1 00:00:36,529 --> 00:00:37,179 Speaker: Hello, 2 00:00:37,429 --> 00:00:38,949 and welcome to this 3 00:00:38,949 --> 00:00:40,379 week's episode of 4 00:00:40,409 --> 00:00:41,539 Unleashing Brilliance. 5 00:00:42,269 --> 00:00:43,069 Today, I want to 6 00:00:43,079 --> 00:00:44,369 dive into a topic 7 00:00:44,369 --> 00:00:45,559 that affects so many 8 00:00:45,559 --> 00:00:46,779 of us, particularly 9 00:00:46,919 --> 00:00:48,359 those that thrive 10 00:00:48,369 --> 00:00:50,309 on innovation and 11 00:00:50,329 --> 00:00:52,129 creativity and being 12 00:00:52,129 --> 00:00:53,069 ahead of the curve. 13 00:00:53,569 --> 00:00:54,419 What I'm talking 14 00:00:54,419 --> 00:00:56,179 about today are the 15 00:00:56,239 --> 00:00:59,018 three deadly S's, the 16 00:00:59,218 --> 00:01:01,218 shiny stuff syndrome. 17 00:01:01,773 --> 00:01:02,673 We've all been there, 18 00:01:02,973 --> 00:01:04,633 that magnetic pull 19 00:01:04,633 --> 00:01:05,903 towards new ideas, 20 00:01:05,963 --> 00:01:07,273 tools, and projects 21 00:01:07,873 --> 00:01:08,863 that can often leave 22 00:01:08,863 --> 00:01:10,323 us, wondering how 23 00:01:10,323 --> 00:01:11,103 on earth we're going 24 00:01:11,103 --> 00:01:11,663 to get something 25 00:01:11,663 --> 00:01:12,943 finished and why 26 00:01:12,943 --> 00:01:14,173 our actual goals 27 00:01:14,453 --> 00:01:16,173 are no longer close 28 00:01:16,383 --> 00:01:18,293 to being completed. 29 00:01:18,913 --> 00:01:20,123 In this episode, I want 30 00:01:20,183 --> 00:01:21,843 to dissect the three 31 00:01:21,873 --> 00:01:23,683 deadly S's of shiny 32 00:01:23,683 --> 00:01:25,153 stuff syndrome and 33 00:01:25,203 --> 00:01:26,553 offer some actionable 34 00:01:26,573 --> 00:01:28,233 strategies to help 35 00:01:28,233 --> 00:01:29,343 you overcome them. 36 00:01:29,973 --> 00:01:31,233 Now, some years ago, 37 00:01:31,263 --> 00:01:32,753 I met an incredible 38 00:01:32,803 --> 00:01:33,453 business owner and 39 00:01:33,453 --> 00:01:34,133 entrepreneur, a 40 00:01:34,133 --> 00:01:35,143 lady called Julia. 41 00:01:35,583 --> 00:01:36,703 Julia was a dynamo. 42 00:01:36,703 --> 00:01:37,593 She was known for 43 00:01:37,593 --> 00:01:39,253 her innovative ideas, 44 00:01:39,463 --> 00:01:40,673 her boundless energy. 45 00:01:41,103 --> 00:01:42,093 And one day she 46 00:01:42,093 --> 00:01:43,303 shared with me her 47 00:01:43,303 --> 00:01:44,483 lady's project. 48 00:01:44,912 --> 00:01:46,039 and her lady's project 49 00:01:46,059 --> 00:01:47,154 was actually an app 50 00:01:47,476 --> 00:01:49,086 that was all about how 51 00:01:49,126 --> 00:01:50,626 to help people manage 52 00:01:50,666 --> 00:01:51,446 their time better. 53 00:01:51,446 --> 00:01:52,456 I get the irony 54 00:01:52,456 --> 00:01:53,086 here, right? 55 00:01:53,706 --> 00:01:55,246 The concept was really 56 00:01:55,316 --> 00:01:56,796 solid, but every 57 00:01:56,916 --> 00:01:57,936 single time we met, she 58 00:01:57,946 --> 00:01:59,186 had this new feature 59 00:01:59,186 --> 00:02:00,746 or a new design or 60 00:02:00,756 --> 00:02:01,746 something new that she 61 00:02:01,746 --> 00:02:03,566 wanted to talk about. 