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Do you ever find yourself trying to handle a ton of tasks and ideas for your business but struggling to make real progress on a main project? Could it be that you get so excited about new ideas and opportunities that you lose track of your main focus?

I used to scroll through social media and see other business owners doing ALL the things — digital shops, product shops, print-on-demand, consulting, membership…you name it! It would make me feel like I needed to do all of that too. Maybe you can relate?

I hear people say all the time, “You need to be on TikTok!” While others say, “Nope, you can’t just rely on social media — you need an email list too!” And let’s not forget about the people who say, “Pinterest is SO hot right now, you need to get on it fast!”

The list goes on and on, right?

These ideas might seem great for your business, but we often overlook the fact that all these messages you see on social media can be a huge distraction to your business, and potentially, a recipe for disaster! That is, if you fall for shiny object syndrome without learning to protect your priorities, time, and resources.

I’ve had my fair share of shiny object syndrome, and at one point, I wasn’t even aware of it! That’s why today, I’m sharing with you exactly what shiny object syndrome is and actionable tips you can apply to your systems and routines to overcome it. 

Why do you need to overcome shiny object syndrome?

When you see people on social media sharing all their exciting business ideas, it can make you feel like you’re missing out.

But those people aren’t in your shoes. They don’t have your priorities. They don’t have your schedule. And they don’t have the commitments you’ve already made.

And if you’re not careful and self-aware, you might end up…

• Finding it super hard to figure out what to focus on in your daily and weekly schedule. Should it be on launching your website? Starting an email list? Making more reels? And hey, when are you supposed to work on your actual product so you can launch it?
• Always feeling like you’re behind, not seeing progress, feeling scattered, losing motivation, and perhaps, even burnt out. 

Not to mention, shiny object syndrome can seriously have some negative effects on your business:

Shiny object syndrome can make you mismanage finances

If you’re always chasing another project or idea, it could cause you to invest in multiple ventures at the same time that end up being a waste of money. Like, for example, if you keep launching new products that require you to use new skills and materials. Or if you invest in a bunch of social media tools without a clear plan on how you’ll use them. 

My personal journey with shiny object syndrome

I’ve got a story from my own business journey, specifically related to finances, that might resonate with you. Back in 2015 at the time I was starting a product business, I was trying to sell anything and everything. First, it was jewelry because I enjoyed making it. But selling it? I had no idea how! Then I switched to soaps and candles, but that excitement faded too because I had no clue how to sell those either.

I kept jumping from one small business idea to another UNTIL I learned about the concept of shiny object syndrome. I had so many projects started, but I never followed through with any of them. I realized if I wanted to actually grow a business, and not just have an expensive hobby, I had to make a decision and focus on ONE thing. That’s when I started my wedding gift shop, and I committed to getting it off the ground.

Once that business was up and running, I had a bit more time on my hands and decided to launch the Small Biz Babes Community. I didn’t do it all at once because I learned my lesson the first time: whenever I add something to my plate, I need to take something away from it, too.

The same rule applied for when I took the Small Biz Babes Community full-time. I knew if I wanted it to grow, it had to be my main focus, which meant I had to take something away. That’s when I made the difficult decision to close my wedding shop, because moving forward, it would only be a “shiny” distraction.

Overcoming shiny object syndrome is tough, no kidding! But sometimes, you have to say no to good things and good opportunities to focus on even greater opportunities ahead. As you know, we can’t tackle all our goals all at once!

It’s totally normal to say “no” to good and even profitable opportunities so you can focus on your most important projects and goals. And hopefully, when the time calls for it, you now feel like you have the permission to. 

Shiny object syndrome can make you lose your focus and hinder business growth in the right direction

Back in the early days, I totally fell into the trap of purchasing waaay too many courses on different aspects of my business. Honestly, I couldn’t keep up with them!

It felt like I was drowning in a sea of information. And because I was overwhelmed, I couldn’t make real progress on anything and had this never-ending to-do list of courses I needed to finish.

Now, I’ve learned my lesson. I pick one thing to focus on for a quarter and dedicate most of my study time to it. That could mean learning about how to improve my copywriting skills or learning about how to streamline my systems to scale like I did with Notion. Remember, you’ll accomplish much more in your business (and stay in the right direction) if you laser-focus on one thing at a time.

