Every entrepreneur I have ever know by their very nature, sees opportunities all around them. They notice ways to make things better, meet a need, or fix a problem.
However, this acute awareness can become their greatest weakness if not kept in check. Often it’s not a lack of ideas that keeps them from achieving things, but having TOO MANY ideas to choose from! There are just so many shiny things to distract us!
But not all that glitters is gold.
Shiny Object Syndrome is the tendency to get distracted by new thoughts and ideas, and never focus on or complete anything. It’s a state of constant distraction where we continually lose ourselves in imagination and dreaming, instead of seeing the bigger picture and accomplishing our goals.
You’ve experienced it, I am sure. It looks like this:
In the middle of a challenging project, you decide to check your email, peruse a favorite newsfeed, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn… An hour later you go back to the project and have to reorient yourself as to where you where before you can continue.
You are always ready to take on a new project, even if your workload is heavy, because the allure of a new challenge is just more than you can resist. There’s such great energy and excitement in starting something new.
You constantly starting new ideas only to move on to the next one as soon as implementing the first idea gets difficult. For example, you start a new workout program, then drop it for the latest craze, never reaching your original fitness goal.
Basically, you constantly start things, but often don’t finish them before you are off on the next Shiny Object.
Sound Familiar?
Don’t worry, it’s not fatal, but it can cause you to fill up your day with busyness, not focused on or accomplishing anything that moves you toward an important goal.
When we are chasing after shiny objects instead of taking focused action toward what’s important to us, we become frustrated, disappointed in ourselves, and downright weary. At the end of the day we begin to question our commitment and even the goal or dream we started out for in the beginning
Here are 3 very effective steps you can take to avoid being distracted by Shiny Objects once and for all.
1. CHOOSE 1 – do your homework, form a focus group, get professional advice – then choose 1 idea!
2. COMMIT to the time, money, energy, resources – whatever it’s going to take to accomplish it. Keep your eyes on the prize! Be committed to see it through to the finish! Stay focused.
3. CELEBRATE your results! – Too often we forget to celebrate before moving on to the next idea. When you celebrate your results it renews your spirit. It gives you the energy to choose the next idea wisely and make it a reality.
If you think you might have a chronic case of Shiny Object Syndrome, CLICK HERE to schedule a complimentary Discovery Session with me.
Do it NOW – before you get distracted!
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