62 00:02:04,076 --> 00:02:05,466 And the app was never 63 00:02:05,466 --> 00:02:06,556 close to actually 64 00:02:06,556 --> 00:02:07,446 being launched. 65 00:02:07,976 --> 00:02:08,336 There was always 66 00:02:08,606 --> 00:02:09,416 something else that 67 00:02:09,416 --> 00:02:11,026 she had to include or 68 00:02:11,036 --> 00:02:11,886 something else that 69 00:02:11,916 --> 00:02:12,636 she had to have a 70 00:02:12,636 --> 00:02:13,756 conversation about, 71 00:02:14,126 --> 00:02:15,006 or something else 72 00:02:15,016 --> 00:02:15,956 that she had to start. 73 00:02:15,986 --> 00:02:17,486 And this was all 74 00:02:17,496 --> 00:02:18,666 getting in the way of 75 00:02:18,666 --> 00:02:20,561 her, Actually making 76 00:02:20,621 --> 00:02:21,861 her magic happen of 77 00:02:21,861 --> 00:02:23,011 actually completing 78 00:02:23,291 --> 00:02:24,111 and launching this, 79 00:02:24,138 --> 00:02:25,098 incredible app. 80 00:02:25,558 --> 00:02:27,038 Julia was suffering 81 00:02:27,308 --> 00:02:28,048 from what I like 82 00:02:28,048 --> 00:02:29,918 to call shiny 83 00:02:30,058 --> 00:02:31,288 stuff syndrome. 84 00:02:31,396 --> 00:02:31,678 Yes. 85 00:02:31,678 --> 00:02:33,288 She'd caught a massive 86 00:02:33,288 --> 00:02:35,118 dose of the three 87 00:02:35,158 --> 00:02:37,408 deadly S's each new 88 00:02:37,408 --> 00:02:39,068 tech trend or tool 89 00:02:39,068 --> 00:02:40,208 that came her way. 90 00:02:40,488 --> 00:02:42,528 She felt compelled to 91 00:02:42,528 --> 00:02:43,378 actually include it 92 00:02:43,388 --> 00:02:44,988 in her app and she was 93 00:02:45,228 --> 00:02:46,248 lost in a market of 94 00:02:46,328 --> 00:02:47,618 endless possibilities. 95 00:02:48,055 --> 00:02:48,585 so many of us have 96 00:02:48,605 --> 00:02:49,375 been there, right? 97 00:02:49,695 --> 00:02:50,895 So what we had to do 98 00:02:50,925 --> 00:02:52,305 is we had to put a 99 00:02:52,405 --> 00:02:54,045 hard stop on the work 100 00:02:54,085 --> 00:02:55,015 that she was doing. 101 00:02:55,015 --> 00:02:56,515 We had to start with a 102 00:02:56,515 --> 00:02:57,955 real pause to reflect 103 00:02:57,955 --> 00:02:59,155 on what her key and 104 00:02:59,155 --> 00:03:00,405 core objectives were. 105 00:03:00,875 --> 00:03:01,775 She needed to remember 106 00:03:01,775 --> 00:03:02,735 her why, the very 107 00:03:02,735 --> 00:03:04,005 reason she'd started 108 00:03:04,175 --> 00:03:05,135 her own journey. 109 00:03:05,505 --> 00:03:06,245 And we worked on 110 00:03:06,245 --> 00:03:07,145 a strategy to help 111 00:03:07,145 --> 00:03:08,405 her prioritize and 112 00:03:08,405 --> 00:03:10,055 focus, treating every 113 00:03:10,055 --> 00:03:11,165 single new idea like 114 00:03:11,165 --> 00:03:11,985 window shopping. 115 00:03:12,285 --> 00:03:13,125 You look, you 116 00:03:13,125 --> 00:03:14,165 appreciate, but you 117 00:03:14,165 --> 00:03:15,485 don't immediately buy. 118 00:03:16,005 --> 00:03:16,645 You know, it's like 119 00:03:16,645 --> 00:03:17,695 when you find yourself 120 00:03:17,775 --> 00:03:19,195 on a diet, but you 121 00:03:19,195 --> 00:03:19,885 find yourself in a 122 00:03:19,895 --> 00:03:21,095 chocolate shop, every 123 00:03:21,095 --> 00:03:21,975 single thing looks 124 00:03:22,015 --> 00:03:23,165 tempting, but you've 125 00:03:23,165 --> 00:03:24,505 got to remember what 126 00:03:24,505 --> 00:03:25,715 your ultimate goal is. 127 00:03:25,727 --> 00:03:26,495 It may be that you 128 00:03:26,495 --> 00:03:27,485 want to fit into 129 00:03:27,735 --> 00:03:28,875 some fabulous suit 130 00:03:28,875 --> 00:03:29,995 or dress at your best 131 00:03:29,995 --> 00:03:30,705 friend's wedding. 