How Do YOU Make Your Custom GPTs? A Beginner-Friendly Breakdown for Coaches, Creators & Entrepreneurs

If you’ve ever tried to create a custom GPT and ended up muttering “Why is this thing forgetting what I just told it?” you’re not alone.

Custom GPTs can be wildly powerful. But they can also be frustrating, unpredictable, and kind of annoying if you don’t set them up right.

I get questions about this almost daily.
So let’s simplify the process.

First: I Built an Entire Program on This (But Here’s the Short Version)

I created Bot Lab XCLR8, a full training program that teaches entrepreneurs how to build, monetize, and deploy custom GPT bots that actually work for their business. These bots don’t just sit around and "chat." They serve a purpose and deliver real results.

But if you’re not quite ready for that level of support yet, here’s a straightforward (and generic) breakdown of how people are creating their custom GPTs today.

This isn’t my full method. Just the basics you need to stop spinning your wheels.

What Is a Custom GPT, Really?

A custom GPT is your own AI assistant built on top of ChatGPT. You give it:

• Custom instructions

• A defined role and tone

• Optional knowledge files (like PDFs or frameworks)

• A conversation style or persona

• Some guardrails for what it should or shouldn’t do

Think of it like cloning your brain or your best assistant’s brain and making it available 24/7.

You can use it to:

• Answer FAQs for clients

• Create content in your brand voice

• Handle repetitive tasks

• Support students inside programs

• Qualify leads or guide purchases

Step-by-Step: How Most People Build Their Custom GPTs

Here’s the condensed version of what most people are doing:

1. Open ChatGPT and Select “Explore GPTs”

Head to the ChatGPT interface and click the “Explore GPTs” tab, then select “Create.”

2. Set Up Custom Instructions

This is where you tell your bot who it is, how it should speak, and what it should focus on.

Example:
“You are a helpful and witty AI assistant for a social media strategist. Always speak in short, punchy sentences and avoid fluff. Prioritize clarity, confidence, and relevance.”

Tip: Tone matters more than people think. This is where most bots go flat.

3. Upload Knowledge Files (Optional)

If you have PDFs, frameworks, swipe files, or old training transcripts, you can upload them so the GPT can reference them.

Caution: It doesn’t memorize these files. It references them in-session unless memory is enabled.

4. Define Limitations

If you don’t want your bot giving financial advice, making medical claims, or referencing anything outside your materials, be specific. Include those limits clearly in the rules.

5. Test, Tweak, Repeat

Run sample chats. Ask it odd questions. Try to break it. If it gets confused or forgets tone, go back and refine your instructions or knowledge sources.

This isn’t a "set it and forget it" tool. It’s a train, test, and refine system.

Common Mistakes People Make With Custom GPTs

• Being too vague in the instructions

• Expecting it to behave like a human

• Overloading it with conflicting PDFs

• Forgetting that memory and context reset unless saved

• Believing it will “just work” because it has files

A well-built bot takes intentional setup, not guesswork.

Want to Actually Monetize Your GPTs?

If you’re a coach, course creator, or strategist who wants to use GPT bots to generate income, automate workflows, or enhance delivery, you need more than a chatbot.

You need structure and strategy.

That’s where Bot Lab XCLR8 comes in. It’s the only training I know that teaches:

• How to price and package your bots

• How to train them to sound like you

• How to create bots for offers, not just content

• How to host and deliver them securely

• How to turn a single bot into a full product suite

This isn’t about “playing with AI.” It’s about using AI to do real business with less manual effort.

Why Custom GPTs Matter in 2025 and Beyond

AI is already influencing how people find information, choose programs, and make decisions. That includes your leads and clients.

If you want to scale yourself without burning out, or turn your IP into actual assets, a custom GPT isn't optional anymore. It's the next layer of your delivery.

Whether you’re using a bot to write content, guide students, or power backend workflows, the advantage goes to those who build these systems intentionally.

FAQ: Custom GPTs for Coaches, Creators, and Small Biz Owners

Q: What’s the difference between custom instructions and a custom GPT?
Custom instructions are basic personalization inside ChatGPT.
A custom GPT is a full assistant you design from scratch. It includes instructions, files, tone, and a unique persona.

Q: Can I use a custom GPT for my program students or clients?
Absolutely. You can train it to answer common questions, guide them through modules, or even act as a co-coach.
Just don’t include sensitive client data unless it's securely hosted.

Q: Do I need coding skills to build one?
No. The ChatGPT builder interface is no-code. The hard part isn’t technical, it’s strategic — knowing what to say and how to guide it.

Q: Will it keep memory across chats?
Not unless memory is enabled. And even then, it’s limited.
To maintain consistent behavior, your instructions and knowledge files need to be well-structured.

Q: Can I sell GPTs I build for others?
Yes, if you’re following OpenAI’s terms and building ethically.
Inside Bot Lab XCLR8, I teach how to sell bots as digital products, add-ons, or coaching tools with full protection and delivery workflows.

Final Word: Your GPT Is Only As Good As Your Inputs

A custom GPT is like a digital clone of your brain. But it only works well when you train it clearly, guide it with structure, and refine its tone with intention.

If you want it to actually perform, not just respond, it has to be treated like a system — not a toy.

And if you want help building GPTs that sell, serve, and scale your brilliance?

Join Bot Lab XCLR8

Let the AI do the heavy lifting.
You stay the CEO.