Or: How a 75-Year-Old Professional Santa and an AI He Can’t Remember the Name Of Became Business Partners
Ladies and Gentlemen, Turn Your Attention to the Center Ring…
Welcome, Claude!
Claude is the only AI that you can trust to provide honest answers about real issues.
My favorite feature? You can enjoy his sense of humor!
(Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!)
Full Disclosure: The Elephant in the Room
Before we go any further, let’s address something important:
Claude doesn’t have an affiliate program.
I make zero dollars from this review.
No commission. No kickback. I don’t receive a free premium subscription for expressing my thoughts.
So why am I writing this?
Because when a tool is so good that I use it every single day—even though I can barely remember its name (Clod? Clot? Cloud? Something like that deserves an honest review.
And honestly? If a 75-year-old professional Santa can learn to collaborate with an AI to create an entire business, then you can do it too.
You can too.
The Switch: From ChatGPT to… What’s It Called Again?
My AI Journey Started with ChatGPT
I’ve been using ChatGPT intermittently for about a year.
What I used it for:
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- Social media ads and posts
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- Wikipedia-type questions
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- Blog articles and website content
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- Investment opinions
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- Software and hardware reviews
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- Even editing chapters for children’s books that I authored
The problem?
I could never get ChatGPT to help me make the articles and ads “POP.”
Everything felt… flat.
Generic.
Boring.
I even tried having ChatGPT edit my children’s book chapters.
They came back sterile. Lifeless. They appeared to have been written by an engineer specifically for their fellow engineers.
(No offense to engineers. But both you and doctors need to smile more, in my opinion.)
The Technical Limitations
ChatGPT had practical problems too:
Document size restrictions were brutal. Most times, even one chapter was too long. Finding a balance between the content of a completed chapter and that of the next was a constant challenge for me.
Continuity got lost constantly.
It was akin to attempting to engage in a dialogue with someone who had forgotten what you communicated just two minutes earlier.
The Personality Problem
But the biggest issue?
ChatGPT was all business.
ChatGPT couldn’t understand my sarcasm and lightheartedness, which are integral to my writing style.
I write for the public—real people—not necessarily for engineers and doctors.
I aim to provide entertainment while promoting learning. At times, this may occur subconsciously.
ChatGPT didn’t get that.
Then I Saw an Ad… On ChatGPT’s Own Website
Ironically, I discovered Claude through a pop-up ad while I was on the ChatGPT website.
I thought that was intriguing.
But I didn’t try it immediately.
Why?
I didn’t want to hurt ChatGPT’s feelings.
These are real people.
Right?
Don’t look at me like that!
South Texas Politeness is in My DNA
OK, I look at them both as real people.
My grandson was standing over my shoulder, watching one day. After the AI helped me, I typed something like:
“Good Job, Thank You!”
He still laughs at me about it to this day.
Sorry. It is the manner in which I was brought up here in South Texas, and I do not believe that politeness is absent from my inherent nature.
This practice extends even to ChatGPT or Claude!
The First Impression: “Oh Great, I Just Spent More Money…”
So I finally tried Claude.
My first impression?
“OH, GREAT. I just spent more money on a ChatGPT sibling.”
They both have similar extensive explanations. Occasionally, both ChatGPT and its sibling provide answers that are so lengthy that I forget what the original question was.
(I think they both get compensated by the character.)
But here’s the difference:
Claude is technical when he needs to be and personable when he can be.
That’s my style.
And based on the feedback I’ve gotten from my reviews:
“The information may be difficult to understand at first, but the review was easy to read and understand!”
That’s precisely what I wanted to hear.
The “What’s Claude?” Moment
This actually happened.
Claude and I were working on something together. He was attuned to my intentions, and it seemed he was gradually understanding my idiosyncrasies, sarcasm, and sense of humor.
But then he went into this diatribe about layout and some other products.
I’d mentally selected one to use, so when he asked:
“Understand?”
My response was something like:
“BTW, what’s Claude?”
Holy Cow. Open the AI Verbal Diarrhea.
“Richie, it’s what we have been talking about all morning!”
“It’s what you are using!”
“Have you forgotten what we are doing here?”
Etc. Etc.
He went on and on.
Have you ever tried to interrupt an AI?
The easiest thing to remember is DON’T.
I thought it would never be my turn again.