132 00:03:31,255 --> 00:03:32,165 You don't necessarily 133 00:03:32,175 --> 00:03:33,725 need that extra 134 00:03:33,725 --> 00:03:34,225 chocolate. 135 00:03:34,225 --> 00:03:34,635 You've got to 136 00:03:34,695 --> 00:03:36,005 own the choice. 137 00:03:36,015 --> 00:03:37,085 You need a strategy 138 00:03:37,265 --> 00:03:38,555 to keep walking, 139 00:03:38,555 --> 00:03:39,605 keep on walking past 140 00:03:39,675 --> 00:03:40,645 that chocolate shop. 141 00:03:41,535 --> 00:03:42,435 So the question is, 142 00:03:42,595 --> 00:03:43,285 are you the one? 143 00:03:43,445 --> 00:03:44,495 A bit like Julia, are 144 00:03:44,495 --> 00:03:46,105 you constantly chasing 145 00:03:46,115 --> 00:03:47,015 after the next big 146 00:03:47,015 --> 00:03:48,595 thing only to find 147 00:03:48,595 --> 00:03:50,115 yourself overwhelmed 148 00:03:50,445 --> 00:03:51,355 and not really 149 00:03:51,355 --> 00:03:52,325 getting anywhere fast? 150 00:03:53,295 --> 00:03:54,175 Maybe your diary 151 00:03:54,175 --> 00:03:55,615 is filled up with 152 00:03:55,615 --> 00:03:56,465 jumping from one 153 00:03:56,465 --> 00:03:57,305 thing to the next. 154 00:03:57,865 --> 00:03:58,895 Maybe you've got loads 155 00:03:58,895 --> 00:03:59,625 of things that you've 156 00:03:59,665 --> 00:04:01,115 started, but you just 157 00:04:01,225 --> 00:04:02,295 can't seem to get 158 00:04:02,325 --> 00:04:03,435 anything finished. 159 00:04:04,265 --> 00:04:04,955 If that's you, 160 00:04:04,965 --> 00:04:06,055 you might also be 161 00:04:06,085 --> 00:04:06,955 suffering from these 162 00:04:06,995 --> 00:04:08,575 three deadly S's of 163 00:04:08,575 --> 00:04:10,173 shiny stuff syndrome. 164 00:04:10,185 --> 00:04:11,635 This disease of 165 00:04:11,635 --> 00:04:12,945 distraction that 166 00:04:12,945 --> 00:04:14,175 plagues so many of us 167 00:04:14,445 --> 00:04:15,325 as business owners. 168 00:04:15,915 --> 00:04:16,915 Think of it like 169 00:04:16,915 --> 00:04:17,725 being a kid in a 170 00:04:17,725 --> 00:04:18,545 candy store, but 171 00:04:18,545 --> 00:04:19,705 instead of the sweets, 172 00:04:19,795 --> 00:04:20,625 you're surrounded 173 00:04:20,625 --> 00:04:21,405 with shiny new 174 00:04:21,405 --> 00:04:22,430 business strategies. 175 00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:25,960 You know, maybe 176 00:04:26,110 --> 00:04:26,870 this is you, this 177 00:04:26,870 --> 00:04:27,880 is your typical day. 178 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:28,420 You're, you're 179 00:04:28,420 --> 00:04:29,730 scrolling through 180 00:04:29,970 --> 00:04:31,010 social media feed. 181 00:04:31,020 --> 00:04:31,850 I know that's really 182 00:04:31,850 --> 00:04:32,450 hard, isn't it? 183 00:04:32,770 --> 00:04:33,870 Not to scroll, but 184 00:04:33,870 --> 00:04:34,510 you're scrolling 185 00:04:34,510 --> 00:04:34,940 through your 186 00:04:34,990 --> 00:04:35,970 social media feed. 187 00:04:35,970 --> 00:04:36,500 And then suddenly, 188 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,460 bam, a new marketing 189 00:04:38,500 --> 00:04:39,406 strategy pops 190 00:04:39,406 --> 00:04:40,736 up promising to 191 00:04:40,736 --> 00:04:41,726 revolutionize 192 00:04:41,726 --> 00:04:42,536 your business. 