of 5— Open Custom Instructions Settings

What you'll accomplish

By the end of this guide, you'll have ChatGPT configured with your proposal work context — your firm's typical contract types, agency focus, proposal voice, and common tasks — so every conversation starts from shared knowledge instead of you re-explaining your situation each time.

What you'll need

A free ChatGPT account at chatgpt.com (free plan works; Plus is better for large documents)
15 minutes to write your custom instructions
Basic knowledge of your firm's typical proposal profile (contract types, agencies, certifications)
Time needed: 15 minutes to set up; saves 2–5 minutes per session after that
Cost: Free

How-To Guide: Set Up ChatGPT With Custom Instructions for Proposal Work

Step 1: Open Custom Instructions Settings

Log into chatgpt.com. Click your profile icon or initials in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Select "Customize ChatGPT" from the menu.

What you should see: A settings panel with two text fields: "What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?" and "How would you like ChatGPT to respond?"