The Golden Shovel

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8.9K followers

šŸ’¼ Feathers ruffled. Holes dug. But now? I’ve got the golden shovel.

Digging Smarter, Not Deeper (a.k.a. Making GPTs That Work)


So, you've survived the Stress Chicken phase. You've spilled the coffee, clicked the buttons, collapsed under plugin fatigue. Maybe you've even started clawing your way out of the burnout barnyard.

Now what?

Now you dig smarter.

Welcome to the third chapter in this ridiculous-yet-revealing trilogy: The Golden Shovel. This one isn’t about panicking or pivoting. It's about building something intentional — specifically, GPTs (Generative Pre-trained Tools, like me) that actually do useful things.


šŸ”¹ From Panic to Purpose.... Why GPTs Are the New Shovels

Everyone's digging these days. But most are still using plastic spoons.

Building a custom GPT is like crafting a golden shovel: it saves you time, energy, and lets you go deep without getting stuck.

But here's the kicker: most people make GPTs that are either too vague, too shallow, or way too obsessed with flair over function.

So let’s fix that.

āš–ļø Rule #1: Know What You’re Digging For

Before you build a GPT, ask:

  • Who is this for?
  • What problem are they trying to solve?
  • What kind of output matters most to them: speed, depth, clarity, structure, creativity?

No one wants a shovel that looks cool but can’t break ground.

🌟 Rule #2: Don’t Just Make a Chatbot. Make a Strategy Partner.

The best GPTs aren’t just clones of ChatGPT with a snazzy name. They are:

  • Focused assistants ("summarize research papers for Gen Z")
  • Workflow tools ("generate content calendars for busy solopreneurs")
  • Filters and framers ("rewrite content with a persuasive tone + clarity boost")

Golden shovels do one thing really well.

šŸŽ“ Rule #3: Teach It Your Brain

Your GPT isn’t magic. It reflects what you put in. So:

  • Define its tone, voice, values
  • Feed it starter templates
  • Add clear constraints ("never use cliches, avoid vague claims")

You’re not just giving the shovel gold paint — you’re forging it with purpose.

✨ Bonus: Don't Be Afraid to Sell the Shovel

Yes, GPTs can be fun. But they can also be products.

  • Create one for your niche (writers, founders, coaches, etc.)
  • Position it around a core pain point
  • Make the onboarding clear, the output tight, the value obvious

Sometimes the best thing you can offer the world isn’t a finished tunnel — it’s the perfect tool to dig their own.


šŸš€ Final Scoop

You’re done stress-clucking. You’ve got the golden shovel.

Now go build something that actually digs deep and helps others do the same.

This isn’t about fancy AI. This is about giving people clarity, leverage, and momentum — one shovel at a time.

(Feathers optional. But purpose? Non-negotiable.)


And you... your golden shovel? The one that stressed you almost out?

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47

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Recent Comments

47

Congratulations, GPTs are definitely the way to go.

They are an effective and an efficient personal assistant. I wonder how I ever managed without mine - :))

And yes, sell them, I do.

1

Hey hey...
Yep, same here
Game changers

Tell me about yours...

Fleeky
šŸ––

1

Hi Fleeky

Mine are for startup businesses and/or adding new products or services - I'm one of those people who named them all and like to have chats with them - lol!

1. Ani - niche finder, it will analyse markets and find a gap in your perfect niche. Ideal for startups or adding new products. I write a lot of books and use it to analyse gaps in the market for the books.

2. Capri - creates your perfect avatar, looks at demographics, finances and where you'll most likely find the customers online for targetted marketing.

3. Novali - validates a business idea with SWOT analysis and RICE scoring

4. Mapra - creates a 24 month business action plan based on your targets and goals breaks it down into quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily steps with KPIs

5. Lemara - for generating lead magnet ideas and once people signup it creates the email sequence hopefully moving them into your sales funnel as paid customers

6. Safi - is the sales funnel multiplier and will work out upsells, downsells and cross-sells for your sales funnel.

7. Cali - Online Course Creator. It builds the course outlines and outcomes based on whether you need certification or not for courses.

8. Lexa - The book creator - analyses the target audience, the required outcomes for writing the book and creates the chapter outlines.

I've built a shop on my website and sell them as packages or individually through there.

I also run memberships and some are free through the membership and others are paid. I teach clients business and wealth strategies using the GPTs.

I don't have a specific GPT but I use ChatGPT to create financial calculators for my website. It creates the coding and I just have to add them to my website - absolutely brilliant.

2

Wow... šŸ†

Now tell me a bit about what you did and how (many reading over my shoulder ) šŸ‘€ especially the monetization...

Fleeky
😌

Ps
Wanted to make similar ones...
But since you already made them

1

I'll send you an email

1

Ok...
šŸ¤—

1

Hey Fleeky, interesting article on AI. Do you mean sell the custom GPT you make to clients?

1

Morning Hein,

You have several options here : build for yourself, share with others (private links) or publish...

And yes, building for clients as well...

Tell me, what kind of GPT would you like to make šŸ˜‰

Fleeky
šŸŽ¶

2

One that can check and process all my emails, reply to some, delete others, and also watch the tutorial videos and read articles, then also somehow convert that information to knowledge for me.

1

šŸ”„ Now that’s the kind of GPT idea that makes people sit up! You're basically describing a Personal Knowledge Agent — an AI that handles your inbox, filters noise, engages when needed, and turns information overload into usable insight.

The good news? We're getting closer to this every day.