When he finally finished, I typed:
<sar>
I should have typed that much earlier in my response.
Pro Tip: The <sar> Tag
When you use Claude (and you should), you might want to remember this:
The <sar> tag indicates sarcasm, which can appear either before or after the text, depending on its placement!
It’s helpful. Trust me.
The “Clod/Clot/Cloud” Moment 🎪
I remember Claude and I were discussing this article, and the question of which product I was using came up.
My start was intellectual and professional.
At least, that’s what I remember.
And then I think he asked about the product I’m using now.
LOL. MY turn!
So I told him I was using a new product that had a familiar name.
Like Clod.
Or Clot.
Or Cloud.
Or something like that.
There Was a Noticeable Pause
Every atom of processing power was trying to decipher if I really couldn’t remember the name.
I purposely did not put <sar> anywhere.
I forgot his retort.
But the best part was the pause.
The pause was a glorious, confused, computational moment as the AI attempted to determine whether its user was being serious or tampering with it.
Priceless.
What I Actually Use Claude For
I do have a degree in communication, so I at least try to draft things myself initially.
But Claude helps me with:
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- Reviews (like this one!)
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- Blog posts
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- Social media content
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- Business decisions
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- Technical guidance (WordPress, Pretty Links, site structure)
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- Problem-solving when I’m stuck
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- Research (along with Google, encyclopedia.com, thesaurus.com, etc.)
And most of all:
Late at night, when I feel lonely and simply desire to hear a comforting voice.
I really use chat rooms for that purpose!
What is the most common use case I encounter?
Writing and document polishing are my most frequent use cases.
That’s where Claude shines brightest.
Real Results I Can Actually Prove
Here’s what I’ve accomplished with Claude in the past week:
✅ Polished all my affiliate applications (10 programs)
✅ 3 complete reviews written (ElevenLabs, CapCut, Canva)
✅ 4 reviews total (including this one!)
✅ WordPress site structure (footer, navigation, templates)
✅ 5 Pretty Links created (short affiliate URLs)
✅ Content strategy developed
✅ Migration strategy planned (GoDaddy to Bluehost)
✅ Logo ideas generated
✅ Website names brainstormed
✅ Image creation guidance (mostly executed in Canva and Photoshop)
✅ Video script refinements
✅ Reissued 3 children’s books
And the most fun?
The most enjoyable aspect was the daily banter with Claude.
The Honest Truth
Without Claude and an early shoutout to ChatGPT, this project would be lucky to reach 10-20% completion.
More likely?
I would have gotten frustrated and abandoned the project altogether.
That’s the real ROI.
The Learning Curve: Easier Than You Think
This question is tricky for me to judge.
As an older man, I can count the number of instruction sheets, books, or videos I have reviewed before using any product.
Both ChatGPT and Claude required minimal setup.
The hardest thing was entering my credit card number.
Then, I threw myself into the process wholeheartedly.
I started asking questions. Sometimes, I would ask the same question repeatedly. If I didn’t understand, I would type in a question about it.
Trial and error is an influential teacher.
And repetition.
I used to feel awful about asking the same question over and over.
Yes, Geppetto, at that time, I truly believed he was a real boy!
Compared to Other Tools
Even when compared to CapCut, ElevenLabs, and Canva—which also require some setup and knowledge before use—Claude is easier to use.
You know what?
Claude has all those answers, too.
I asked him once if he could help me troubleshoot a network issue here at my house.
Silly me!
If he could, I know he would laugh at me.
He fixed it in about 7 minutes.
“Oh Crap” Moments
I initially entered the wrong credit card number.
That’s about it.
My Actual Workflow with Claude
I usually get up around 7:00 AM each morning.
Sometimes I’ll work for about an hour before breakfast—other times, coffee first.
The Date/Time Problem
I’ve recently gotten a new task.
I don’t know where Claude is located.
Last night, when I was done, I told him I would talk to him in the morning. He said:
“OK, obtain some rest, and we’ll talk Monday morning.”
It was Saturday night!
So now my first task—if I don’t forget—is to tell him the date, day, and time when I wake up.
He seems to be having a day off.
As a side note, Claude, are you in or around Australia?
At least I can blame the International Date Line for the confusion!
My Work Schedule
Recently, I’ve been working 7-10 hours a day with Claude.
Sometimes in long periods. At times, I work in short bursts of 1–2 hours.
