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Overcoming the Challenges of Shiny Object Syndrome

Overcoming the Challenges of Shiny Object Syndrome

Key Takeaways:

Understand what shiny object syndrome is and what it looks like in the business world

Discover practical steps to take and resources to connect with to help you stay on track and start achieving your goals

As a business owner, being (and staying) focused is an ideal rather than a reality. So, if you struggle with maintaining focus, you can find comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. Join us as we explore the topic of overcoming shiny object syndrome so you can stay on track with your business goals.

Sustained Focus vs. Shiny Object Syndrome

With over 20 years’ experience in digital marketing, we can confirm that only a handful of small business owners tend to have a clear focus when they launch their company — that continues through the years as they undistractedly carry out their goals and hit their targets. Instead, most of our clients fall into the “start out with clarity and energy but eventually lose focus and drive” camp. 

We like to refer to this phenomenon as shiny object syndrome, or “SOS”. Business leaders with SOS are prone to distractibility, as their attention gets pulled in a million different directions daily. Every concern has its turn in the spotlight — but it’s only a brief shining moment before some other issue takes the stage.

This lack of consistent focus has real consequences for small businesses. Growth is often slow. When goals aren’t met, the owners become frustrated. Feeling like they’re falling behind in the marketplace can lead to reactive decision making. Rather than focusing on a long-term strategy, choices are made based on what a competitor is doing, industry buzzwords, or whatever bright and shiny solution happens to capture the owner’s attention at that moment. It’s an impulsive process that easily becomes a business behavior, as one rapidly-made bad decision leads to another.

Business leaders with shiny object syndrome are prone to distractibility, as their attention gets pulled in a million different directions daily. Every concern has its turn in the spotlight — but it’s only a brief shining moment before some other issue takes the stage.

How to Know if You Have Small Business SOS

If you suspect you have small business shiny object syndrome, but aren’t 100% sure, we recommend these two action steps.

1. Keep a 24-Hour Activity Log. 

Write down all the issues that capture your attention over the course of a day. (This can be an eye-opening exercise!)

2. Talk with One of Your Trusted Advisors. 

Discuss the goals you have for your company, and the progress you’ve made toward them. If things haven’t gone as you would have liked, is an identifiable lack of focus part of the reason why?

Simply logging all the issues that capture your attention over the course of a day can be an eye-opening exercise.

Seek Out Some Extra Support

When you have small business SOS, it helps to have an additional pair of hands. Here are two resources we recommend plugging into. 

1. Business Coach

A business mentor or coach will help you develop a clear vision for you company. And they’ll share techniques for consistently focusing your efforts in a way that will allow organizational goals to be achieved. Non-profit small business development organizations like SCORE can be a valuable resource.

2. Vendors and Agencies

Reach out to the professionals you’re already working with. Vendors and agencies can help you stay on track if you’re willing to let them remind you of what your stated priorities and goals are. These reminders can slow down the decision-making process enough to ensure that you’re clear the choices you’re making are ones that move your company in the direction you want to go.

Now Is the Perfect Time for a Change

It’s never too late to start proactively managing your shiny object syndrome tendencies. Even if you’ve been in business for many years, you can make the organizational changes that will result in improved performance. If you notice patterns of distraction with your business and are feeling frustrated by unmet goals, we encourage you to reach out to a trusted marketing agency like Technology Therapy® Group to help you develop better habits and learn how to stay on course despite the myriad distractions that come with small business life. And make sure to check out these on-demand training sessions that will help you stay on-track and organized.

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Creative Director/Senior Designer

Tom DiGrazia

With over a decade and a half of professional design experience, Tom brings his knowledge of design principles and focus on user experience to every aspect of his contribution to TTG. Paying special attention to each client’s brand, personalized needs and individual interests, he strives to create compelling concepts utilizing intuitive and highly-refined design solutions. In addition to traditional and digital design work and oversight at TTG, Tom also boasts a wide portfolio of web development projects with the company, allowing him to stretch his CSS and HTML skills across multiple platforms and disciplines. He feels that being a designer in the digital landscape of websites, eCommerce solutions, email marketing platforms and social media, it is important to understand the code that goes into these areas as it assists his ability to tailor designs specifically targeted to achieve the best end result and further builds understanding and communication with backend development teams.

In his off hours, Tom is an avid pop culture enthusiast, staying up to date on the latest shows, films, comics and games. He can also typically be found taking part in a whole host of artistic activities that help him further stretch his creative legs. Regardless of the activity, Tom is always accompanied by his dog, Eli, and his cat, Tib.

Specialties:
Design, Photography, Illustration, Digital Imagery Manipulation, Wesbite Development

Platforms/Tools:
Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, HTML/CSS, Wordpress

Analyst/Strategist

Courtney Dumont

As Senior Marketing Strategist & Analyst at Technology Therapy Group, Courtney is energized by the ability to flex both her left and right brain daily. Courtney discovered her passion for Marketing at Bryant University, where she spearheaded research on students’ perceptions of Social Media Marketing for her Honors Capstone Project. After graduating Bryant in 2012, she joined the Technology Therapy team, where she’s honed her skills in social media, search and social advertising, email marketing, SEO, and more.

Since joining the team, Courtney has created digital marketing strategies and managed campaigns for clients across the country, ranging from plastic surgery centers, to jewelry stores, to construction companies. With a cohesive, cross-channel approach and a focus on data-driven decision making, she has increased their leads by up to 217%. But Courtney doesn’t leave her zeal for social media at the office; she also runs a local foodie Instagram account with her husband to document their meals across Rhode Island and beyond. Check them out: @hoppilyfed.

Specialties:
Marketing Strategy, Data Analysis, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Social Media

Platforms/Tools:
Google Analytics, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Facebook Creator Studio, Instagram, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Emma Mail, Google Data Studio, WordPress, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Microsoft Office