The concept
Skills fade without practice. What sticks: one real problem, small weekly sessions, something to show at each checkpoint.
Walkthrough: one plan, one work problem
Example: an operations analyst at a retail bank spends about 3 hours a month turning customer-survey comments into themes for the leadership pack (illustrative).
Days 1–30: use it, safely
- Week 1: confirm which AI tool and data you may use. Strip names and account numbers.
- Weeks 2–3: do the summary with a chat assistant and a saved prompt. Compare with your manual version.
- Week 4: write a one-page spec: input, output, what "good" looks like, 10 test examples.
Checkpoint: a reliable prompt and a spec.
Days 31–60: build it
- Pick a path with the Day 85 guide: Copilot Studio if your work lives in Microsoft 365; the Claude or OpenAI API with GitHub Copilot, Codex or Claude Code if you write code.
- Build a version that groups comments into themes with counts and quotes.
- Run your 10 tests, then 20. Fix the worst failure each week.
Checkpoint: a prototype that passes your tests.
Days 61–90: ship and share it
- Give it to 2–3 colleagues and collect feedback (Day 95).
- Run the Day 98 checks: bias, privacy, rules.
- Write a README and record a 2-minute demo (Day 96).
Checkpoint: something people use, plus a portfolio piece. Then pick the next problem.
Official learning resources
- Anthropic courses (Claude API, Claude Code, MCP): https://anthropic.skilljar.com
- OpenAI Academy, free and self-paced: https://academy.openai.com
- Microsoft Learn, "Create agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio": https://learn.microsoft.com/training/paths/create-extend-custom-copilots-microsoft-copilot-studio
- GitHub Skills, hands-on Copilot exercises: https://skills.github.com
Habits that help
- 30 minutes, 3 times a week, beats one weekend binge.
- Keep a "what I tried" log.
- Skim release notes monthly; these tools change fast.
Where it fits your role
- PMs and POs: prototype an idea before writing the ticket.
- Business analysts: turn one recurring report into a tested assistant.
- Banking, insurance, healthcare: start read-only, internal and low-risk.
Try it today (10 min)
1. Write down one recurring task that wastes your time.
2. Put three checkpoints in your calendar: day 30, 60 and 90.
3. Book your first 30-minute session this week.
In one sentence
Pick one real problem and give it 90 days: use it safely, build it, then ship it and show it.
What's the one task you'll build your 90-day plan around? 👇