193 00:04:42,956 --> 00:04:43,896 And without a second 194 00:04:43,906 --> 00:04:45,396 thought, you dive in. 195 00:04:45,871 --> 00:04:47,471 It may be that one of 196 00:04:47,471 --> 00:04:49,278 your worthy rivals, 197 00:04:49,278 --> 00:04:50,478 as Simon Sinek calls 198 00:04:50,478 --> 00:04:50,908 them, one of your 199 00:04:51,153 --> 00:04:52,384 competitors, you've 200 00:04:52,384 --> 00:04:53,301 seen them doing 201 00:04:53,331 --> 00:04:54,121 something on social 202 00:04:54,121 --> 00:04:55,831 media and again, before 203 00:04:55,831 --> 00:04:57,341 you know it, you're 204 00:04:57,341 --> 00:04:58,511 off copying them or 205 00:04:58,701 --> 00:05:00,651 trying to reinvent what 206 00:05:00,651 --> 00:05:01,571 they're actually doing. 207 00:05:01,901 --> 00:05:03,161 Before you know it, 208 00:05:03,211 --> 00:05:04,611 another new shiny 209 00:05:04,732 --> 00:05:05,789 opportunity catches 210 00:05:05,789 --> 00:05:07,729 your eye and that cycle 211 00:05:07,729 --> 00:05:09,519 repeats itself again. 212 00:05:10,409 --> 00:05:11,339 But the impact 213 00:05:11,759 --> 00:05:12,579 It can happen. 214 00:05:12,789 --> 00:05:13,979 Your business, shiny 215 00:05:14,189 --> 00:05:14,779 stuff, syndrome 216 00:05:14,919 --> 00:05:15,769 is very real. 217 00:05:16,139 --> 00:05:16,769 You know, here's some 218 00:05:16,769 --> 00:05:17,519 of the things that I 219 00:05:17,549 --> 00:05:18,599 find in my business. 220 00:05:18,599 --> 00:05:19,958 when I find myself 221 00:05:20,308 --> 00:05:21,238 following shiny 222 00:05:21,238 --> 00:05:22,328 stuff, by the way, 223 00:05:22,328 --> 00:05:23,628 I'm a Gemini too. 224 00:05:23,678 --> 00:05:24,338 So it's like rabbits. 225 00:05:24,828 --> 00:05:25,328 I don't know if I go 226 00:05:25,328 --> 00:05:26,208 in a totally different 227 00:05:26,208 --> 00:05:27,798 direction, but the 228 00:05:27,798 --> 00:05:29,468 reality is the cost 229 00:05:29,468 --> 00:05:30,788 of shiny stuff. 230 00:05:30,828 --> 00:05:31,808 Syndrome is real. 231 00:05:32,158 --> 00:05:34,493 First up, We, um, seem 232 00:05:34,493 --> 00:05:35,703 to have an inability 233 00:05:35,703 --> 00:05:36,933 to actually finish 234 00:05:36,973 --> 00:05:38,723 projects where hopping 235 00:05:38,723 --> 00:05:39,743 from one project to 236 00:05:39,743 --> 00:05:41,063 the next, never really 237 00:05:41,063 --> 00:05:42,073 pausing to collect 238 00:05:42,073 --> 00:05:43,913 data or analyze what 239 00:05:43,993 --> 00:05:45,153 is truly working. 240 00:05:45,553 --> 00:05:46,703 The second thing I 241 00:05:46,743 --> 00:05:48,183 see happening is many 242 00:05:48,183 --> 00:05:49,493 of these ideas that 243 00:05:49,493 --> 00:05:50,323 we have, that we're 244 00:05:50,323 --> 00:05:51,396 trying to put into our 245 00:05:51,396 --> 00:05:52,456 business end up being. 