If you’re a business owner or manager, you’ve probably had days where you’ve been flat out all day but still felt like nothing important actually got done. You’ve ticked boxes, put out fires, handled emails and meetings, but the big strategic priorities are still sitting there untouched.
That’s the reality for many leaders I work with. The issue isn’t lack of effort – most business owners are some of the hardest working people you’ll meet. The problem lies in time and priority management. Too often, we confuse being busy with being productive.
The good news? With the right mindset, tools, and discipline, you can take control of your time and start driving results that matter.
Why Time and Priorities Get Away From Us
There are three common reasons why owners and managers find themselves drowning in tasks but starving for progress:
1. Lack of Focus
Without a clear plan, everything feels urgent. You end up reacting to the loudest problem of the day rather than progressing the goals that will move your business forward.
2. Weak Discipline
Even when you know your priorities, sticking to them is tough. Distractions, interruptions, and shifting demands can pull you off course.
3. Low Control
Many owners don’t shape their environment – they let meetings, emails, and other people’s priorities dictate their time. The result? Long hours, little progress, and mounting frustration.
Why 90-Day Plans Are the Answer
The first step is to get “Focus” and a 90-Day Plan is my usual starting point for businesses and leaders. Its one of the most powerful tools we use at SHIFFT as It’s short enough to create urgency, but long enough to make meaningful progress.
The hierarchy of planning works like this:
- Strategic Plan: 3–5 years
- Annual Plan: 12 months
- 90-Day Plan: the next quarter
- Monthly, Weekly, and Daily Plans
As you cascade from long-term down to daily, the timeframe shrinks, the detail increases, and accountability sharpens. That’s how strategy becomes execution.
When you start your quarter with a clear 90-Day Plan, you’ve set the stage for focus. Then, by breaking that plan into monthly, weekly priorities and daily “Must Do’s”, you ensure you’re working on the right things every day – not just the noisy things .
Practical Example: From Strategy to Daily Action
Let’s say your strategic goal is to grow revenue by 20% next year.
- Annual Plan: Add two new sales channels.
- 90-Day Plan: Launch the first channel and lock in three new major clients this quarter.
- Monthly Plan: Complete the campaign setup and outreach by Month 1.
- Weekly Plan: Identify and pitch 10 top prospects.
- Daily Plan: Make 5 outbound calls and prepare one proposal.
That’s how strategy stops being a nice idea in a document and starts becoming a lived reality in your calendar.
How to Regain Control of Your Time
Here are three steps to bring your time and priorities under control:
1. Start Every Quarter with a 90-Day Plan
Decide on your 3–4 “Big Rocks” for the quarter – the things that must be achieved. Then cascade those down into monthly, weekly, and daily actions.
2. Use the Must-Should-Could Method Daily
Identify your 2–4 “Must-Do’s” each day. These are the non-negotiables. If they’re done, the day is a success – even if nothing else gets touched
3. Build Habits that Reinforce Discipline
Use time-blocking, set boundaries on meetings and email, and create routines that protect your focus. Discipline beats motivation every time.
Key Takeaways
1. It all starts with a 90-Day Plan. Without one, you’ll drift into busyness instead of progress.
2. Discipline beats motivation. Daily habits, time-blocking, and Must-Do’s keep you on track.
3. Cascading plans create clarity. Strategy becomes real when it flows into monthly, weekly, and daily action.
Don’t let this quarter slip away. Join us at the Finish Strong webinar and set yourself up to finish 2025 with momentum and confidence.
👉 Register Now for our free “Finish Strong” webinar.
Custom resources to help you improve your execution
The Finish Strong Challenge
We’re heading into the final quarter of 2025. Many businesses slow down in the lead-up to Christmas – but that doesn’t have to be you. The next 90 days could be your most productive and profitable of the year if you get your plan clear and executed .
That’s why I’m running a free webinar next week:
Finish Strong: Plan the Run to Christmas so You Close Out 2025 & Set Up for 2026
📅 Friday, 10 October 2025 🕘 9:00am–11:00am (Brisbane time)
👉 Register here
Books & Journals
Focused Execution
“Focused Execution: How to stop wasting time and focus on what really matters” by Russell Cummings.
This book summarises the key elements for improving your personal productivity. Russ utilised 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 4 day 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 – Click here
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 – Click here
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 – Click here
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.
AI Business Success – Industries & Professions Series
Targeted prompts for industries and professions including: accounting, consulting, marketing, transport, lawyers, manufacturing, horticulture and more – Click here
AI Prompt for Exec – Roles & Responsibilities Series
Focused prompts for Business Owners, Managers, CEOs, Executives, Partner, etc. – Click here
Ai Prompts – Key Areas & Situations Series
AI Prompts books for essential business areas such as productivity, sales, learn, workforce, planning, etc. – Click here
