Identifying Shiny Object Syndrome - And what to do instead

We are just 14 days away from calling it a wrap on 2023.

So how does this find you?

Are you:

🌟  Filled with energy to give it all you’ve got these last few weeks!
😩 Exhausted by the challenges that this year presented and ready to say goodbye and good riddance to this year?

Or somewhere in between? 🤔

Wherever this finds you, I hope you can pause what you’re doing and give this content five minutes of your time.

I write to you today to help you make the best use of these final days of the year so that you can make the first month of 2024 even better!

This is my favorite time of year to review and reflect, and I’m so grateful I planned for a slower December than previous years (PRO TIP: learn from past failures 🤣 crying laughing emoji).

After taking over 300 creatives through my Dream Big, Plan Smart goal setting and business-planning framework last month, I identified a few key mistakes I see creatives making again and again.

So I'm dedicating my final weeks of 2023 to identifying these mistakes -- and if you connect with these, I offer what to do instead so that you can experience more focus and flow in 2024.

Without further ado, here's the first mistake...

Mistake #1: Shiny Object Syndrome

​Are you signing up for more training and/or coaching than you can actually implement or trying to grow your social media following on too many platforms?

Maybe you've seen events coming up in 2024 and you're feeling FOMO, like you'll only be successful if you attend ALL OF THEM?

We only have so much bandwidth in a day, month, year, so this is NOT the time to pile too many things on. Including too many holiday events! (You know, you can give yourself permission to say "no" on the RSVP list from time to time.  winking emoji)

You'll know you are experiencing "shiny object syndrome" if you leave a class or coaching feeling more confused, because you are receiving too much conflicting advice and cannot run it through your own filter to determine what strategy is right for you at this moment in time.

In regards to social media, if you are on a lot of platforms, but you don't actually feel connected to your messaging and/or contacts you have there... and are trying all the strategies... yet you're not consistent with one or two... you may also be suffering from "shiny object syndrome".

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So, What is the problem with Shiny object Syndrome?

How it makes you feel...

And the way it affects your energy...

You might like the frantic energy... or even find comfort in anxiety that can come from being busy... (I know that might feel weird to read, but I've been there, I know there can be pride in being busy), but this energy is holding you back from your highest potential.

Your current + future collaborators take in your energy in first meetings, when you work on a project together, in reachouts and at networking events.

So do you want to lead with:

1.) anxiety and frantic energy
or
2.) would you like to glow with confidence and trust in yourself?

I promise #2 will be more delightful for you and your fellow collaborators.

So let's set you up for success in the remainder of December. If you're experiencing "Shiny Object Syndrome", here are some strategies I suggest:


Take a look at what’s on your plate as far as courses, coaches and trainings you’ve already invested in.

Make a plan to lean into those resources that you know help you feel confident and glowing, or are stretching you in all the right ways and STOP signing up for new things just because you have FOMO or think that next class will be the magical ticket to change your life.

Let go of the things on your schedule that no longer serve you.

You are the magic ticket to change your life. Period. And if you actually get quiet and still and reflect on the year, you likely already have the answers for what you need to do next within you. 

So to recap:

❓ How do you want to feel about your 2024? In other words, what are your core feelings?

❓ Which past trainings have helped you feel this way? Great, do more of these!

❓ Which ones haven’t made you experience your core feelings? Time to let them go!

❓Where have you invested in something and just need to actually complete and implement? Prioritize these programs, events and social media platforms only if they’re in alignment with what you’re going after in 2024.

Here’s why:

We have limited energy and time. When we fill our time and brains up with what’s not working, not only do we not get that time back, BUT we also miss out on personal insights that we can only tune into when we allow our selves the time and space to get quiet and tune in.

So what do you think? Share a comment and let me know any takeaways you have on this topic…

And stay tuned for next week’s post where I’ll reveal the second mistake I see creatives take when it comes to action planning!

Have you completed a year-end review yet? I'd love to offer you the one I teach (for free) here: bit.ly/dreambigplansmart