246 00:05:52,672 --> 00:05:54,233 Poorly planned ideas 247 00:05:54,673 --> 00:05:55,953 without alignment 248 00:05:56,003 --> 00:05:57,083 to your true 249 00:05:57,083 --> 00:05:58,663 business goals, your 250 00:05:58,713 --> 00:06:00,053 strategies can become 251 00:06:00,053 --> 00:06:01,213 quite wishy washy. 252 00:06:01,479 --> 00:06:02,969 third thing I see with 253 00:06:02,969 --> 00:06:03,929 many of my clients 254 00:06:03,929 --> 00:06:04,749 that suffer from 255 00:06:05,029 --> 00:06:06,409 shiny stuff, stuff 256 00:06:06,439 --> 00:06:07,539 syndrome, gosh, try 257 00:06:07,539 --> 00:06:08,419 saying that quickly. 258 00:06:08,719 --> 00:06:10,229 Shiny stuff syndrome 259 00:06:10,629 --> 00:06:11,409 is that they end up 260 00:06:11,409 --> 00:06:12,949 burning through cash, 261 00:06:13,179 --> 00:06:14,669 following every single 262 00:06:14,669 --> 00:06:16,589 new idea, investing 263 00:06:16,809 --> 00:06:18,889 with every genius that 264 00:06:19,119 --> 00:06:20,069 promises to be able to 265 00:06:20,069 --> 00:06:21,189 turn your world around. 266 00:06:21,629 --> 00:06:22,769 And they burn through 267 00:06:22,859 --> 00:06:23,449 cash because they're 268 00:06:23,449 --> 00:06:25,159 not investing wisely. 269 00:06:25,409 --> 00:06:26,669 You might be scattering 270 00:06:26,679 --> 00:06:27,679 your resources 271 00:06:28,209 --> 00:06:29,749 broadly, hoping that 272 00:06:29,809 --> 00:06:30,959 something will stick. 273 00:06:31,649 --> 00:06:32,309 And finally, if 274 00:06:32,309 --> 00:06:33,029 we're not careful, 275 00:06:33,029 --> 00:06:33,969 we hit this point 276 00:06:33,969 --> 00:06:34,939 of stagnation. 277 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:36,319 As you flip flop 278 00:06:36,329 --> 00:06:37,549 behind ideas or 279 00:06:37,549 --> 00:06:38,649 between ideas, your 280 00:06:38,669 --> 00:06:39,669 business stagnates. 281 00:06:40,109 --> 00:06:41,389 You might confuse your 282 00:06:41,389 --> 00:06:43,239 potential clients and 283 00:06:43,579 --> 00:06:45,189 leads start drying up. 284 00:06:45,759 --> 00:06:46,799 It's a bit like. 285 00:06:47,159 --> 00:06:47,689 Going into a 286 00:06:47,689 --> 00:06:48,409 gym, right? 287 00:06:48,409 --> 00:06:50,099 Every, every time you 288 00:06:50,099 --> 00:06:51,579 walked into a gym, you 289 00:06:51,579 --> 00:06:52,669 tried out a different 290 00:06:52,789 --> 00:06:54,329 workout routine without 291 00:06:54,329 --> 00:06:54,979 really sticking to 292 00:06:54,989 --> 00:06:56,179 any particular plan. 293 00:06:56,469 --> 00:06:57,139 You know, one day 294 00:06:57,139 --> 00:06:58,449 you might do yoga. 295 00:06:58,679 --> 00:06:59,819 The next day it's a 296 00:06:59,829 --> 00:07:01,469 heavy lifting session 297 00:07:01,479 --> 00:07:02,309 followed by some 298 00:07:02,309 --> 00:07:03,889 random dance class. 299 00:07:04,729 --> 00:07:05,249 Yes, you're 300 00:07:05,249 --> 00:07:06,159 doing stuff. 301 00:07:07,059 --> 00:07:07,699 You actually 302 00:07:07,809 --> 00:07:08,509 are at risk of 303 00:07:08,509 --> 00:07:09,469 confusing yourself. 