Shiny object syndrome can make you miss important project deadlines that could’ve moved your business forward

Maybe you’ve decided to sell digital products, but you’re also interested in starting a print-on-demand shop, and now you’re in this wild juggling act — trying to get your website off the ground, creating mock-ups, working on branding, and squeezing in social media posts all at once. 

When really, your first step to get your business growing might’ve just been to create those first 10 products from start to finish. Or perhaps, sitting down to get your website finished in three days. 

The worst thing about object syndrome is that it often puts us in a scattered state of mind without even realizing it. It’s kind of in our nature as entrepreneurs — we’re creative, bursting with ideas, and always looking for ways to grow our business. I mean, let’s be honest, dreaming up ideas is a lot more exciting than the grind and work of taking those ideas to the finish line. 

So, what can you do? How can you prevent or overcome shiny object syndrome so it doesn’t hinder your growth and keep you from reaching your goals? Allow me to share 3 actionable tips that can help:

How to prevent or overcome shiny object syndrome

1. Clear your current to-do list

What’s the main project you’re currently working on that you want to take from start to finish? Got it? Good! First, say it out loud or write it down on paper.

Then review allll the tasks you’ve got on your ongoing to-do list and pair every task with a number, 1 being the most important task that gets you closer to finishing that important project. Got your list? Now, these are your new priorities and the order you should be focusing on them.

I do this all the time when I feel like my to-do list is getting out of hand. It always helps me zoom out to see the big picture, and then focus on knocking out each small task, starting with the most important, from start to finish.

Anything not related to that project can wait. This alone will help you stay on track and get those most important tasks completed!

2. Become more aware of the tasks you put on your to-do list

And, more specifically, when you catch yourself thinking about putting a brilliant idea for another launch or a new system, pause before writing it down.

Take a moment to ask yourself, “What do I have to do from start to finish to bring this idea to fruition?” But really be specific about how much time and money you’ll realistically need to invest in it. 

Sometimes, simply pausing and a little thinking snaps you out of that dreamy moment only to realize you can’t focus on it right now. Starting it right now would only divert time, effort, and energy away from the most important projects that require your focus today. 

3. Start a “one-day” list

For the longest time, I used to add any new exciting idea that popped into my head onto my to-do list. Looking back now, I realize how inefficient that was! Because when you see something on your to-do list all the time, your brain somehow thinks that’s what you should focus on next.

Instead, I keep a “one-day” list where I write down ideas to work on after I complete my main project. Here’s how you can get started with yours:

Spend 5 minutes at the end of the week to look over your schedule and reflect on your progress. Then ask questions like, “How much time did I actually spend on my top priorities? “Where else did I spend your time?” “How much did I get distracted?”

If you get distracted, that’s okay, you’re only human. But take note of it so you can bounce back next week and focus on what really matters. 

Trust me, just 5 minutes a week can help you stay on track and not get swayed by shiny object syndrome!

Shiny object syndrome shouldn’t keep you from your biggest goals

If you’ve ever felt the weight of juggling multiple tasks and ideas for your business, while struggling to make significant progress on the projects in front of you, know that you’re not alone.

We’ve all been tempted by shiny new opportunities that seem like they hold the “key” to our success. But as I’ve shared in my own journey, this path often leads to overwhelm, a lack of focus, and ultimately, hindering our growth.

To leave you empowered, start putting these actionable steps into practice so you can overcome any shiny object syndrome you may be facing:


1. Clear and prioritise — Get your to-do list in order of most importance. Number tasks in a way that makes sure your main project stays the main focus. Then, allocate most of your working time to take that project from start to finish. 

2. Work on your awareness —  Before adding a new task or idea to your to-do list, think about the time and resources it would require. Ask yourself, “Do I have the resources to tackle this now?” “Will this affect my main project’s progress?”

3. Start a “one-day” list — Create a separate “one-day” list for those exciting ideas that pop up in your head so they don’t distract you. Keep them in a journal or Notion, or wherever works for you. Try to avoid just putting them on your to-do list 

4. Try a 5-minute end-of-week evaluation — Spend a few minutes each week evaluating your schedule. Look back and see if you’ve given enough time to your main project compared to other tasks and ideas. 

If you want more actionable tips on how to prevent and overcome imposter syndrome in your business, tune in to today’s podcast episode here 🎧. 

Talk soon,

Michaela