A Guide for Friends
Where to Start with AI
A curated path for friends who keep asking: okay, but what should I actually do?
Updated October 2026
I get this question a lot. Here's what I'd tell you over coffee.
One note before you start: you won't master this in a weekend, and you don't need to. The people I see getting real value aren't chasing every new model. They got clear on how they think and work first, then brought AI into that. Start small and stay curious.
See what's possible
Before you sign up for anything, look at what people are already doing with AI.
A few 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.
Start with Claude
This is the AI I use every day, and the one I'd hand a friend first.
That's my referral link, full disclosure. The free plan is enough to start, and it includes memory and a handful of Projects.
Then take the free courses:
- Claude 101: the starter. Use Claude for everyday work.
- AI Fluency: Framework and Foundations: how to think about working with AI, beyond which buttons to click. When to delegate to AI, when not to.
- Claude Code 101: only if you're technical (you'll want to be comfortable with a code editor and the command line). If you do go this route, I keep a living collection of my own Claude Code tips at fun-claude-code.netlify.app: dated, verified, and copy-paste ready.
Want shorter, more tactical guides? Claude Academy's tutorials hub has short written guides and videos for specific features and workflows, organized by product. Good for when you know exactly what you want to learn.
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.
Moving from ChatGPT?
If you've spent months training ChatGPT on how you think, switching to Claude doesn't mean starting from zero. Memory Import takes a minute. Here's what actually transfers, what doesn't, and the order to do it in.
Go deeper
Once you've got the basics down, this is where the real upgrade happens.
What you'll get: A structured, live-taught curriculum on applied AI, run over several months. It's a real course, not a prompt pack. It's also a paid program and a real investment, so check the current intake dates and price on their page.
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."
Ready to automate?
When you want AI to run things for you, not just chat with you. Two different tools for two different problems.
For scheduled AI tasks: Claude Cowork
What it is: the part of Claude that takes on multi-step work and can run it on a schedule: a weekly research briefing, a Monday morning summary, a recurring scan. Claude works on its own while you do other things. It started as a separate mode; in September 2026 Anthropic began folding it into the main Claude app, so depending on your plan you may see it called Cowork or just Claude. It's at its best in the desktop app, with web and mobile in beta.
Why I recommend it: it's built into Claude, so there's nothing extra to connect. 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: needs a paid Claude plan (Pro and up).
Want a proper intro? Claude Academy has a free course: Introduction to Claude Cowork.
For general workflow automation: n8n or Zapier
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.
The stack I actually use
If you wanted to copy my setup, here's what I'd hand you. Tiered by where you are.
Want someone to set this up for you?
This is what I do through Resonant Growth. I can build it for you, teach your team to build it themselves, or stay on as support when someone gets stuck. Most people start with a short conversation about where their time goes.
For longer or different session types: see all booking options.
The links, one more time
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.