Overview
Begin with an identity interview. Ask Hermes to interview you about the information it should know to serve as an assistant. Include how you prefer answers to be structured, what work you do, what matters now, what you dislike in AI responses, and which recurring responsibilities it should understand.
After the interview, instruct Hermes to remember the information in USER.md. Review the result and remove anything that should not be retained.
Next, edit SOUL.md. Define the desired behavior in operational terms. For example:
- Lead with the answer.
- Keep routine responses direct.
- Use evidence when making a recommendation.
- Avoid long prefatory language.
- Use a relaxed tone for personal messages.
- Deliver links and action items inline when possible.
Test the soul with ordinary tasks. Ask for a calendar summary, a draft message, and a project recommendation. Adjust the file until the behavior is consistent.
Create separate profiles when roles diverge. A personal profile may prioritize speed and conversational access. A business profile may use a stronger model, company connectors, team channels, and project-tracking hooks. A client profile may have only the credentials and memory required for that client.