Shiny Object Syndrome In Business – Here’s How to Overcome It

Do you ever feel like you're constantly chasing after new opportunities and ideas, never really sticking with anything for very long? If so, you may be struggling with Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS).

This common problem can plague entrepreneurs and business owners of all types, leading to a lot of wasted time and energy. In this blog post, we'll discuss what SOS is, how to recognize it, and most importantly, how to overcome it!

What is Shiny Object Syndrome in Business?

First things first, let's define “shiny object syndrome“. In short, “shiny object syndrome” is the tendency to be easily distracted by new opportunities, ideas, or projects.

While there's nothing wrong with being open to new possibilities, the problem comes when you allow yourself to get so distracted that you never actually finish anything.

For example, let's say that you're working on developing a new course. You're making great progress, and then suddenly you get an email about a new software that promises to make creating courses easier than ever before.

Of course, you want to check it out and see if it lives up to the hype. But before you know it, two hours have passed, and you've completely lost focus on the task at hand. This is just one small example of how easy it is to get sidetracked when you have “shiny object syndrome”. 

Particularly for online business owners, we are constantly tempted by the “shiny objects” of new tools, tactics, systems, and strategies that promise to be just what we need for success. And when you couple that with our human desire for instant gratification, it's no wonder so many people suffer from shiny object syndrome. 

When we jump from one shiny object to the next without ever really giving ourselves a chance to get results from any of them, this is Shiny Object Syndrome in action.

How to Recognize Shiny Object Syndrome

If you're feeling constantly overwhelmed by new opportunities and ideas, and you have a hard time sticking with anything for very long, you may be struggling with Shiny Object Syndrome in business.

Some other common symptoms of SOS include:

– Feeling restless or antsy when you're not chasing after new opportunities

– Difficulty setting realistic goals and sticking to them

– A tendency to overpromise and underdeliver

– A fear of boredom or stagnation

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, you're likely dealing with Shiny Object Syndrome.

Understand the root cause of shiny object syndrome

There are a few different factors that can contribute to shiny object syndrome. First, social media doesn't help. Every time you log on, you're bombarded with ads and articles about the latest thing that's going to change your life or business.

Second, there's the imposter syndrome–the feeling that everyone else knows what they're doing except for you. So you think that if you just find the right tool or get the latest certification, everything will finally fall into place. 

The root cause of Shiny Object Syndrome is fear of missing out (FOMO). This fear drives us to constantly chase after new opportunities and ideas, even if they're not a good fit for us.

We're afraid that if we don't jump on every new opportunity that comes our way, we'll miss out on the chance to achieve success. This fear can be incredibly paralyzing, keeping us from focusing on what's really important and preventing us from achieving our goals.

How and why it can be detrimental to your business goals

Apart from distracting you and keeping you from achieving your goals, Shiny Object Syndrome can be detrimental to your business goals for several reasons:

– It can lead to over-commitment and spreading yourself too thin.

– It can cause you to make poor decisions based on fear of missing out rather than logic and reason.

– It can lead to frustration and a sense of hopelessness when you're unable to achieve your goals.

– Finally, Shiny Object Syndrome can be expensive – both time and money. When you're constantly chasing new opportunities, it's easy to invest time and energy into things that don't actually benefit your business.

I have had my fair share of SOS, where I have bought many courses and tools over the years thinking that I might need them someday or that they were great opportunities not to be missed. When I looked back, I felt a deep sense of regret, as I could have saved so much money if not for those.

How To Overcome Shiny Object Syndrome in Business

The first step is acknowledging that you have a problem. Once you do that, it becomes much easier to break the cycle of shiny object syndrome.

Get clear on your long-term goals

What exactly do you want to achieve with your business? Why did you start your business in the first place? When you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, it becomes much easier to say no to distractions and stay focused on what matters most.

And if you don't have clearly defined goals for your business, now is the time to create them. Set realistic goals and stick to them. Remember to FOCUS which is also an acronym for “Follow One Course Until Successful”.

Choose 1-3 Areas To Focus On

Prioritize your tasks. Before you start working on new projects, take a moment to prioritize and make sure they fit into your overall goal.

Trying to implement too many new things at once is a recipe for disaster. Once you know what your business goals are, choose 1-3 areas of focus and stick with them for at least 90 days.

Make A Plan & Take Action Daily

Sit down and create a plan of action for how you're going to achieve your long-term goals. This means putting pen to paper (or opening up a blank document) and mapping out the specific steps you need to take for your business to be successful.

Creating a plan can help keep you accountable and on track. Knowing what you need to do to reach your goal can help keep you focused. Dedicate time each day–even if it's just 15–30 minutes–to work on your chosen areas of focus. 

Having a plan will not only help keep you focused but will also give you a roadmap to follow so you know exactly what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. When you have a plan of action, you can refer to it whenever you start feeling overwhelmed or tempted to pursue a new opportunity.

Set deadlines for yourself

One of the reasons we often feel drawn to new opportunities is that we want to see results as quickly as possible. When we set deadlines for ourselves, it helps us stay focused and motivated.

Set boundaries around your time & energy

This is so that you're not wasting them on things that aren't going to help move your business forward. This means being intentional about how you spend your time both online and offline.

It also means saying no more often than you say yes and not letting yourself get pulled into things that don't align with your goals or values.

Stay organized

When your workspace is cluttered, it's easy to get overwhelmed and distracted. Try to keep a clean and organized workspace so you can focus on what's important.

Take breaks

It's important to take breaks throughout the day so you can rejuvenate and focus on your goals again.

Find an accountability partner or coach

Having someone who can help keep you accountable and on track with achieving your goals. This could be a friend or family member who's supportive of your entrepreneurial journey or it could be a professional coach or consultant who's been there before and can help guide you along the way.

Whatever route you choose, make sure it's someone who will hold you accountable and push you outside of your comfort zone so that you can reach new heights in your business!  

Celebrate your successes

Celebrating small wins can help you stay motivated and focused on the bigger picture.

Addressing the FOMO

To overcome Shiny Object Syndrome, you need to address the fear of missing out that drives it.

So make sure you're taking the time to realistically assess each opportunity before jumping in. Don't just jump on every new idea that comes your way – take the time to evaluate whether it's a good fit for you and your business.

Also, unsubscribe from emails that you don't need so that you're not bombarded with new ideas or offers. Most popular email clients make it easy to sort through and manage promotional emails. Thus, the out of sight, out of mind approach will keep you from getting sidetracked from your goals. Put boundaries in place and make sure you focus on what's important to you and your business.

Last but not least, don't buy things (whether it's tools or courses) you don't intend to use now, as there will always be new and better things coming up.

By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to overcoming shiny object syndrome and keeping your business on track for long-term success! 

Conclusion

If you find yourself constantly trying out new things but never seeing any real results in your business, chances are you have shiny object syndrome in business. But don't worry–it's not permanent!

By getting clear on your business goals and choosing 1-3 areas of focus, you can break the cycle and start seeing real progress in your business. Just remember to be patient–Rome wasn't built in a day!

SOS is one of the 10 Common Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make And How to Avoid Them, you can read more to find out from the blog post.