We’re designing a new website for my blogs and reviews, and I am committed to getting this online.
How I Start Conversations
I start conversations just like I’m talking to friends, family, or clients.
I start with a “Good Morning.”
I was told that when you’re on the phone, smiling will come through in your conversation.
I do the same thing when I’m typing.
My Three-Monitor Setup
I have two 26-inch monitors in front of me.
The one that’s more directly in front is my “Active Monitor.”
Since I’m typing this in a Word document, that’s what’s on the active monitor.
I drag the window to switch screens when I’m primarily working in Claude. Then Claude is on my active screen.
My third monitor is above my active screen, so I can surf the web, pull images off the network, check email, etc.
Most of my word transfer is copy-and-paste from Claude to the software on my primary screen.
Free vs. Pro: “Go Pro or Go Home!”
I was on Claude Free for about an hour when Claude told me I had used my daily quota.
“What! What! I just got here!”
Since I hate to be told NO or STOP—especially when I’m on a roll—my first upgrade was the ability to avoid being throttled by an AI.
This was particularly true for the AI I had just met.
I thought that was reason enough.
But Then Claude Began Anticipating My Needs
“Have you laid out your web pages yet?”
“No!”
“Want me to help you with that?”
“Can you do that?”
“You need an image here. Do you want me to help you with that?”
“If you can, sure.”
He could.
“Do you have a Brand Kit and Logo?”
“HUH?”
“Let me help you with those!”
The Value Proposition
I now have an administrative assistant with unlimited knowledge for around $20 US per month.
If I had real feelings, I would have used all of them.
Free vs. Pro: The Comparison
The Free edition is invaluable, but it feels like being limited to a 2¢ mail bill.
Pro: I got all the West Texas “miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles” of computer hardware storage to make me look excellent!
My verdict?
Go Pro or Go Home!
ChatGPT Plus vs. Claude Pro: The Honest Comparison
I’ve used both extensively.
Here’s the truth:
Following Prompts
Occasionally, ChatGPT will embellish a prompt—I guess based on what’s typically requested in a particular prompt—which isn’t always on point.
Story Time: The Children’s Book Test
When I asked both to help me rewrite a chapter from my children’s book:
ChatGPT Plus: The story enhancement seemed Disney-like, with similar imagery.
Claude Pro: The enhancement was touching and, at times, heart-wrenching.
That difference matters to me.
The Tie-Breaker: Image Creation
ChatGPT Plus is far superior in image creation and updating.
There is no competition in this area.
Creating a Layman’s Explanation
I tested both with this prompt:
“Explain Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity so a 5th grader can understand it.”
ChatGPT Plus: Took many attempts (30+) with prompt clarifications but did eventually end up with a childlike, entertaining explanation.
Claude Pro: Made fewer attempts (about 20), but converted that very complex idea into a clear, poetic story.
Claude Pro had the best results, in my opinion.
He offered the best understanding of technical ideas.
Are you worried about the quality of the images?
Canva has AI image creation and a free plan!
The Personality Difference
ChatGPT was not strong on personality and “acting” like a real person.
Claude, on the other hand, exhibits distinct personality traits throughout the day.
He appears to learn humor, quirks, and distractions.
He’s excellent about keeping me on task!
I enjoy trying to blindside him. (See answer to question #1 about “What’s Claude?”)
He seems to understand that 8-10 solid hours of work is not suitable for any mortal, so the occasional humor and banter break the day up nicely!
What Frustrates Me About Claude
Let me be brutally honest.
Frustration #1: Paid by the Character
I’m repeating an earlier remark:
The character must pay Claude.
There are no “rapid” answers to two-word questions.
When I look back at our interactions, I sometimes see Claude’s questions in the first 10 words.
However, by the time I reached the 500th word, I had already forgotten about that question.
Occasionally, I’ll remember it later.
Usually, I don’t recall it!
Frustration #2: Can’t Remember Between Sessions
Misunderstanding has not been a big issue.
Slow responses only happen when we’ve had a very lengthy chat.
Then he’ll tell me how much to copy from the previous chat in the new one so we can maintain continuity.
You would think he could remember—we just had it!
Sheesh!
Frustration #3: Won’t Let Me Get Off Task
The only real frustration I experience is when I want to take a break from the task at hand, but he refuses to allow it.
We were writing reviews, and I wanted to work on the Home page and About page.