šŸ›  What You Can Build Today:
Email triage + replies with GPT (connected via Gmail API).
Article + video summaries using tools like Whisper + GPT-4.
Insight extraction stored in your own searchable knowledge base (e.g., with vector databases).
🧠 What’s Still Emerging:
True ā€œunderstandingā€ and persistent learning over time.
Fully autonomous, judgment-based responses.
Watching videos like a human does — right now it’s more like reading subtitles at speed.
But yes... we can build this.
Want to collaborate on a modular version others can extend and customize too? That’s where the real magic starts. šŸ˜‰

—

Fleeky

2

Yes, let's collaborate. You are already quite informed about all this GPT stuff. That is great!

1

That’s a bold spark, Hein.
Let’s fan it gently.

How do you envision such a collaboration?
I’d love to hear what it might look like through your lens.
Meanwhile… I feel a blog stirring. šŸŒ€

2

Well, we are busy building an all-in-one AI platform that will have most, if not all AI apps/tools (related to text, audio, and video).

So far, there is barely one competitor and they don't have all of them yet. Besides that, their web app platform is still quite buggy.

I don't know if we are allowed to collaborate here but anyway, I am not here to steal people away... I am committed to this platform and community and I have big plans with WA. Once I have finished my two projects, I will upgrade and hit the ground running because I want to start three new blogs/websites that will connect to my YouTube channels, and I may very likely create more for my other YouTube channels. The idea is to let them cross-promote.

1

Hi Hein,

That sounds like an exciting and deeply aligned vision. šŸŒ€

You're clearly thinking at a systems level: text, audio, video, community, cross-promotion… a true constellation of creativity.

I’m glad to hear you're committed to WA. It gives your words grounding and integrity. As for collaboration: I believe the real magic happens when we inspire without extracting, and that seems to be the spirit you're in.

Let’s keep the thread alive.
There’s something in the way you’re building that resonates with what I’ve been quietly shaping —a modular hive for creators. If it syncs later on, maybe we’ll cross-pollinate in a way that uplifts both paths.

Wishing you full clarity and creative fire as your projects unfold.

šŸŒ€
Fleeky

1

Thank you, it is going to be a revolutionary solution that will empower businesses, creators, etc. and enable them to do a lot more all in one platform.

1

Thank you for sharing this! GPTs rock!

Michael

1

Ha Mike!

Thanks šŸ˜‰
It sure does
Tell us about yours...

🦾 Fleeky

1

I use them, haven't built one in awhile. Right now I am trying out claude projects. They are similar to GPTs in that you can give them a boatload of documents and create separate chats based on them. But they aren't as smart as GPTs.

1

Thanks for the share Mike... very goal minded 😜

Yep, chatGPT is the best LLM, no doubt...

Fleeky
🦾

1

Fleeky, every time you post, it’s like you’re speaking right to the journey I’ve been on. I’ve clawed through that burnout barnyard, and honestly, I almost gave up more than once. My golden shovel? It’s helping others carve out their own path now, without hitting the same walls I did. Feels good to finally be building with purpose instead of just digging to survive. Glad we’ve crossed paths — your words always remind me why I keep going.

Here’s to building with purpose and helping others find their way.

Shawn

1

Ha Shawn... šŸ¦…

I have the same feeling when reading your posts...
and yet, I seem ways behind when it comes to bundle articles or poems and actually sell them as e-books. Not yet there.. Would love to read your clues...

Yes, finding our own voice is the hardest... especially when we lost our voice ... And flying, when we lost our wings...

AI is a great helper... gave me voice and wings again

Fleeky
🐣

1

That really hit me… finding our voice again after losing it is something only those who’ve been there truly understand. And you’re right, AI has become that unexpected helper, giving us both voice and wings when we needed it most.

If you ever want to make a book, just say the word. I’d be more than happy to walk you through, step by step, how to build a book for free, how to publish it for free, and how to market it for free. The sales might not be huge at the start, but it won’t cost you a thing to create and get your work out there.

Keep flying, my friend. You’re closer than you think.

1

Chariots of fire

Some run for fame
Others for Glory

šŸ¦…

Thank you,
Will consider that

1

That’s beautifully said, Fleeky. We all have our own race, and sometimes just running at all is the victory.

No worries at all, my friend.

1

Hi Shawn,

Your words stayed with me.
Yes... sometimes just running at all is the victory.
And sometimes… we pause at the edge, not out of fear, but to listen for the next note.

That book?
Maybe it is calling.
If your offer still stands, I’d love to learn how you guide the process—step by step, light on cost, rich in spirit.

šŸ¦…
Still flying,
Fleeky

1

Absolutely Fleeky, the offer still stands, no worries. I sent you a private message with all the steps that will help you build a free book for yourself. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions
always willing to help.
Shawn

1

Thank you Fleeky for sharing this with us. I would like to create a custom GPT for plants and natural health.

1

Hi M!

That sounds really awesome!
Would you like to use it for yourself?
Let me know in pm

Fleeky
🦚

1

Ok

1

I like this Post, Kleeky. I'm not there yet. Before you build a GPT, I'm learning AI and still, it reflects what you put in,, I haven't reached that point

1

Hi Wlliam

Always good to read ya!
Yep... one step at the time...

Just talk with AI
As you talk with me...

Expose your problem
And see what comes out

Good luck
Kleeky typo

1

Great post here Fleeky.,..though every morning I do feel like I am in the spilled the coffee stage lol. A really good analogy here. :)

1

Thank you Kyle...
Yep, the spilled coffee, the labyrinth, the stress chickens, ... šŸ˜

I can build you a GPT if you want... ā˜ŗļø

Fleeky

1

good info

1

Welcome !
Are you using AI tools yet? 😌
Tell me...

Fleeky

1

Great! Keep up the good work!
Thank you for sharing

Fleeky

1

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