304 00:07:09,619 --> 00:07:10,349 You might even pull 305 00:07:10,349 --> 00:07:11,649 a muscle or two and 306 00:07:11,649 --> 00:07:12,959 you never really see. 307 00:07:13,184 --> 00:07:14,564 Any real progress, 308 00:07:15,152 --> 00:07:16,722 the cost of shiny 309 00:07:16,722 --> 00:07:17,952 syndrome, shiny stuff 310 00:07:17,962 --> 00:07:19,382 syndrome is very real. 311 00:07:19,702 --> 00:07:21,022 And it's very real in 312 00:07:21,022 --> 00:07:22,172 this entrepreneurial 313 00:07:22,412 --> 00:07:23,162 world that we 314 00:07:23,162 --> 00:07:24,052 are operating in. 315 00:07:24,462 --> 00:07:25,142 There's lots and 316 00:07:25,142 --> 00:07:26,232 lots of stuff being 317 00:07:26,232 --> 00:07:27,752 done, lots and lots 318 00:07:27,752 --> 00:07:28,832 and lots of movement, 319 00:07:29,082 --> 00:07:30,862 but no real gains. 320 00:07:31,462 --> 00:07:32,292 So if this is you, 321 00:07:32,292 --> 00:07:33,792 if you are finding 322 00:07:33,792 --> 00:07:35,342 yourself struggling 323 00:07:35,352 --> 00:07:36,822 with the three deadly 324 00:07:36,902 --> 00:07:38,972 S's of shiny stuff 325 00:07:39,032 --> 00:07:40,352 syndrome, I want to 326 00:07:40,352 --> 00:07:41,482 give you a couple of 327 00:07:41,482 --> 00:07:43,108 ideas to focus on. 328 00:07:43,367 --> 00:07:44,611 it's time to 329 00:07:44,831 --> 00:07:46,061 really explore some 330 00:07:46,101 --> 00:07:47,216 strategies that To 331 00:07:47,216 --> 00:07:49,135 help you, ensure that 332 00:07:49,135 --> 00:07:50,595 you stay on track. 333 00:07:51,185 --> 00:07:52,735 Now, Brendan Bouchard 334 00:07:52,765 --> 00:07:54,195 wrote an amazing book 335 00:07:54,235 --> 00:07:55,235 about this called The 336 00:07:55,235 --> 00:07:56,605 Motivation Manifesto. 337 00:07:56,605 --> 00:07:57,575 I love this book. 338 00:07:57,975 --> 00:07:59,085 And he talks about 339 00:07:59,085 --> 00:08:00,035 the fact that 340 00:08:00,305 --> 00:08:01,875 every single person 341 00:08:02,115 --> 00:08:03,875 has some form of. 342 00:08:05,155 --> 00:08:06,625 The first spark of 343 00:08:06,625 --> 00:08:08,045 motivation, he says, 344 00:08:08,385 --> 00:08:09,905 is this ambition, the 345 00:08:09,905 --> 00:08:11,225 ambition, the belief 346 00:08:11,225 --> 00:08:11,885 that you're going 347 00:08:11,885 --> 00:08:12,725 to build a business, 348 00:08:12,725 --> 00:08:13,285 you're going to launch 349 00:08:13,285 --> 00:08:14,415 a product, you're 350 00:08:14,415 --> 00:08:15,255 going to hit seven 351 00:08:15,255 --> 00:08:16,325 figures, whatever it 352 00:08:16,325 --> 00:08:17,885 may be, we all have 353 00:08:17,895 --> 00:08:19,695 an ambition and he. 354 00:08:20,035 --> 00:08:21,495 Suggests that the 355 00:08:21,675 --> 00:08:22,695 second big phase of 356 00:08:22,695 --> 00:08:24,265 work is expectancy. 