The reference
The working method, free to read and use.
Use it to find where missed revenue, repeated work or unhelpful spending is holding the business back—and where an improvement could create room to grow, return time to people or reduce waste. It starts with how the business creates value, then helps you compare ideas before running a useful early test. The owner keeps the choice and lives with the result.
This page is the current version. It is kept up to date here as the work develops, and the same text is what your AI assistant reads when you connect this site. 85 sections, no email, nothing held back.
The Compass Guide includes the full reference and working templates as of 15 September 2026. This website is where the method stays current.
Author's note
Introduction: The Question Is Too Big
Part One: Begin With the Business
Chapter 1: Stop Asking for an AI Strategy
Part One: Begin With the Business
Chapter 2: Find the Costly Friction
Part Two: Map Before You Move
Chapter 3: The 5x5 Business Map
Part Two: Map Before You Move
Chapter 4: Appropriate Maturity
Part Three: Choose the Bet
Chapter 5: Score Opportunities Without Pretending the Score Is Truth
Part Three: Choose the Bet
Chapter 6: Adoption Is Part of the Product
Part Four: Buy Evidence
Chapter 7: The Smallest Useful Experiment
Part Four: Buy Evidence
Chapter 8: Stop, Continue, Invest, or Industrialize
Part Five: Manage a Portfolio, Not a Parade
Chapter 9: Business Outcomes Are the Portfolio
Part Five: Manage a Portfolio, Not a Parade
Chapter 10: Governance That Can Be Used
Part Six: Lead the Decision System
Chapter 11: What the CEO Owns
Part Six: Lead the Decision System
Chapter 12: Begin Monday
- Chapter 12: Begin Monday
- Day 1: Name the friction
- Days 2–3: Map the capability
- Day 4: Set current and appropriate maturity
- Day 5: Score the opportunity
- Week 2: Design the experiment
- Weeks 3–4: Run and observe
- Decision day
- Musou: the end-to-end loop
- Hook Security: adoption at a pace people could absorb
- The method in one page