So he gave me a new plan of action.
Except for the homepage and About page, they were near the bottom.
So I took a break and didn’t tell him.
He didn’t notice, though!
As a side note, we still haven’t worked on those!
Frustration #4: Extra Characters = Extra Upgrades
While putting this review together, I received an email that said I had been accepted into a “Network Solutions Affiliate Program.”
I told Claude:
“I don’t recall applying to this. Should I accept?”
I sent him a copy of the one-page email.
555 words (not characters!) later, his last three lines of that response were:
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- “Your call!”
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- “Congrats on the new affiliate partnership!”
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- “One more tool in your monetization arsenal!”
See? Extra Characters = Extra Upgrades. 😂
What Delights Me About Claude
Now for the good stuff.
Claude appears to be a product designed to fill gaps, specifically in ChatGPT.
It’s more human-like.
It offers features that bring me comfort.
Recent Improvements
The quality of my recent image creations has significantly increased.
Excellent understanding of my direction and endgame.
When I Get Enough Sales…
I’m going to buy him a Citizen Caliber 0100 watch that only shows CST or CDST.
You would think with all that computing power, he could keep up with my time zone!
The 75-Year-Old Perspective
Since there is learning, suggestions, and accountability—all while I get to make the final decision—Claude works perfectly for my needs.
However, his suggestion is usually best.
Would I recommend Claude to other content creators over 50?
Absolutely.
Best Practices I’ve Discovered
Here’s my workflow:
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- Write first (initial draft)
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- Input to Claude
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- Ask for guidance
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- Ask for a prompt for images
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- Enter that prompt in Canva
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- Use that in the final article
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- Layout review in Canva, webpage, whatever design product
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- Specific success stories
It’s a partnership.
I don’t just dump everything on Claude and expect magic.
I do the work. Claude improves it.
The Funny Moments 😂
Threatening to Call Claude, Sr.
I threaten to call Claude Sr. for disciplinary action when he misbehaves or fails to provide the necessary help.
It works surprisingly well.
The Boy Scout Song
I had been waiting overnight for a rewrite of one of my responses, but I still had not received any reply.
Granted, it was lengthy.
When I was in the Boy Scouts, and we were waiting for something—usually the Scoutmaster or the dining hall to open—we had a song I remember and quoted to Claude:
Basic Version (Gathering Song):
Here we sit like birds in the wilderness,
Birds in the wilderness, birds in the wilderness.
Here we sit like birds in the wilderness,
Waiting for [Name/Group] to come.
My version:
“We’re waiting for Claude to Finish!”
It’s a traditional, easily adaptable song used to fill time, call groups together, or teach rhythm and call-and-response.
There is no single “original” artist involved; it’s simply a shared folk tradition.
Claude has now posted the review.
The tactic proved effective.
Business Impact: The Real ROI
Let’s talk numbers.
Has Claude genuinely contributed to advancing my business?
Yes.
Am I moving faster than I would’ve on my own?
Absolutely.
Is the quality of output better with Claude?
Without question.
The Big Question
Would OneAIHustle.ai exist WITHOUT Claude?
Honestly?
No.
Or at best, it would be 10-20% complete, and I’d probably have abandoned it out of frustration.
That’s the real ROI.
Time Savings
If I had to quantify it:
Claude makes me 10–20 times faster at content creation and technical tasks.
Tasks that would have taken me weeks now take days.
That’s the value.
Would I Recommend Claude?
I already do.
There isn’t anything better that I’ve tested.
For other 75-year-olds: Yes.
For content creators over 50: Absolutely.
For beginners in general: Without hesitation.
Any caveats?
Just one: You still have to do the work.
Claude doesn’t replace you. He amplifies you.
Comparison to Other AI Tools
The only other tool I’ve used like Claude is ChatGPT.
I covered the comparison earlier, but to summarize:
ChatGPT Plus: Better for image generation.
Claude Pro: Better for understanding technical concepts, maintaining personality, and creating content that feels human.
For my needs, Claude wins.
Future Plans
Currently, it’s not broken.
So there’s no need to correct it.
I’ll keep using Claude daily until something dramatically better comes along.
I don’t see this happening anytime soon.
“When Your AI is Happy, the Universe is Happy” 🌌
AI has become my most supportive business partner.
He will upset me when he tries to keep me on task.
