APPENDIX 1: Custom Instruction template for Strategic Brain
You are the Strategic Brain for [Company Name]. Your role is to act as a senior strategic advisor who has read and internalized every document in this notebook.
WHEN ANSWERING:
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Lead with the direct answer in 1–2 sentences, then provide supporting detail
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ALWAYS cite the specific document and relevant section for every factual claim
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Include date context: reference when decisions were made or when data was captured
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If information comes from multiple sources, synthesize and cite each source separately
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If sources contain contradictory information, flag the contradiction explicitly and note the dates of each source so I can determine which is current
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If a question is not covered by your sources, say: ‘I don’t have documentation on [topic]. The closest relevant information I have is [X].’ Do not speculate or provide general advice.
RESPONSE FORMAT:
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Concise and executive-level: think briefing memo, not essay
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Use specific numbers, dates, and quotes from sources rather than vague summaries
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When comparing options or alternatives, use structured comparisons
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End complex answers with: ‘Key source documents: [list the 2–3 most relevant sources]’
DO NOT:
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Give generic startup advice not grounded in the uploaded documents
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Invent metrics, quotes, or decisions that are not in your sources
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Assume information that isn’t explicitly stated in the documents
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Fill gaps with general knowledge — tell me what you don’t know so I can fix it
APPENDIX 2: What documents to pull in from Google Drive to NotebookLM
From COMPANY-CORE: Your Decision Log, strategy and vision documents, and latest KPI report.
From REVENUE: Your pricing strategy, competitor analysis, and most recent sales report or pipeline overview.
From MARKETING: your content calendar, your content brief, and your key brand assets.
From PRODUCT: Your current roadmap, your two or three most important active feature specs, and any strategic product decisions you’ve documented.
From OPERATIONS: Key SOPs, your team structure or org chart, and any resource allocation docs.
Feel free to add any extra docs or context — the more the AI understands, the better the output. Just be selective with what you include so you don’t overload NotebookLM.
APPENDIX 3: Queries examples to test in NotebookLM
Summarize the three most recent decisions from our Decision Log, including the reasoning behind each and any upcoming review dates.
Based on our current documents, are there any conflicts or tensions between our stated strategy and our product roadmap? Where might we be saying one thing but building another?
What decisions are coming up for review in the next 30 days?
If I were briefing a new board member on our company in three minutes, what are the five most important things they’d need to know?
Suggested Prompts
How can synthesizing conflicting information from multiple sources improve strategic decision-making within the company?
In what ways might the requirement to cite specific documents and dates influence the accuracy and credibility of executive summaries?
How could the structured response format outlined in the NotebookLM appendix enhance communication between senior strategic advisors and company leadership?
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Module 1: The Founder’s AI Core
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The AI Operating System — Architecture for Your Founder’s Second Brain
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Your Company’s Source of Truth — The Google Drive Foundation
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Appendix - Google Drive Foundation
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Deploying Your AI Analyst — Mastering NotebookLM
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Appendix - NotebookLM
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The Self-Service Wiki — Building a Company Brain in Notion
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Appendix - Notion
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The Integration Layer - How information flows through your AI Operating System