The Prompt

5 Claude Skills Every Small Business Owner Needs Right Now

In this episode of The Prompt, Jim takes the Matrix idea of “I know Kung Fu” and brings it down to Earth with Claude Skills, reusable instruction sets that let AI remember how a business actually works. His argument is simple: most people are still wasting time re-explaining tone, process, and standards in every new chat, and that setup cost is what keeps AI stuck at “helpful demo” instead of becoming part of real operations.Jim walks listeners through five Claude Skills he thinks are worth installing right now. The big takeaway is hard to miss: AI gets better when standards become infrastructure. As Jim puts it, “The future of AI at work probably does not belong to the person with the most prompts. It belongs to the person with the best systems.” That makes this episode especially useful for founders, operators, and anyone tired of getting AI output that is 80 percent right and 20 percent annoying.One of the sharpest examples comes from contracts. Jim talks through the messy reality of drafting agreements across multiple tools, then shares how a $250 renewal notice pushed him to build QuickSign Pro. It is a good reminder that the best automation ideas usually come from friction people are sick of tolerating.QuickSign Pro, is built around getting from AI-assisted drafting to legally compliant e-signatures without duct-taping five tools together. Get started for free here: https://quicksign.pro/This episode is really a push to stop improvising and start building playbooks AI can actually follow.Listen in, then do the one thing Jim recommends: install one Skill this week, use it on real work, and see whether it saves time, improves quality, or just moves the mess around. That test will tell listeners a lot. Want the practical walkthrough of how to connect this new skill via your favorite like Claude, Chat, etc.? Start here: AI Agent Drafts Contracts 🔗If this sparked something, join Jim in his Slack community Control, Alt, Build to keep learning how real teams are putting agents to work. See what other leaders are doing here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

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This Pet Owner Used AI to Save His Dog

Apr 2700:05:10Tap to summarize

Three thousand dollars, two months, and no biology background. That’s the jump-off point for this episode of Jim’s show, and it’s why this story lands so hard.Jim unpacks the case of Paul, an Australian tech entrepreneur who used AI to help design a custom mRNA cancer vaccine for his dog Rosie after standard treatment had failed. Rosie had aggressive grade three mast cell cancer, the kind with brutal odds, and the vets had basically run out of road. Instead of stopping there, Paul paid to sequence the tumor, used tools like ChatGPT and AlphaFold-style systems to help identify likely cancer-linked mutations, and then took that work to real researchers and clinicians who turned it into a vaccine.What makes the episode so strong is that Jim doesn’t pitch this as some magic AI miracle. He’s careful about the limits. He points out that AI can speed up early analysis, help sort genetic variants, and reduce the bioinformatics bottleneck, but it can also hallucinate, miss important biological complexity, and absolutely cannot replace lab work, safety checks, or expert review. That balance is the real value here.The bigger takeaway is that this isn’t just a story about one dog. Jim uses Rosie’s case to show what happens when a motivated outsider uses AI well: not as a final answer, but as a way to ask better questions, move faster, and get to the right experts sooner.That’s the reason this one matters. It’s about personalized medicine, yes, but it’s also about initiative, access, and what AI can do in the hands of someone who refuses to sit still.If that idea lights something up, this is an episode worth hearing. And if listeners want to put AI to work in their own world, Jim points them straight to his CTRL, ALT, BUILD community to keep the momentum going. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

