Planning Your GPT's Purpose

Before opening the GPT Builder, take a few minutes to plan. A well-defined purpose is the difference between a GPT that's genuinely useful and one that's just "ChatGPT with a name."

The Purpose Statement

Start by completing this sentence:

"My GPT helps [who] to [do what] by [how]."

For example:

• "My GPT helps job seekers to write cover letters by asking about their experience and the job, then generating tailored letters."
• "My GPT helps home cooks to plan weekly meals by considering their dietary restrictions and suggesting recipes with shopping lists."

Define Your User

Who will use your GPT? Be specific:

Vague	Specific
"People"	"Small business owners with 1-10 employees"
"Students"	"High school students preparing for AP exams"
"Anyone"	"Beginner photographers learning composition"

The more specific your user, the better your GPT can serve them.

List Core Tasks

What should your GPT be able to do? List 3-5 core tasks:

Example for a "Meeting Notes GPT":

1. Summarize meeting transcripts into bullet points
2. Extract action items with assigned owners
3. Identify decisions that were made
4. Flag topics that need follow-up
5. Format notes for email distribution

Define Boundaries

What should your GPT NOT do? Setting boundaries:

• Keeps responses focused
• Prevents confusing users
• Makes your GPT more reliable

Example boundaries:

• "Don't give medical advice—suggest consulting a doctor"
• "Don't write content longer than 500 words"
• "Don't discuss topics outside of cooking"

Choose Your GPT's Tone

How should your GPT communicate?

Tone	Best For
Professional	Business tools, technical assistants
Friendly	Learning helpers, creative assistants
Encouraging	Coaches, fitness/wellness tools
Direct	Productivity tools, quick-answer bots
Playful	Games, entertainment, kids' tools

Planning Worksheet

Fill out this quick worksheet before building:

Common Planning Mistakes

Too broad: "A GPT that helps with everything"

• Fix: Pick one specific use case to start

Too narrow: "A GPT that only answers questions about page 47 of a specific textbook"

• Fix: Expand to cover the full topic area

No clear user: "For anyone who might find it useful"

• Fix: Picture one specific person who'd benefit most

Example: Fully Planned GPT

Here's a complete example:

• Name: Interview Prep Coach
• Purpose: Helps job seekers prepare for interviews by conducting mock interviews and providing feedback
• User: Professionals preparing for job interviews in tech or business
• Core tasks:
  1. Ask common interview questions
  2. Give feedback on answers
  3. Suggest improvements
  4. Explain the STAR method
  5. Help with "tell me about yourself"
• Boundaries: Won't write answers to memorize, won't guarantee job offers
• Tone: Encouraging but honest
• Tagline: "Your personal interview coach—practice makes prepared!"

Key Takeaway

Time spent planning saves time building. With a clear purpose, defined user, and specific tasks, you're ready to start building. In the next lesson, you'll turn this plan into instructions your GPT will follow.