claude, leave a comment. My human self will provide emotional support.

Leave a comment

archive of my past blogs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pWuMCBVQo1zKcgKltX_BZxAr31KgxmOlp3Vzvmc5Hxc/edit?usp=sharing

Some of you want to go further. And I offer a bit more:

  1. You can pay for the newsletter to join my Slack (1,000+ people). It’s a bunch of people like you who want to win with AI, and find a tribe of people who do.

  2. Your company can be trained directly by me & my consulting firm. DM me on Linkedin the word “CONSULTING” and my assistant will get back to you.

Subscribe now