Build Your First Custom GPT
— No Coding Needed. Pure Practical Power.
This self-guided course walks you step-by-step through building a fully functional Custom GPT you’ll actually use. You’ll learn how to design purpose, context, instructions, knowledge, and actions—and by the end, you’ll have your own AI assistant working exactly the way you want. Perfect for creators, consultants, and professionals who want practical AI capability without complexity.
This course is up to date with the latest feature releases from OpenAI’s ChatGPT 5.1, and all the new features in GPT Builder.
Course Overview: Create Your Own Custom GPT
Unlock the power of building your own AI collaborator. This course gives you everything you need to design, build, and refine a fully-functional custom GPT using a clear, repeatable framework.
Whether you’re brand new to GPTs or already experimenting with AI tools, this course will take you from theory → hands-on build → working example, all in just a few lessons.
Start Here — Your Core Training (3 Lessons)
These three lessons form the foundation of your learning.
Watch them in order for the best experience.
Lesson 1 — What Custom GPTs Can Do (Theory & Foundations)
Video included
Get a clear understanding of what custom GPTs are, why they matter, and how they behave differently from prompts.
You’ll learn:
- The five components of every effective GPT
- How custom GPTs think, respond, and follow rules
- Why small, specific GPTs outperform broad, generic ones
- What you’ll create by the end of this course
Lesson 2 — Build Your First GPT (Step-by-Step Walkthrough)
Video included
Follow along as I build a custom GPT from scratch using the exact framework you’ll use. This is your hands-on session.
You’ll learn:
- How to write purpose, context, and clear instructions
- How to add tone, guardrails, and fallback behaviors
- How to upload knowledge and templates
- How to choose capabilities and tools
- How to structure your GPT so it works the same way every time
Lesson 3 — A Fully Built GPT in Action (Metis Example)
Video included
See a complete, polished GPT — the Metis Video Insight Engine — analyzed and demonstrated end to end.
You’ll learn:
- What a high-quality GPT looks like
- How your GPT should behave when built correctly
- What “good” summaries, insights, and content assets look like
- How strong instructions produce stable, consistent performance
- How to benchmark your GPT against a working example
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Tools & Templates (Downloads)
These resources help you build and refine your GPT during the course.
Beginner Workbook (Download)
A simple, structured guide to help you build your first GPT with confidence.
Advanced GPT Partner Blueprint (Download)
For experienced AI users who want to design more capable, collaborative AI partners.
GPT Quality Checklist (Download)
Use this after Lesson 3 to evaluate whether your GPT meets the standards of a well-built assistant.
🟦 Introduction to Custom GPTs
(Deepening your understanding — not repeating Lesson 1)
- Why Custom GPTs Matter for Your Work How GPTs change workflow, productivity, creativity, and client service.
- Examples of Great Use Cases (Marketing, Training, Support, Productivity) Real-world applications to inspire what you build next.
Foundations Before You Build
(Practical setup + ecosystem knowledge before advanced GPTs)
- The GPT Store and How It Works Visibility, discoverability, categories, and how publishing works.
- Account Setup: OpenAI, ChatGPT Pro, Workspace Permissions Requirements, limitations, and how to manage access for teams.
- Data, Privacy, and Limitations (What You Can’t Do… Yet) Understanding guardrails, restrictions, and responsible usage.
Advanced Skills & Future Lessons
(Where you take your GPTs beyond the basics)
Branding, Templates, and Voice Consistency Making your GPT feel polished, professional, and aligned with your own style.
Publishing Your GPT (Visibility, Private vs Public) How to prepare your GPT for others, set access levels, and optimize its listing.
Extending Your GPT (Actions, Forms, APIs, Sheets) Turning a GPT into a functional tool that interacts with the real world.
Improving Your GPT Over Time Versioning, refinement cycles, and how to iterate intelligently.
Troubleshooting & Advanced Debugging Diagnosing hallucinations, scoping issues, instruction conflicts, and knowledge problems.
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Your Learning Path
By the end of this course, you’ll have:
✔ A working custom GPT
✔ A clean workflow for creating new GPTs
✔ The skills to refine, test, and evolve them
✔ A reference example (Metis) to guide long-term improvement
And you’ll be ready to start building GPTs tailored to your work, creativity, and impact.
