7 ways of Dealing with Shiny Object Syndrome 2021

By Benjamin Poulter January 13, 2021 Ben's Blog 0 Comments

7 ways of Dealing with Shiny Object Syndrome 2021

So what is shiny object syndrome?

SOS, which is conveniently, shorten to is – a cry for help!

We come across shiny objects because our brain is looking for a solution.

A solution to a problem that we already probably know the answer to.

It’s an impulsive purchase controlled by our emotions that’s makes us think that we are going to be able to progress in our business with a new product.

We click on the hook as we see the product exciting, new, and think if we spend more money or try something new it will help us get away from the problem we have in our business at that time.

It’s just a decoy that pulls you in to get you away from the problem you are struggling with at that current time in your business.

However, because it is new and exciting we think this is what we need – similar to the previous product we bought and are struggling with.

The new product, software or book helps us forget the current struggles we are dealing with.

So you go ahead and get sucked into to the shiny new product, you’re all excited to start and to get going with it – Until eventually you come up with the same problem you had before!

So back to your NEWS feed to start the cycle all over again.

SOS! Everyone suffers from it – its just what you do about it that matters!

So here I’m going to tell you how to 7 ways of Dealing with Shiny Object Syndrome 2021.

1. Change your mind-set

Build into everyone brain from birth is that New is good and Old is bad.

Change that around in your head to make your mind think that new bad and that old is good.

It’s the hype that we get drawn into. The new product is super popular and the must have, but hype can be bought these days on social media.

So as the song by Public Enemy goes – Don’t believe the hype!!!!!!!!

We think if we do more work we get more out, if we do a challenge we will grow our business faster, this is not always the case.

What if you don’t do that challenge?

What if you didn’t attend that webinar?

Not doing can sometime be better than actually doing.

For example:

A restaurant had 5 meals on its menu, these 5 meals are very successful and customers came back every day.

So to generate more income the restaurant added 5 more meals to the menu, thinking that the income would double too.

The problem was that the kitchen twice as busy and the quality of the food deteriorated.

So the income of the restaurant suffered, with unsatisfied customers.

If they had done less, they would have continued to be successful with the 5 dishes and grow the reputation with customers.

2.Think before you buy

When you are working on the current product you have bought or are involved in, and you come up with a problem.

Don’t work on it thinking that there’s another product that can solve the problems you come up against.

Make it your own challenge to figure out the problem you are having before falling into a new shiny object.

If you are able to step back a little and look down on yourself from a birds eye view.

You have the ability of controlling what you do.

What is it you are actually working on, where are you going with it and how did you get to the position your in?

Its the same reason we look at at map.

If we are suck in the middle of nowhere and don’t know which way to go, we get a map out.

This shows us a birds eye view of where we are, where we came from and gives us an idea of what direction we want to be heading in.

But life happens and we are constantly offered shiny objects every day. Sometimes we really really want to purchase this product because it so exciting.

Don’t!

Just give it at least 24-48 hours for the excitement in your brain to calm down, then after that if you can still see it as a good fit – go for it.

We should never buy products or items in impulse alone, give it some time and think logic.

3. Take your time

We most probably all know the story of the tortoise and the hare. The hare runs at 100mph when the tortoise sticks to a steady 50mph and wins the race.

Many of the snap quick decisions we make in life soon become regrets. If we take some time to think before we act, or even go as far as to write down the pros and cons of the purchase we are about to make.

That way you will be using logic to make the decision instead of emotions and be able to refer back to the reason you made the decision in the first place.

4. What is meant to be will be.

Many people talk about a to do list as long as your arm, filled with 100 ideas.

The good ideas that you are meant to be doing the universe will keep putting in front of you.

This goes back to making impulse decisions.

The launch of a new software – Get it!

A brand new challenge – sign up straight away.

Then all these things get added to your to do list.

Try not to have a to do list which you don’t have to work through. The important things that need to be done will keep popping in front of you.

5. Be a leader – Not a follower

When your part of a group online, that group all share the same views on a subject.

If someone come along with a slightly different view and challenges the group, they may get kicked out because of a different opinion.

The group doesn’t want different opinions in that group because if will cause doubt in whats said inside of that group.

The people in that group want to keep the belief going and don’t want someone coming along and challenging whats said.

This goes back to believing the hype and becoming a follower.

If you are involved in more than just one group and get multiple opinions, this will help you question the hype and not get drawn into shiny objects.

6. What you don’t see you can buy

Think of the last shiny object you bought, where did you hear about it? Where did it come from?

If it was inside of a group, distance yourself from that group and watch from a distance.

If the same opportunity keep popping up then it may be a good idea to take more action.

7. The value

Access the value of that shiny object, not just from a cost point of view.

What value can the product or training add to your business.

Will it create a short term win and are you just going for the hype?

If it’s a software, what can that software do that is going to ad value to your business for the long term?

Many shiny objects you see are purposely build to play on your emotions and make to buy straight away.

If you take these 7 steps into consideration it will help you, not end up regretting the purchase.