We are overwhelmed by the number of AI opportunities. How do we use Keith Cunningham-style Thinking Time to focus on the projects that actually move the needle?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When overwhelmed, the solution is not more action, it is higher-quality thinking. You must pay a high dumb tax if you chase every AI opportunity without a clear strategic focus. To avoid this, set aside thirty to forty-five minutes of uninterrupted Thinking Time. Sit down with a blank notepad and a specific, high-value question.

Do not ask vague questions like how do we use AI in our business. Instead, use the framing: How might we use AI to automate our most time-consuming operational bottleneck so that we can double our output without hiring additional staff? Or ask: How might we integrate AI into our proprietary process so that our client retention rate increases by ten percent?

Once you have generated a list of potential answers, run them through the IDS® process with your leadership team. Filter the ideas through your V/TO® to ensure they align with your core focus and three uniques. Select one or two high-impact projects and turn them into quarterly Rocks. This disciplined approach prevents shiny object syndrome and ensures your AI initiatives are directly tied to increasing your enterprise value and operational efficiency.