If you’ve ever left a planning session with a list as long as your arm and no clue where to start, you’re not alone.

It’s something I see all the time; business owners walk away from a strategy day with brains buzzing, passionate teams raring to go, and a long list of ideas… but no clear place to start. You’ve got the drive, you’ve got the vision, but somehow you still end up stuck in the weeds of “everything at once.”

That’s where the 3 Russian brothers + their cousin come in – a simple but powerful planning tool I borrowed from the insightful Glenn Capelli.

Yes, the name’s a bit quirky.
No, it’s not a secret code.
But yes, it really works.

Watch my video explaining the tool below!

 

 

meet the Russians [and their cousin]


Here’s how it works:

  • Morov – What’s working that we want to do more of?
  • Lessov – What do we need to do less of or ease off on?
  • Ridov – What’s dragging us down that we need to get rid of completely?
  • Tossin – What are we not doing yet that we want to toss into the mix?

Break it down into 4 categories and suddenly things get a whole lot clearer.

 

why it works

 

Business owners are naturals at adding things… new tech, new roles, new ideas from the last conference. But real growth isn’t just about piling on more. Sometimes, it’s about clearing space for the stuff that actually makes your business [or life] better.

This simple tool gets everyone to stop and think about what actions need to be taken to really move the needle, whether that’s for themselves, their team, or the business as a whole.

The hard bit? Ridov. Most people hesitate to cut anything. But if you don’t make space, you can’t add value. Capacity doesn’t create itself.

Use it as a regular pulse check or to summarise what you need to do at the end of a strategy session. It’s quick, easy, and surprisingly revealing. Whether you do it solo or with your team, it’s a great way to work out what’s working, what’s not, and what’s going to create the most impact moving forward.

 

ready to give it a crack?

 

Fill it out yourself or reach out if you’d like me to guide you through it in one of our strategy sessions. Either way, let’s make some space for the good stuff.

Download the worksheet by clicking here.

 

we’re here to help

 

If you need a hand working through this exercise with your team or your overall business strategy, I’m here to help. Reach out to me at j.knight@businessdepot.com.au or give us a buzz on 1300BDEPOT to chat it through!

Note: Thank you to Glenn Capelli who originally inspired me with the 3 Russian Brothers and their Cousin.

 

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