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Google Took 58% from Us

Apr 2000:05:35Tap to summarize

58% of clicks gone. Just like that.That’s the gut punch Jim Carter opens with in this episode of The Prompt, and it sets the tone fast: if a business still depends on Google sending traffic the old way, the ground has already shifted.Jim walks through what’s happening with Google’s AI Overviews and why so many sites are seeing their traffic fall off a cliff. He explains how the old SEO playbook used to be simple: publish useful content, rank near the top, and wait for the clicks. Now Google is answering more questions directly on the search page, which means users often never make it through to the website.One of the strongest moments in the episode is Jim’s restaurant analogy. For years, people walked past the menu and came inside. Now there’s a kiosk outside the door handing out free samples made from everyone’s food, and people leave feeling full without ever stepping inside. That’s his way of showing what AI Overviews are doing to publishers, bloggers, and service businesses.He backs it up with hard numbers. Studies from Ahrefs, Seer Interactive, Kevin Indig, and publisher reports all point in the same direction: major click loss, especially for informational searches. He also flags the industries taking the biggest hit, including travel, pets, DIY, mental health, and personal finance.But Jim doesn’t leave it at doom and gloom. The useful shift here is clear: the goal is no longer just ranking number one. It’s becoming a source the AI cites.“The old plan of ranking and waiting for clicks is fading. The new plan is building trust, getting cited, and becoming a source AI wants to use.”For anyone creating content, running a business, or advising clients, this episode is a wake-up call and a practical reset. Listen in, rethink the content strategy, and grab Jim’s free audit plan and Slack community from the show notes if it’s time to build a smarter playbook.If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/Looking for Jim's content audit and adaptation playbook? Find it here: https://jimcarter.me/newsletter/google-took-58-percent-from-us

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The ROI Hiding in Your Inbox

Apr 1500:05:17Tap to summarize

“Your emails are being read by two audiences now: a person and AI.”Jim breaks down why email is still such a monster channel, with returns that can hit $36 for every $1 spent, and even higher in retail and ecommerce. But the real story here is not just that email still works. It’s that most businesses are still using it like nothing has changed.Gmail and Apple Mail are now summarizing emails before people properly read them, which means weak openings, filler, and vague copy can kill a campaign before the offer is even seen.From there, Jim gets practical. He explains where AI genuinely helps: tightening rough drafts, generating and testing subject lines, improving send times, repurposing one email for different customer groups, and spotting patterns across past campaigns. One of the smartest takeaways is his reminder not to let AI do all the thinking. His advice is simple: write the rough draft first, then use AI as an assistant, not a replacement.He also calls out where AI falls short. It can polish, but it can also flatten. Jim shares the warning that some brands used “perfect” AI emails and still saw flat revenue and higher unsubscribes because the messages felt generic. That leads to one of the episode’s strongest points: people signed up for your voice, not a machine’s best guess at it.There are plenty of useful takeaways here for any business owner: test subject lines instead of trusting instinct, clean your list before switching on AI features, give AI a brand voice guide, and use it for analysis as much as writing.This episode is a strong listen for anyone who wants better emails without sounding robotic. If email matters to the business, Jim makes a solid case for working smarter this week, not just sending more. Listen in and then put one of his ideas into your very next send.If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

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This Is the Next BIG Shift in AI Marketing

Mar 3000:06:25Tap to summarize

“Ads are coming to ChatGPT” — and on Jim’s show, that lands as more than a product update. It’s a trust shift.In this episode, Jim Carter breaks down what OpenAI is actually testing, who will see the ads, and why this move matters far beyond a little sponsored box at the bottom of a reply. Right now, the tests are limited to logged-in adults on the free tier and the ChatGPT Go plan, with ads clearly labeled “Sponsored.” OpenAI says the ads won’t change the model’s answers. Jim doesn’t just repeat that line though — he pushes into the real question: what happens when an AI assistant no longer works only for the user?Jim walks through the business logic first. OpenAI makes huge revenue, but the cost of building and running these models is still massive. Ads, in his view, are not a random side experiment. They’re a serious attempt to keep free access alive while building a more durable business.He then makes the key distinction: this is not search advertising all over again. ChatGPT is conversational, and conversation reveals intent. When someone asks for the best CRM, headphones, or project management tool, they’re not casually browsing. They’re close to a decision. That makes AI ads potentially more powerful, more profitable, and more sensitive.For marketers, builders, and business owners, Jim sees opportunity early. New funnels, new ad tools, and new buying behavior are coming fast.This episode is a smart listen for anyone using AI seriously. If this shift affects how people discover, compare, and buy, now is the time to pay attention — and follow Jim for the next update before the market moves again.If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

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How This Dad Used AI to Fight His Child’s Brain Tumor

