Comments on: Shiny Object Syndrome: Is your business at risk?

By: Party Plan Pat

Party Plan Pat — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:49:39 +0000

I need to get more focused as I read your blog!

By: Kyle Chowning

Kyle Chowning — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:12:43 +0000

this is a great article. Very needed by guys like me who seem to get mesmerized by shiny objects.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:59:21 +0000

We call SOS “scope creep” at my job when a reasonable sized project expands until it becomes too expensive to complete – and then is cancelled, wasting a lot of time and energy. Since reading this post, I’ve realized that I am struggling with it too. I try to tackle an item on my to-do list and one thing leads to another and I don’t get back to what I was trying to accomplish.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:46:49 +0000

This one plagues nonprofit organizations, too, although often the “Shiny Object” is grant funding. We call it Mission Creep – when an organization starts taking on additional projects based either on funding availability or perceived need, but NOT based on the organization’s mission. Suddenly you discover that your organization has no focus (and is therefore difficult to market to potential funders) and is doing a lot of different things, but not doing any of them very well.

By: List Mama

List Mama — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:27:40 +0000

It is hard, especially when your new to business, not to look around and see all the bells & whistles that others websites have. SOS – I’ll have to remember that, next time I think I have to have something.

Jen
http://www.ListPlanIt.com

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:11:19 +0000

@Eric — Wow. It must be difficult for you to find reading material.

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:49:49 +0000

I dunno that I want to buy a book from an author who confuses “all together” (in a group) and “altogether” (completely).

Really, if you can’t write correctly, how are we supposed to put stock in your advice?

By: Suzyn

Suzyn — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:42:49 +0000

Absolutely the antidote to SOS (and, no, I’m in no way affiliated): http://gettingreal.37signals.com/

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:09:46 +0000

Great post! There is a typo in the last sentence of the last paragraph (it’s) that you might want to fix.

I grew up in the military where there is another term for SOS – I couldn’t help but draw the parallels!

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:38:59 +0000

I definitely have, and still battle with, SOS. I just have reached a point where I realized something that really helped me overcome this…

‘There are lots of ways to chase after money. However, do what you do best, and the money will chase you.”

http://yinvsyang.com/

By: Alex Fayle

Alex Fayle — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:42:42 +0000

I think most entrepreneurs have SOS to some degree – it’s the vision and the creativity that makes us want to work for ourselves that also creates too many shiny new ideas.

I’ve recently managed to cut myself back to doing one thing at a time (I hope).

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:24:57 +0000

those questions work great with my job…
homemaker, wife to one, and mom to 4…
I don’t want to be perfect, but sometimes overwhelm the rest of the family with a new “shiny” thing to do
/
I love #6, what has to drop off radar (or be given up) to make the time for this shiny thing?

great article…tweaked it to fit me

By: The Success Professor

The Success Professor — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:01:06 +0000

Very good post. It is a reminder of how the internet can be a tool and a trap. There are a lot of “shiny objects” on the internet. It is possible to go from link to link to link, all the time finding wonderful resources, but never growing your business. At the same time, if you discipline yourself, make use of RSS feeds, set aside particular times for using the internet (and time limits), the tools can be very valuable.

By: lana

lana — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:57:32 +0000

Karyn Greenstreet’s blog has recently moved. Her new blog is here:

http://passionforbusiness.com/blog/

By: lana

lana — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:29:02 +0000

Wow – fantastic write up! I’m going to frame this article and put it in front of my desk. I’m all too guilty of Shiny Object Syndrome — I always make my deadlines — but the stress could be avoided altogether if I weren’t so obsessive about making everything perfect.

Thank you, Sue.