Shiny Object Syndrome: What Is It & How To Avoid It

Have you heard about Shiny Object Syndrome?

Chances are that you’ve been exposed to it while scrolling through your social media feed.

According to Entrepreneur magazine: “It’s called shiny object syndrome because it’s the entrepreneurial equivalent of a small child chasing after shiny objects. Once they get there and see what the object is, they immediately lose interest and start chasing the next thing. For entrepreneurs, rather than literal shiny objects, SBOs may be business objectives, marketing strategies, clients or even other business ventures.”

It’s not something that affects entrepreneurs only; anyone on social media can fall prey to it because they’re exposed to so many posts by different coaches, gurus, influencers…and every account in between.

Here are the top three ‘Shiny’ things that I see regularly:

• Beat the algorithm with this GUARANTEED e-book/course/offer
• Want to increase your follower count? Then follow these steps! (I see this the most, and each account that shares contradictory techniques)
• Want to be like X Client who got $2,000 clients just days after taking my course? Sign up today!

While I understand that these are tactics by Social Media coaches (I’m one too so I’m cautious about throw stones in glass houses) to get clients and generate revenue, some information and advice can cause confusion and impatience by people looking to grow their account for various reasons.

I’ve seen people complain or share their frustrations on their accounts – and some have shared their experiences, fears, etc. with me privately whether through DM or in coaching sessions – because they feel lost and distracted by each new tactic that they see.

If this sounds familiar, then I have some advice for you:

• Study the tactics of leading accounts
• Hire a coach or expert

Do your research first though, make sure that they are legitimate accounts and that their advice is backed by something solid, such as years of experience or industry knowledge, instead of flimsy, cookie-cutter statements and vague guidance.

I probably sound hypocritical, but here’s the reason why I didn’t give any steps for you to follow: I provide personalised plans for each client that’s specifically tailored to their needs and goals.

Curious to learn more? Drop me a line and let’s talk!