First, apply some of the grease to a surface that can be cleaned or disposed of. (NOTE: don't squirt thermal compounds directly onto a chip surface, as you will usually get about 5 times more than you need on it.) Then, take a credit card or single-edged razor blade, and apply a small amount of compound to the surface of the chip, about the size of half of a grain of rice will be plenty. Wipe the credit card clean, and carefully smooth the grease out to a level, opaque layer completely covering the surface of the chip.