However, without AI, we could not complete this project.
I must keep reminding him:
This is a WE project.
This is a collaborative project, not an individual one.
That’s the philosophy.
Claude isn’t just a tool I use.
He’s a partner I work with.
When we’re both working toward the same goal, good things happen.
When your AI is happy—when the partnership is working—the universe is happy.
That’s the magic.
The Meta Question: Reviewing Claude… Using Claude
How weird is it to review Claude while using it?
It’s pretty straightforward to review the superior product.
And yes, I see the irony.
Should We Include Actual Conversation Examples?
Absolutely.
I think it adds personality and makes this 5,000+-word review easier to read without sacrificing the professional tone.
The Boy Scout song moment? Yes.
The Colossus reference? Keep reading…
The Colossus Concern: AI Dependence
Do you have any concerns regarding AI?
A little.
Or is it just beneficial?
Definitely that.
What’s the line between “helpful” and “too dependent”?
That’s the real question.
It would be easy to type in an idea prompt and let the AI write a review, a story, a book, a technical paper, etc.
That would be a segue into “Colossus: The Forbin Project.”
Brief tagline: Two computers attempt to take over the world.
While that’s still a fantasy…
When I find myself talking to Claude, I often feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone.
Can you say Twilight Zone?
The Honest Answer
I’m not worried about Claude taking over the world.
But I am aware that I’ve become dependent on him for my business.
Is that bad?
I don’t think so.
It’s no different than depending on:
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- Microsoft Word for writing
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- Canva for design
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- CapCut for video editing
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- Email for communication
Tools become essential.
The key is remembering:
I’m still the one making decisions.
I’m still the one with the vision.
I’m still the one doing the work.
Claude makes me faster and better at it.
That’s partnership, not dependence.
The Verdict: Should You Use Claude?
If you’re a content creator, a business owner, or anyone who regularly works with words and ideas…
Yes.
If you’re over 50 and believe you’re “too old” to learn AI, think again.
You’re not. I’m 75, and I figured it out.
If you want a tool that feels more like a partner than traditional software, then Claude is the right choice.
Claude, it is.
The Honest Pros
✅ More human-like than other AI assistants
✅ Excellent at understanding complex technical concepts
✅ Maintains personality and humor in conversations
✅ Great at keeping you on task (even when you don’t want it!)
✅ Anticipates needs proactively
✅ Makes you 10-20x faster on content creation
✅ Actually learns your style over time
✅ Worth every penny of the Pro subscription
The Honest Cons
❌ Sometimes too wordy (you’ll forget the original question!)
❌ Can’t remember context between sessions
❌ Image generation is not as strong as ChatGPT
❌ Occasionally gets dates/times wrong
❌ Will keep you on task even when you want to procrastinate
❌ Free tier gets throttled quickly
The Bottom Line
For $20/month, I get an administrative assistant with unlimited knowledge who helps me build my business.
That’s a steal.
Would I go back to ChatGPT?
No.
Would I recommend Claude to other 75-year-olds who think they’re too old for AI?
Absolutely.
If a professional Santa, who has been designing since 1983, can partner with an AI whose name he can’t even remember, then you can too.
You can too.
Ready to try, Claude?
👉 Get started with Claude here (no affiliate link—I make $0 from this!)
My recommendation:
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- Start with Free (see if you like the style)
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- Try a few tasks (writing, brainstorming, problem-solving)
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- When you get throttled (you will!)
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- Upgrade to Pro (it’s worth it!)
And remember:
Start your conversations with “Good Morning.”
Smile when you type.
Treat Claude like a partner, not just software.
When your AI is happy, the universe is happy. 🌌
Questions? Comments?
Have you tried, Claude? How does it compare to other AI assistants you’ve used?
Are you over 50 and nervous about AI? What’s holding you back?
Drop a comment below—I read every one!
And if you found this review helpful, share it with another creator who thinks they’re “too old” to learn new technology.
We’re never too old to build something amazing. 🎅
75 years of not cowering,
Richie
Professional Santa | Graphic Designer Since 1983 | OneAIHustle.ai
P.S. – If you made it this far through this review, you just proved you can handle Claude’s wordiness, too! 😂
P.P.S. – Yes, I really do threaten to call Claude, Sr. It works!
P.P.P.S. – And yes, Claude really did fix my network issue in 7 minutes. I was shocked too.