In an age when choices are more plentiful than ever, it’s easy to get distracted and never get anything done. Someone somewhere even came up with a term for this condition: Shiny New Object Syndrome (SNOS). Scroll through any social media feed these days and what do you see? Photos of the latest live events where everyone is smiling and (apparently) having a good time; promotions for the newest program promising the moon and more; deals of the day that will solve every last small business ill, etc etc etc.
But dig under the surface of these new economy distractions and what’s really going on is a fear of getting left behind. Of missing something. Have a laptop but not a tablet? Better get a tablet! Enrolled in one marketing course, but not another? Better sign up for the newest one before it’s too late! Subscribed to Big Guru A’s list but not to Big Guru B’s? Go opt in now so you can know the latest and greatest tip about how to name a video so it goes viral in less than five minutes and in turn drives so much traffic to your site you will need a fleet of police to monitor and engage all that traffic!
The funny thing is: worrying about what you’re missing is a guaranteed formula for never achieving anything. I don’t know of one big success story where hopping from one new thing to another was the main theme. No, achievement and success — like a great marriage — take commitment and follow through. And focus. And work. Which, for many, is lumped into that exclusive and ill-reputed four-letter word category.
Of course it’s not always sexy or fun on the way to the promised land. But does anything of true value come easily? Think about that. And the danger, of course, is if all your time is spent chasing the next great thing, you never commit to one good thing.
This is why it makes no sense to worry about what you’re missing. Believe me, shelling out another thousand bucks to attend the flavor-of-the-month’s live event is not going to make a significant difference to your health-relationship-bank account-self esteem in the long run, especially if you are simply going because going is the “thing” to do. Same with opting into one more online list. Do you really have time to read all those automated emails that have little to do with your big plans?
Instead, stay home and focus on what’s most important to YOU and YOUR GOALS. Then, and only then, plan to attend live events and opt into lists that will help you see those goals through to fruition. It may require putting blinders on and resisting the temptation to join another party, but the feeling of accomplishment is well worth the temporary sacrifices made on the way to actually getting something done for yourself.
For once.