Mar 2500:05:54Tap to summarize

A child’s brain tumor comes back in as many as 30 to 50% of cases after surgery. That’s the gut punch Jim opens with in this episode, and it sets the tone fast.He tells the story of Siqi Chen and his daughter Mira, who was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, a rare brain tumor in kids that grows in one of the worst possible places, close to the optic nerves and pituitary gland. Jim walks through the brutal reality families face: scans every few months, hard treatment choices, and the constant fear of finding out the tumor is growing again.What makes this episode hit is that it does not stop at the diagnosis. In one weekend, Siqi built MiraViewer, a free open-source MRI tool that helps families compare scans side by side or as overlays. It runs locally on a computer, not in the cloud, which means the data stays private. Jim makes the value of that crystal clear: this is not hospital software trying to do everything. It is a practical tool built for parents staring at brain scans at home and trying to understand what changed.The big takeaway is simple and powerful. AI is not just for productivity hacks and startup demos. In Jim’s telling, it becomes something more human: a way to move faster in a crisis, build useful tools, support research, and make things a little fairer for the next family.“For families tracking tumor growth, that can be the difference between guessing and seeing the change clearly.” And near the end, Jim lands the point: “This work is not just tech talk. It’s personal, and it matters.”If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

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Need More Hours in a Day? Use THIS

Mar 1600:05:43Tap to summarize

You tell it what you need in plain language, and it carries out the steps in the browser.That’s the promise Jim digs into on this episode of The Prompt: Claude’s new Chrome extension that doesn’t just chat with you — it actually does the work. Jim’s angle is simple: most people don’t need another shiny AI toy. They need time back, without adding extra steps or learning some complicated automation setup.He walks through how the extension sits in a side panel, watches what’s on your active tab via screenshots, and then clicks, types, opens tabs, and moves through multi-step workflows based on a plain-English request. Anthropic calls it “computer use,” and the big news is it’s no longer locked behind the $200/month Max plan — it’s now rolling out across paid Claude plans like Pro, Team, and Enterprise.Jim keeps it practical with real browser-heavy examples: pulling daily analytics and writing a team update, cleaning out a messy inbox by grouping newsletters and showing a reviewable bulk-delete list, and catching up CRM logging by matching calendar attendees to contacts and drafting sales activity notes. He also points out the killer habit-builder: show Claude the steps once, then let it repeat on a schedule.Key takeaways listeners can use right away:Start with repeatable, step-by-step tasks with clear “done” states (reports, forms, sorting, testing).Treat security as real: prompt injection exists, and this tool can touch sensitive pages.Use permission modes strategically: “ask before acting” for most workflows, “act without asking” only for trusted sites.If a site has no good API, browser-based automation can still get the job done.If your browser is where your time disappears, this episode is the nudge to reclaim it. Try one annoying task you do every day, teach Claude once, and see what it feels like to get that chunk of time back.If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

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From Idea to Product in One Weekend

Mar 200:05:19Tap to summarize

“No way I’m paying $250 a year for e-signatures I use once every 2–3 months.” That’s the moment Jim turns a plain old renewal email into a weekend build on this episode of The Prompt.He walks through why small businesses keep getting stuck with big-company pricing and bloated tools, then shows how he responded the only way a builder can: he shipped his own alternative.QuickSign Pro starts as a simple idea on an Asana board and turns into a real, usable product—fast—because Jim follows the same playbook he’s been preaching: ship before you understand everything, talk to users every day, and find your first hundred customers by hand.What makes the episode fun is how practical it is. Jim breaks down what QuickSign Pro actually does (and what it intentionally doesn’t). It’s e-signing without the nonsense: clean signing flow, multiple recipients, role-based fields, signing order, mobile-friendly UI, and real-time status tracking. The standout twist is AI contract writing—chat-based drafting with templates (NDAs, independent contractor agreements, service agreements) that you can edit while watching a live preview, then send for signature without bouncing between tools.He also gets specific about the unsexy stuff that matters: auto-detecting signature/date/email fields to kill setup busywork, built-in email notifications via SendGrid/Postmark, and compliance work mapped to ESIGN Act and UETA (consent tracking, audit trails, record storage) so “cheap” doesn’t mean risky.Here’s what lands for listeners:A real frustration can become a real asset if you move fast“Big-company bloat” is optional—especially for small teamsAI isn’t a gimmick when it collapses steps (draft → sign in one flow)Build what customers ask for, not what a checklist tells you to buildTry QuickSign Pro and let Jim know what you think at https://quicksign.pro

