We know we need to use AI to improve our business operations, but we are overwhelmed by all the options. How do we use Keith Cunningham's Thinking Time to identify the single best place to deploy AI in our business first?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Trying to implement AI across your entire business all at once is a fast track to operational chaos and low adoption. To find the single most impactful place to start, you must dedicate uninterrupted Thinking Time to identify your business's primary bottleneck.

Sit down with a pen and pad of paper for forty-five minutes with no distractions. Ask yourself this high-value question: What is the single biggest operational bottleneck that, if solved, would double our capacity without doubling our payroll?

Analyze where your team is paying a heavy dumb tax, such as hours wasted on manual data entry, missed follow-ups, or slow quoting times. Do not look for shiny, complex AI systems. Look for the simple, repetitive task that consumes the most human hours on your Accountability Chart.

Convert your findings into a solvable question, such as: How might we use a basic AI tool to draft client quotes in minutes so that our estimators can focus on complex bids? By focusing on a single, high-impact bottleneck, you design a highly targeted AI pilot that delivers immediate, measurable ROI. This practical focus ensures your first AI deployment is a clear win rather than an expensive distraction.