Build Something Real
90 minutes. You've been using Claude for a few weeks. Now we build.
Part 1: Check In & Level Set (15 min)
What's Changed Since Session 1
Quick round: what have you used Claude for since last time? What clicked? What frustrated you? This is where we normalize the messy middle — it's supposed to feel clunky at first.
Best Practices Refresh
Quick hits on the things that matter most at this stage: user profile setup, iterating instead of accepting first output, batching feedback, being direct. If you haven't set up your user profile yet, we do it right now.
Part 2: Connecting Your World (25 min)
Files, Docs & Context
Live demo: uploading real work files, pointing Claude at websites for context, sharing messy data and watching it make sense of it. The key insight: Claude gets dramatically better when you give it more context, not better prompts.
GitHub Setup
We're all setting up GitHub accounts right now. This isn't about becoming a developer — it's about having a place where your automations and projects can live, version, and deploy. Walk through: create account, install GitHub Desktop, understand repos. This is a 10-minute setup that unlocks everything in Session 3.
Plugins, MCPs & Integrations
What's a plugin? What's an MCP? When do you need them? Live demo: connecting Claude to Slack, Google Drive, Notion. The “aha” moment: Claude goes from a chatbot to something that actually touches your real tools.
Part 3: Build Session (35 min)
Demo: Building a Real Workflow
Sarah builds something live — a workflow that actually saves time. Could be: automating a weekly report, building a tracker from messy data, creating a branded microsite from a Google Doc. The point is watching the iteration process, not just the result.
Your Turn: Build Your Thing
Everyone picks a real workflow to build. Bring that annoying task you keep putting off. Sarah floats around helping. This is the longest block on purpose — building takes time, and you need to hit the wall at least once to learn how to push through it.
Part 4: Show & Tell (15 min)
Share What You Built
Quick demos from the group. What did you build? What broke? What surprised you? This is the best part — seeing how other ops people think about automation gives you ideas you'd never have on your own.
Homework: The “Replace an Hour” Challenge
Before Session 3, identify one thing in your week that takes at least an hour and figure out how to hand it to Claude. Not assist — hand off. That's the mindset shift for next time.