Strategy 4 Saturday Blog (<4 minute read)

What’s your AI readiness score

Our 40 Strategy and 40 Accounting teams actively use AI tools every single day. So from one perspective, it feels like we have been crushing it. 

And then I took the AI readiness test by Stellis AI, from my friend, former Amazon executive and AI expert, Trent Gillespie. According to his most recent newsletter:

• Only 7% of SMBs have a clear AI strategy they’re actively running.
• SMBs don’t lose to AI. They lose when experimentation becomes their strategy.
• With 93% not executing against a real plan, that’s not strategy. That’s guessing about the future.

I found out that we are not even close to the top 7%. Matter of fact, we scored a 27 out of 100. Ouch!

Sign up for his AI Sprint newsletter.

That was humbling

I’ve had many other humbling experiences and this survey validated there is a difference between being active and being strategic with AI.

Trent spoke at the 40 Strategy Growth workshop in November and our most recent monthly 40 Strategy Cohort and his insights continue to validate that we and most small businesses need to do so much more to compete in the democratization of artificial intelligence.

We want to ensure our cohort is staying on top of this wave, or at least hanging on as close as we can through the tsunami of digital change.

An Aha Moment 

My readiness score was definitely an aha moment that we need to partner with AI experts, before we move further behind.

As a matter of fact, Trent said that those who are actively using AI, versus those who are not, are having a 6X gap right now in terms of their productivity and effectiveness.

Ourselves and our clients can’t afford to be behind 6X

So, if you’re wondering what this readiness test is, I encourage you to take it. Here is the link. I am curious, what’s your score? Please reply and let me know.

But this is what I am excited about

We have officially partnered with Stella AI to provide an AI cohort for the 40 Strategy community.

I am investing in this program and making it available to you as cost-effective as I can for our clients and community. You need to be utilizing these tools and taking advantage, so you can survive in the future. This is a no-brainer, only $99 per month, and you can cancel at any time.

If you’re ready to learn more about this, we are getting ready to kick this off. Here is the link to save your seat with our AI community.

Join our 40 AI community today, powered by Stellis. As soon as we have 30 commitments, we will get started. The goal is to be up and running within the next 90 days.

The 2026 40 Strategy Growth Workshop™ – November 2 & 3

We are happy to announce that Tommy Breedlove will return as MC in 2026. But, you asked, and we listened…..Tommy will also be the Keynote speaker for the event. 

Tommy Breedlove the founder of Legendary, and the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of the book Legendary. He is also the co-owner of The Mountain Top Lodge, a beautiful boutique hotel and restaurant in Dahlonega, GA.

 Attendees said Tommy: 

• “Gave me an insight about how real and important small business is. We are relevant and necessary.” 
• “His energy is LEGENDARY!”
• “Tommy has a great ability to get everyone motivated.”
• “He was a great MC, but I wanted to hear MORE from him. I’d love to hear a segment from him.”  

Register now to be part of the next cohort!

📍 Phoenix, Arizona
🏨 Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort
🔗 Resort Link