Hey there! This is my first post on this blog and it will be the first of many 🙂
Today I want to talk about the “Shiny Object Syndrome”. You may or may not be familiar with this but I’ll explain in a moment. Before I go any further, I’d like to tell you that I am not going to talk about “how I made my first million” because, like I mentioned on my About Me page, I am not an online success. So you may wanna stop reading right here 🙂
However, if you would like to know more about “The Shiny Object Syndrome”, keep reading…
I Was Diagnosed With The Shiny Object Syndrome…
I define the shiny object syndrome as laziness and procrastination. It’s the fact of signing up for every course you come across and buying every new product that comes out but never doing any thing about it. Never taking action. That happens mainly because you think that the new product or course that you bought is going to make you succeed. Then guess what! You see something else, so you leave what you were doing and you go and grab it and it keeps going like that… The reason I want to make this topic my first blog post is because I want to first share my failures so that anyone who reads this knows “what not to do” and then share my future success stories.
By now, you may have guessed that I was a failure online. Yes, that’s right, I screwed up many times and for long long years. And no, I am not a successful online marketer now. Not yet. I still have a day job and I am doing this when I have time off work.
I have been the laziest person I’ve known for so many years and on top of that, I used to have the shiny object syndrome. Because I was so lazy, I just wanted to make money quickly and without having to work so much for it. So, like I explained before, I used to buy product after product, course after course but did nothing out of it. I won’t lie to you and say “I tried everything but nothing worked” or “all the stuff I bought was scam” because I didn’t try everything and in fact I bought so many good products and courses from very well known and respected online marketers.
So what happened next?
Of course, what happened next is nothing. Exactly nothing happened in my life, nothing changed. I was looking for ways to do it quickly and what’s worse is that I didn’t learn my lesson quickly enough to avoid spending so much money on stuff I never implemented. I procrastinated and procrastinated until the products were old and useless or the strategies they taught became outdated. Yes, my fault. All of it was my fault.
So I finally made the right decision of making my life a success this year, 2014. Next year this time, I will be sharing my success stories instead of my failures. I have decided to enroll in the Quick Start Challenge with Dean Holland, Craig Crawford and JF Garsula. Don’t worry I am not trying to sell you anything, there is no link.
This program is a 4-week course that teaches you what to do, what not to do and what action you must take every week. It’s like having a private coach who gives you tasks and who guides you step by step. Every week, I learn new stuff and I have homework to do in order to go further. I am very happy to have these guys as mentors, they’re awesome and very inspirational and encouraging.
So yeah, this is what I decided to do. How I did this? 7 simple steps:
1. Enroll in the course or buy the info product that you like and trust the most.
2. Eliminate the distractions (very hard one, actually the hardest): if you are on any marketer’s list, unsubscribe. You can always go back and sign up. If you bought any other products lately, put them on hold until you’re done with your current tasks/projects. Close Facebook, close Twitter and close your email. Turn off your phone. Go to a quiet area in your house where nobody will disturb you.
3. Plan well and manage your time. Dedicate an hour (or as much time as you can spare) every day to do your stuff.
4. Do one thing at a time and take your time doing it. Don’t rush, internet marketing is not going anywhere. Set your tasks reasonably: don’t bite more than what you can chew. Set small doable tasks that you know you can do within your allotted time. You are not Superman 🙂
5. Take breaks. Don’t overwork yourself otherwise you won’t concentrate. If you feel tired, that’s okay; continue the next day. We’re all humans.
6. Do Do Do!!! Take action.
7. Have fun! If you do something you like, you will enjoy doing it 🙂 Make this whole process fun!
I guess this is all I can share with you now. These are the steps I have followed to get rid of all the “hoarded” information and thoughts in my head. Try it and you will see.
I hope this can help you in some way or another. I’d love to read your thoughts! Do leave a comment if you like it 🙂
Good Luck!
Well done, Great effort on getting your site up and running.
Wishing you well and looking forward to following your blog
Shane Hutton
ethical marketing & internet business solutions
URL: http://simplartimes.com
Email: shane.m.hutton@gmail.com
Hi Shane!
Thanks for your comment and kind words. I wish you all the success in this wonderful challenge 🙂
HoudaK recently posted…Killing It In Week 2 of The Quick Start Challenge!
