AI Tools Anthropic Claude Cowork

How to set up Claude Cowork completely in less than a day:

1. Folder Structure Setup:

Before anything else, create your main Claude Cowork folder with three subfolders: ABOUT ME, OUTPUTS, and TEMPLATES. This is the foundation. Without it, Claude doesn't know where to read from or write to.

2. ABOUT ME Core Files:

Three files that do more than 50 prompts combined:

• about-me.md: Your personal identity and thinking style. Keep it under 2,000 tokens. Built through 15-20 interview questions.
• writing-style.md: Banned words, formatting preferences, and style guidelines so Claude never writes like a robot.
• my-company.md: Current goals, strategy, and 6-8 strategic questions. Update it regularly or your outputs go stale.

3. Introduction & Access:

Download from claude.com/download. Requires a Pro account ($20/month). Desktop only, no mobile, no web version. Use Opus 4 for best results.

4. Global Instructions:

A persistent prompt that loads every session. Set it once in Settings -> Cowork. It explains your folder structure and keeps Claude oriented every time you open it.

5. Best Practices:

• Always select the correct folder and model before starting.
• Maintain your ABOUT ME files regularly.
• Save quality outputs as templates.
• Use Extended Thinking for complex tasks.