How the GTM x AI Second Brain Works

A visual guide to what's inside and why it's special

104Skills
105Playbooks
105Agents
25Workflows

The Big Picture: 7 Layers

Your Second Brain is a stack. Each layer builds on the one below it.

Layer 7Data SourcesGuides to connect your tools
Layer 6Workflows25 pipelines
Layer 5Playbooks105 frameworks
Layer 4Agents105 specialists
Layer 3Skills104 commands
Layer 2MemoryProfile, goals, voice, notes
Layer 1CLAUDE.mdThe operating system
70% done for you. You customize the rest.

The Level System

Your brain grows with you. Levels 0-5 are done for you. Levels 6-10 are things you build over time.

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
The brain gives you these You build these
0
Install Claude Code + clone repo
Done for you
1
CLAUDE.md configured with your identity
Done for you
2
Memory files filled: company, ICP, voice
Done for you
3
First 10 skills used successfully
Done for you
4
Data sources connected (you set these up)
Guided setup
5
First workflow completed end to end
Done for you
6
Custom skills for your specific needs
You build
7
Custom agents with specialized knowledge
You build
8
Multi-brand setup with voice profiles
You build
9
Automated hooks and background processes
You build
10
Full GTM operating system running on autopilot
You build

What is CLAUDE.md?

CLAUDE.md is the first file Claude reads every time you start a session. It tells Claude who you are, what you do, how you work and what standards to follow. Think of it as the operating system for your Second Brain.

# My GTM Second Brain ## About Me - Role: Head of Growth at [Company] - Industry: B2B SaaS - Stage: Series A, $2M ARR ## How I Work - Always check memory/ before starting - Use /positioning before any strategy work - Run /review before sharing deliverables ## My Voice - Direct, data-driven, no fluff - Frameworks over opinions

Without CLAUDE.md

Claude starts from zero every session. You repeat context. Outputs are generic. No consistency between tasks.

With CLAUDE.md

Claude knows your role, your tools, your standards. Every output is personalized from the first word.

You can have multiple CLAUDE.md files for different ventures or brands.

What is Memory?

Memory is a folder of markdown files that store everything about your business. Claude reads these files when running skills to personalize every output.

memory/ company/ about.md # Your company overview products.md # What you sell positioning.md # How you position it competitors.md # Who you compete with customers/ icp.md # Ideal customer profile personas.md # Buyer personas pain-points.md # What keeps them up at night goals/ quarterly.md # This quarter's targets metrics.md # KPIs you track voice/ tone.md # How you sound examples.md # Reference writing samples notes/ meeting-notes.md # Anything you want to remember decisions.md # Key decisions logged
The more you fill in, the more personalized everything gets. Start with company/about.md and customers/icp.md.

What is a Skill?

A skill is a command you type. One word, one deliverable. Each skill reads your memory, applies a framework and outputs something you can use immediately.

$ /positioning
→ Generates a positioning strategy using April Dunford's framework

$ /audit
→ Full-funnel audit of your website with scoring and recommendations

$ /linkedin
→ Writes a LinkedIn post in your voice with hook + CTA

$ /carousel
→ Creates a 10-slide carousel with design and copy

$ /cold-dance
→ Multi-step cold outreach sequence across email + LinkedIn

104 skills across 12 categories

12 Skill Categories

Core Workflow

/plan, /work, /review, /learn

Strategy

/positioning, /icp, /gtm-roadmap

Client Deliverables

/deck, /proposal, /audit

Content

/linkedin, /carousel, /newsletter

SEO / GEO

/seo-audit, /keyword, /geo-optimize

Outbound / ABM

/cold-dance, /abm, /target-list

Sales Enablement

/battlecard, /objection, /demo-script

Analytics

/dashboard, /cohort, /funnel-analysis

Visual / Creative

/carousel, /gif, /landing-page

Pricing

/pricing-audit, /packaging, /willingness

Ops / Automation

/workflow, /integrate, /automate

Retention

/churn-analysis, /onboarding, /nps

What Makes Skills Different

These are not ChatGPT prompts. Each skill has three layers baked in.

Reads Your Profile

Every skill pulls from your memory files. Your ICP, your positioning, your voice. Outputs are personalized before you type a word.

David's Take

Each skill encodes a specific methodology. Not generic best practices, but opinionated frameworks from real GTM work with B2B and B2C companies.

What Good Looks Like

Skills include reference examples so Claude knows the quality bar. Not just "write a positioning doc" but "here's what a great one looks like."

Skills are powerful alone. But when you chain them into workflows, that's where it gets interesting.

What is an Agent?

Think of agents as team members. Each one has a specialty, a personality and a set of skills it knows how to use. You delegate to them like you would a colleague.

@researcher
Deep company and market intelligence
@content-writer
LinkedIn posts, articles, newsletters
@data-analyst
Metrics, dashboards, cohort analysis
@competitive-intel
Competitor teardowns and battlecards
@seo-analyst
Technical SEO, keyword gaps, content strategy
@brand-voice-guardian
Ensures every output matches your tone

Skills vs Agents

Skills

  • You type a command
  • You get a deliverable back
  • One task at a time
  • Sequential execution
  • You stay in control

Agents

  • You delegate a mission
  • They work independently
  • Multiple tasks in parallel
  • Can call skills themselves
  • Report back when done
Skills are your hands. Agents are your team.