The shiny object syndrome applies to all of us,that cud by why we joined the quick start challenge,to try and break the cycle of failure.
I’m not buying any more new products and deleting product emails from my inbox without attempting to look at them.This is the only way that I can move forward without getting distracted.
Wishing you all the success in ur online journey.
Afzal recently posted…My First Ever Video For The Quick Start Challenge
Hi Afzal!
I agree; it is affecting all of us, but hopefully we will all get rid of this bad habit 🙂 Thanks for your comment and I wish you all the best in your online journey.
HoudaK recently posted…Killing It In Week 2 of The Quick Start Challenge!
I was also hit my the Shiny Object Symdrome too. Like you said, I was hoping the new course would help me when in fact, the only thing I needed was to start taking action.
Well done for taking action in setting up this blog.
Wish you success on your online journey.
Cheers,
Boon
Boon recently posted…Setting Goals –
Thanks for sharing your story, Houda. I think that you have moved through a lot of circumstances to become the person who you are now and I’m happy for you.
The steps which you share are great and they can help to a lot of people in their journey. Continue and you will succeed, for sure…
Hey! I suffer from shiny object syndrome too. You have no idea how many countless books, courses, newsletters, etc.. I’ve signed up for to build a business online, only not to touch a single product. I have had a blog a little over two years and have yet to get anywhere with what direction I wanted to take it in creating a business. Like you I have finally started taking steps to start developing my business and brand.
At least I know I’m not the only one who’s had this problem. Nice to meet you!
Melanie Young recently posted…The Reluctant Health Nut
Hi Melanie! Thanks for stopping by! Yes you sure are not the only one in this we’re all on the same boat, but thankfully I’ve made the decision about 3 months ago and I am still sticking to it 🙂 Let me know how you get on!
HoudaK recently posted…How To Integrate Your Aweber Opt-In Form On Your WordPress Blog
Shiny object syndrome is really common for online entrepreneurs! I’m recovering from it as well :). You’ve given good tips and they’re what worked for me, too. I had to focus on one thing, one coach. I had to unsub from a lot of other things. And I had to focus and implement and act.
Leanne Chesser recently posted…The Ultimate Life Purpose Guide
Hi Leanne, yes indeed the shiny object syndrome is a big problem for online marketers. I am so thankful that I finally got rid of it (or almost finally). Thanks for stopping by and I am glad you found the tips helpful.
HoudaK recently posted…3 Great Ways To Know What To Blog About
Hi Houda,
yes, it can be really easy to get distracted and think that the latest product we come across may be even better than what we have got.
I love the suggestions you give!
Taking breaks is so important even if they are just a minute stretch and yawn and breathing.
I set a reminder with the task manager which plays the sound of a tibetean bell every hour.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Love and Light!
Yorinda
Yorinda Wanner recently posted…Having a Good Day with Nature and Beauty
Hi Yorinda! Thanks for stopping by and for your comment. I used to have a big problem with that but thankfully I am over it now 🙂 It’s hard to get rid of though but slowly we can do it.
HoudaK recently posted…3 Great Ways To Know What To Blog About
I think the only shiny object syndrome I have is toward jewelry. Most of the things I have online, I can either build myself or share with my bestie, who is a internet marketer and a shiny object addict. She just shares them with me if I want them. However, I really don’t ask for much these days.
Nile recently posted…Podcast Presentation: Making Money With WordPress
I feel the same as I have 3 decades, ago. When, you decide you want to create a new funding source. Make sure you complete your due diligence only on what you love to do. That supports or enriches anyone’s life in some way. That is the key. All the rest of the elements, will fall in play.
Stick with creating that source and stop looking for what others are doing. Everyone of us, are unique. No one loves the same thing. We will feel good about what others love to do. Once you found yours, learn how just sharing that love. Will create and grow as a funding source.
That is the goal and you will have fun each day doing what you love. Just by sharing it with others by usage. They, will love how it enriches their lives. That is how to keep it simple. No selling, hype and jumping around to the next best program, etc…
Thanks for this empowering article. You get us to focus on what counts. Well Done!
William Earl Amis Jr III recently posted…Fundamentals Count!