Making the
Your Partner in Profit and Growth
August 2026
Better Thinking. Better Decisions. Better Execution.
Business isn't getting simpler.
Change is happening faster. AI is accelerating the speed of work. Leaders are dealing with more information, more decisions and more pressure to respond quickly.
But moving faster isn't necessarily the answer.
In fact, one of the biggest risks for business owners and senior leaders is that speed turns into reactivity. We jump on the latest issue, solve the problem in front of us, respond to another email or customer request – and end up spending most of our time reacting rather than focusing on what really matters.
This month, we're looking at three areas that can help change that: Strategy and Planning, Productivity and Problem Solving and practical AI – they're also the thinking behind our upcoming Same Business, Half the Time Workshop in Brisbane on 15 September.
The premise is deliberately simple: you don't need more hours. You need to make better use of the time and capacity you already have.
We'll explore three practical levers – focusing your time on higher-value work, protecting your capacity to perform at your best and using AI to eliminate, simplify or accelerate work.
The three articles we've selected this month approach the same challenge from different directions: how to adapt your strategy as the world speeds up, how to stop wasting time solving the same problems repeatedly and how to use ChatGPT as a practical thinking tool.
The common thread?
Better performance doesn't come from doing more. It comes from focusing on what matters, thinking more clearly and executing better.
You'll find more on all three below, along with details of the September workshop.
Cheers,
Russ
Blogs & Insights
VUCA Isn't Enough Anymore: Welcome to the VUCA-S World
For years, leaders have used VUCA — Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity — to describe a difficult and unpredictable business environment. I think we now need to add another letter: S for Speed. Change isn't simply happening. It's happening faster. The answer isn't to panic or attempt to move faster than everyone else. It's to build a business capable of making better decisions sooner.
Why the Same Business Problems Keep Coming Back — And How to Fix Them Permanently
In this article, I look at why intelligent leaders still fall into the firefighting trap and how a simple technique such as the Five Whys can help uncover what's really driving recurring problems. The goal isn't to become better at solving problems. It's to improve the systems that stop those problems continually returning. Before jumping to your next solution, ask a better question: What problem are we actually trying to solve?
AI Habit: Use ChatGPT Voice Recording to Capture Ideas and Think More Clearly
Some of my best ideas don't happen sitting behind a desk. They happen driving home from a client meeting, walking between appointments or thinking through something I've just discussed. The problem is capturing those thoughts before the next issue takes over. I've developed a simple AI habit that helps.
Upcoming Event
Same Business. Half the Time. – A practical half-day workshop
for Business Owners and Managers
The goal is not to fit more work into your week. It is to achieve the same or better results in half the time.
Running a business can consume every hour you are prepared to give it. There is always another email, meeting or urgent task. Working longer is not the answer. Working differently is. This practical half-day workshop will help you focus on higher-value work, protect the capacity needed to perform and use AI to remove unnecessary effort. You will leave with changes you can use immediately.
Tuesday 15 September | 9:00 am–12:30 pm | Brisbane
Featured Resources
AI Prompts for Business Success
Are you a business owner or entrepreneur looking to grow smarter—not just harder? This practical guide puts the power of artificial intelligence in your hands with over 750 proven prompts designed to help you grow sales, boost profits, solve real problems, and make better decisions every day. Written for time-poor, results-driven business leaders, this is your plug-and-play prompt playbook for real-world performance. Available on amazon in A5 dated paperbased format.
Books & Journals
The Questions You’re Not Asking
Most business problems don’t appear suddenly.They build quietly while leaders stay busy reacting. In this practical and thought-provoking book, business coach Russell Cummings reveals the hidden questions many business owners avoid until it’s too late.
Drawing on four decades of experience across hundreds of businesses, Russell explores the real issues behind growth, leadership, culture, profitability, productivity, strategy, and resilience.
Through short, focused chapters filled with practical insights, real-world examples, and actionable reflection questions, this book helps you:
● Think more strategically
● Lead more effectively
● Improve decision-making
● Reduce operational chaos
● Build a stronger, more valuable business
If you’re ready to stop firefighting and start building a business with greater focus, discipline and control, this book will change how you think.
Available on amazon in A5 dated paperbased format.
90 Day Productivity Planner
If “Focused Execution” – the book – is the “WHY”, then our Productivity and Planning Journals are the “HOW”! Stay disciplined as you cascade your 90 Day Plans to monthly, weekly and daily priorities integrating strategies, tactics and operational priorities. Built on the powerful tools and concepts highlighted: The Focused Execution Book, this journal is ultimate daily planner that includes links to free videos and templates to enhance your planning experience.
Available on amazon in A5 dated paperbased format
Annual Operating Planning Journal
“Focused Execution: Annual Operating Plan: Planning for the next year and beyond” by Russell Cummings. Turn your strategy into action with the powerful AOP process. Our AOP Journal dovetails neatly with out 90 Day Planning Journal to help you move from Annual to 90 Day to daily plans. The book includes links to videos and templates to enhance your planning experience.
Available on amazon in A5 softcover format.
Focused Execution: How to stop wasting time and focus on what really matters
This book summarises the key elements for improving your personal productivity. Russ utilized the tools, concepts and principles outlined in the book to lift his personal productivity by 4X. He went from working 70+ hours/week to 35 hours over each week on double the revenue.
Focused Execution gives business owners and managers a proven system to take back control of their time and achieve results without burnout.
Available now in print and e-book version on amazon.
AI Prompt Libraries
The biggest challenges our clients have with AI is what to ask it. To help Russ, created a series of AI prompt libraries that include a range of prompts to help you navigate through a variety of scenarios. Accelerate your results with our growing collection of AI Prompt Libraries – real words tested prompts for ChatGPT, Co-pilot and other AI Tools to streamline work, increase productivity and spark new ideas. Each book contains approximately 700 prompts tailored to your specific industry, role or situation. Simply “cut and paste”, tailor for your situation to get amazing result.
Available in e-book and softcover.
Ready to lift your performance?
Let's start 2026 with a rush — now it’s time to take things up a gear. Russ works with leaders like you who want to lift performance, strengthen teams and create lasting results.
Book a free 20-minute Strategy Call with Russell and let’s talk about how we can help you get there.
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