What is a Playbook?

A playbook is a framework. Not a command you run, but knowledge the brain uses when running skills. Think of playbooks as the textbooks on your team's shelf.

Example: Dunford Positioning Playbook

## Competitive Alternatives What would customers do if your product didn't exist? ## Unique Attributes What features do you have that alternatives don't? ## Value What benefit do those attributes enable? ## Target Customers Who cares most about that value? ## Market Category What context makes your value obvious?
When you run /positioning, the brain reads this playbook automatically. You don't need to know the framework. The brain does.

Ready-Made Workflows

Workflows chain skills and agents together into multi-step pipelines. Run one command and the brain does the rest.

first-100-customers

ICP, channels, outreach, landing page

content-blitz

30 days of content in one session

sales-war-room

Battlecards, objections, scripts, decks

retention-rescue

Churn analysis, onboarding, NPS, playbook

seo-sprint

Audit, keywords, content plan, 10 articles

competitor-teardown

Deep research, battlecards, positioning

investor-prep

Narrative, deck, FAQ, data room

product-launch

Messaging, landing, email, social, PR

How a Workflow Works

Here's what happens when you run competitor-teardown:

/research [competitor]
PARALLEL (3 agents at once)
@researcher: pricing
@researcher: product
@researcher: customers
/battlecard
/positioning
/deck
One command. Six steps. Three running in parallel. Full competitive analysis in minutes.

Workflows = Your GTM Team

When a workflow runs, it creates a virtual org chart. The CEO advisor coordinates, agents do the research and skills produce the deliverables.

@ceo-advisor
↓    ↓    ↓    ↓
@researcher
@content-writer
@data-analyst
@competitive-intel
↓    ↓    ↓    ↓
/research
/linkedin
/dashboard
/battlecard
/positioning
/deck
You don't manage the team. You just say what you need.

Data Sources

Every business has different tools. The brain comes with connection guides for 25+ platforms so Claude can read your real data, not guess.

Slack
Gmail
Notion
HubSpot
Salesforce
Pipedrive
Close
Attio
GoHighLevel
GA4
PostHog
Mixpanel
Amplitude
Plausible
Hotjar
Stripe
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Google Sheets
Airtable
Jira
Linear
Intercom
Zendesk
Segment
Each data source has a step-by-step setup guide. Most take under 10 minutes.

Hooks: Safety Nets

Hooks run automatically in the background. They protect your work, enforce standards and keep things organized without you thinking about it.

Pre-Deploy Guard

Checks your work before any deployment. Catches broken links, missing images and accessibility issues.

Credential Scanner

Blocks you from accidentally committing API keys, passwords or tokens to files.

File Backup

Saves the last 10 versions of any file you edit. Undo mistakes without git.

Session Start

Loads your context, checks pending tasks and reminds you where you left off.

Pre-Compact

Before Claude's memory resets, it saves a transcript of everything discussed.

Decision Logger

Automatically logs key decisions made during a session to your memory files.

How It All Fits Together

From install to your first GTM roadmap in 7 steps:

1

Install Claude Code

One terminal command. Takes 2 minutes.

2

Clone the Second Brain

Copy the repo to your machine.

3

Fill in your memory files

Start with company/about.md and customers/icp.md. 15 minutes.

4

Customize CLAUDE.md

Add your role, your standards, your preferences.

5

Connect your data sources

Follow the setup guides for Slack, CRM, analytics, etc.

6

Run your first skill

Try /positioning or /audit. See it personalize.

7

Run a workflow

Launch competitor-teardown or first-100-customers. Watch the brain work.

Multi-Brand Support

Running multiple brands or ventures? The brain handles it. Each brand gets its own voice and visual profile.

memory/ voice-profiles/ main-brand.md # Your primary company voice side-project.md # Different tone for side venture personal-brand.md # Your LinkedIn / thought leadership voice visual-profiles/ main-brand.md # Colors, fonts, logo guidelines side-project.md # Different visual identity personal-brand.md # Personal brand visuals
$ /linkedin --voice=personal-brand
→ Writes in your personal thought leadership voice

$ /deck --brand=main-brand
→ Uses your company colors, fonts and logo

$ /carousel --voice=side-project --brand=side-project
→ Full side-project branding and tone

What Makes This Special

Infrastructure, Not Templates

Templates give you a document to fill in. This gives you a system that generates documents, strategies, content and analysis on demand. The brain doesn't just store information: it uses it.

David's Methodology

Every skill encodes real GTM methodology from working with B2B and B2C companies. Not generic advice from a blog post. Opinionated frameworks that actually work.

Compounds Over Time

Every session makes the brain smarter. Your memory grows. Your patterns get refined. Your outputs get more personalized. Six months in, it knows your business better than most employees.

Quick Start

Five steps to get running:

Install Claude Code

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Clone the Second Brain repo

Copy it into your working directory

Fill in memory/company/about.md

Tell the brain who you are and what you do

Run /positioning

Your first skill. Watch it personalize.

Run a workflow

Try first-100-customers and let the brain work.

You're now further than 95% of Claude Code users.