Hey Coach, Stay In Your Lane: Beat Shiny Object Syndrome

Overwhelm is a real problem in online businesses, even for coaches. Yes, we’re great at managing our minds — when we’re paying attention. But the reality of overwhelm is that it’s sneaky. Stealthy. It creeps in, hiding behind other emotions that we’re paying more attention to.

Running your business comes with a never-ending to-do list — there are always more blogs to write, more products to create, more tweaks to make to your website, more clients to attract — more, more, more.

It’s no wonder that overwhelm shows up, ya’ know?

Here’s the deal though: the biggest contributor to overwhelm is shiny object syndrome. You’re familiar with it, I’m sure — you see something cool or think of an awesome new idea and decide that you have to make that NEW thing your top focus. To the detriment of everything else you’ve already got going on.

It doesn’t matter if that new thing is a new marketing platform, new tool, new course or certification you have to take, or even switching your offer/niche/specialty. When you give in to shiny object syndrome, you’re falling victim to it.

There’s one big problem with it: shiny object syndrome usually hits just when you’re about to achieve something with what you’ve currently got going.

We’ve seen it over and over again (and done it to ourselves enough times to have a running joke about it).

Don’t let it happen to you. Stay in your lane, and prevent overwhelm from clobbering you upside the head.

Here are a few tips to help you steer clear of shiny object syndrome:

Set Clear Goals

If you don’t know what you’re trying to build with your business, you’re more likely to get distracted by shiny things. You have to know what your goals are, and you have to be specific about them.

Are you trying to fill your calendar with 1:1 clients? Do you want to create an epic group coaching program? Is passive income important to you? Do you dream of being a famous personality?

No matter what type of coaching business you’re building, you have to know your goals well enough to keep them in focus and stay on track. And anything that moves you away from your goals is not worth your time.

Commit to a Plan

Once you’ve got your goals in place and have chosen how you’re going to reach them, commit to your plan. When you feel like things aren’t working fast enough and are tempted to switch gears, remember that marketing strategies take time to grow into consistent leads.

Even if you change everything today, it will take just as long for that new, shiny way to work as your current one did.

Be completely realistic with yourself, and allow your plan to work. Commit to consistency and the plan you made.

Put on Your Blinders

We know exactly how hard it can be to keep your eyes on your own lane, especially when you’re feeling inspired by coaches who are making multiple six-figures doing something you never thought of. But you have to remember that those coaches started out exactly where you are now, and they put in the time, effort, and consistency to grow into what they have now.

You need to trust in yourself and your offer, and do the same.

If you can’t tune it all out, cut it out. As in, unsubscribe from the mailing lists that try to sell you on the next big strategy. Stop going to the blogs that make you feel inferior. Log off social media.

Stop paying attention to what everyone else is doing, and focus on you. You are the magic in your business, and what they’re doing probably won’t work for you. You have to find your own way, and when you do, you’ll be so grateful you didn’t fly off track and give in to shiny object syndrome.