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AI Lies to You, Here's How

Feb 2500:04:54Tap to summarize

“ChatGPT was at 67%. Gemini was at 76%. Grok-3 was at 94%.” Jim Carter doesn’t waste time in this episode of The Prompt: if you’re treating AI answers like verified facts, you’re already in trouble.Jim breaks down what “AI hallucination” really is in plain terms. The model isn’t checking a trusted database or “looking things up” the way people assume. It’s doing supercharged autocomplete—predicting the next word based on patterns from training data—and it can sound confidently right even when it’s completely wrong. From there, he maps the most common hallucination types.Then he lands the real-world stakes. Companies are worried (77% say hallucinations are their top AI concern), and for good reason: in healthcare, law, and finance, one confident-sounding mistake can become real harm. Jim points to a law firm that was fined over $100,000 after submitting AI-written briefs loaded with fake citations.The useful part is the fix-it toolkit. Jim walks through why hallucinations happen (training data gaps, stacked errors in long reasoning chains, and “prompt pressure” that punishes “I don’t know”). And he gives practical ways to reduce risk.Key takeaways listeners can use todayTreat AI like a guesser, not a verifierStop prompts that force fake confidence; allow “I don’t know”Use RAG and require quotes supporting each factual claimCompare answers across tools when accuracy mattersJim also shares two of his own prompts to help listeners reduce AI hallucinations immediately.If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

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How Non-profits FINALLY WIN with this AI Mindset

Feb 1100:06:03Tap to summarize

Jim Carter discusses the nonprofit funding bottleneck—specifically, the $300 billion stranded in donor-advised funds largely because traditional nonprofit evaluation is slow and expensive. He highlights his friend Mike, who, after raising billions via Classy, saw both funders and nonprofits frustrated by this process. Mike’s response was to create Altruous, an AI-powered evaluation platform.Altruous automates nonprofit assessment by pulling from diverse data sources—third-party data, nonprofit reports, and validation signals. It emphasizes outcomes, current data, and provides a confidence score for each evaluation. Every AI-generated report is reviewed by human experts who add context and challenge assumptions, ensuring sector-specific nuance is not lost.Jim shares his framework for AI integration, focused on what takes too long, costs too much, or blocks more good work—inspiring a shift from paperwork to impact. He notes Altruous’s approach goes beyond simple metrics, considering quality, depth, and cultural context.The episode illustrates how AI, with human oversight, can democratize access to funding: enabling smaller, less-resourced organizations to compete, and allowing program officers to focus on relationships rather than bureaucracy. Mike’s key insight: adaptation to these technologies is now essential for organizational survival.Jim also touches on future applications, such as AI-powered digital clones for personalized donor engagement, and stresses that this technology doesn’t replace human judgment, but amplifies it—potentially transforming philanthropy’s effectiveness and fairness.If you’re ready to keep exploring what’s next with AI — not just watching it happen but actually building with it — come hang out in CTRL + ALT + BUILD. It’s where entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds are experimenting with real workflows, sharing what’s working, and learning together in real time. You’ll get early access to my experiments, prompts, and behind-the-scenes breakdowns before they hit the feed. Join fellow builders here: https://jimcarter.me/ctrl-alt-build-ai-community/

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All episodes

5 Claude Skills Every Small Business Owner Needs Right Now

This Pet Owner Used AI to Save His Dog

Google Took 58% from Us

The ROI Hiding in Your Inbox

This Is the Next BIG Shift in AI Marketing

How This Dad Used AI to Fight His Child’s Brain Tumor

Need More Hours in a Day? Use THIS

From Idea to Product in One Weekend

AI Lies to You, Here's How

How Non-profits FINALLY WIN with this AI Mindset