Shiny objects can derail people who are pursuing a goal because they create the illusion that something new is more important than what you’re already doing. This shiny object syndrome reminds me of an old saying: “The grass always looks greener on the other side.” Instead, it’s better to focus on your original objective instead of chasing after things without meaning or substance. This shiny object syndrome is like the proverbial carrot on the stick, tempting us away from our original objective.
Many entrepreneurs fall prey to shiny object syndrome because they fail to have a plan that protects them from their reactive impulses. The shiny object might seem like a great idea at the time, but it is nothing more than an illusion that’s going to waste your company’s precious resources, time, and energy. Instead, you have to learn how to stay true to your original plans to avoid getting distracted.
An example of a shiny object might be an offer for something you didn’t plan to include in your project, but you feel compelled to find a way to incorporate it even if it creates a delay in project time, cost, resources.
Another shiny object is a trend that’s getting bigger on social media every day, but it doesn’t fit with your brand or products.
Be aware that marketers create campaigns designed to entice you with shiny objects and creating urgency around their offers to pull you in. If you are aware of this, you can slow down your response time to have more time to activate the executive function and self-regulation skills necessary for sound decision-making.
Here are some tips on preventing shiny object syndrome from making you lose focus and pulling you away from your goals.
- Remember why you started working towards your goal in the first place. Then, remind yourself about those reasons every day when a trigger comes along and tempts you away.
- Learn about triggers – understand them, recognize them, and know what they look like so that you won’t get distracted when one pops up.
- Learn how to say no. If you don’t have time to think through the offer and whether it fits your business objective, the answer is no.
- Take time before responding. Don’t be impulsive in your response.
- Don’t focus on what other companies or professionals are doing-focus on your business objectives.
- Create a “shiny ideas file.” This way, you won’t forget about an opportunity down the road when it does make sense to pursue it after all.
The shiny object syndrome can be extremely detrimental to your success. It’s hard enough for most of us to stay focused on one task without the constant temptation that we could do something else more interesting. Hiring a coach may be the impetus you need to help you set goals and teach you how to stay focused on them, even when they are challenging or difficult. They also have experience with this syndrome, so they know what strategies best maximize your productivity and minimize distractions.