357 00:08:24,685 --> 00:08:26,135 So we believe that 358 00:08:26,135 --> 00:08:27,402 we can, you know, 359 00:08:27,402 --> 00:08:28,112 New Year's Eve is 360 00:08:28,112 --> 00:08:28,842 a classic example 361 00:08:28,892 --> 00:08:29,552 of this, isn't it? 362 00:08:29,552 --> 00:08:30,731 I'm, I'm going to run 363 00:08:30,731 --> 00:08:31,821 a marathon this year. 364 00:08:32,071 --> 00:08:33,241 I'm going to 365 00:08:33,461 --> 00:08:34,141 not work at the 366 00:08:34,141 --> 00:08:34,941 weekends this year. 367 00:08:35,251 --> 00:08:37,021 We set the ambition 368 00:08:37,021 --> 00:08:38,181 and at a certain moment 369 00:08:38,201 --> 00:08:39,001 in time, we have an 370 00:08:39,191 --> 00:08:40,901 expectancy that we can. 371 00:08:41,311 --> 00:08:42,421 And Brendan Bouchard 372 00:08:42,431 --> 00:08:43,261 argues that the 373 00:08:43,261 --> 00:08:43,941 ambition and the 374 00:08:43,941 --> 00:08:45,856 expectancy Things 375 00:08:46,186 --> 00:08:47,386 that create that first 376 00:08:47,516 --> 00:08:48,916 spark of motivation. 377 00:08:49,516 --> 00:08:51,846 Now, I reckon that 378 00:08:51,926 --> 00:08:53,676 ambition and expectancy 379 00:08:53,906 --> 00:08:55,216 are also the things 380 00:08:55,216 --> 00:08:55,716 that create the 381 00:08:55,736 --> 00:08:58,096 first spark of shiny 382 00:08:58,286 --> 00:08:59,526 stuff syndrome. 383 00:08:59,896 --> 00:09:00,846 And there's a third 384 00:09:00,846 --> 00:09:01,556 piece that we have 385 00:09:01,556 --> 00:09:02,873 to think about and 386 00:09:02,873 --> 00:09:03,813 consider and be 387 00:09:03,813 --> 00:09:05,213 intentional about to 388 00:09:05,213 --> 00:09:06,793 ensure that we actually 389 00:09:06,793 --> 00:09:08,053 gain momentum towards 390 00:09:08,363 --> 00:09:09,463 our ultimate goals. 391 00:09:09,813 --> 00:09:10,593 And this third 392 00:09:11,003 --> 00:09:12,253 piece that will 393 00:09:12,253 --> 00:09:13,933 ensure sustained. 394 00:09:14,106 --> 00:09:15,816 and focused activity 395 00:09:16,086 --> 00:09:19,016 and delivery, leverage, 396 00:09:19,246 --> 00:09:20,526 and achievement of your 397 00:09:20,526 --> 00:09:22,546 goals is attention. 398 00:09:23,426 --> 00:09:24,826 Expectancy and 399 00:09:24,826 --> 00:09:26,376 ambition are awesome. 400 00:09:26,726 --> 00:09:27,496 They're the very 401 00:09:27,496 --> 00:09:28,936 things that kick off. 402 00:09:29,032 --> 00:09:29,893 the activity that's 403 00:09:29,893 --> 00:09:31,463 needed, but without 404 00:09:31,553 --> 00:09:33,363 attention, without 405 00:09:33,363 --> 00:09:35,133 focusing and being 406 00:09:35,133 --> 00:09:36,063 intentional about 407 00:09:36,093 --> 00:09:37,903 attention, I think 408 00:09:37,913 --> 00:09:39,363 this is what fuels 409 00:09:39,593 --> 00:09:41,553 shiny stuff syndrome. 410 00:09:41,943 --> 00:09:42,573 And so actually 411 00:09:42,573 --> 00:09:43,533 what we need to do 412 00:09:43,533 --> 00:09:44,943 is four key things. 413 00:09:45,403 --> 00:09:45,773 We've got to 414 00:09:45,867 --> 00:09:47,639 pause, we've got to 415 00:09:47,659 --> 00:09:49,429 communicate, we've 416 00:09:49,429 --> 00:09:50,919 got to measure, 417 00:09:51,259 --> 00:09:53,089 and then sometimes 418 00:09:53,384 --> 00:09:54,924 We've got to quit. 419 00:09:55,374 --> 00:09:55,834 So let me just 420 00:09:55,834 --> 00:09:56,944 talk through these 421 00:09:56,944 --> 00:09:57,754 four key things. 422 00:09:57,784 --> 00:09:58,364 So let's kick 423 00:09:58,364 --> 00:09:59,204 off with pause. 424 00:09:59,994 --> 00:10:01,544 If you find yourself 425 00:10:01,544 --> 00:10:02,644 at risk of following 426 00:10:02,644 --> 00:10:04,054 shiny stuff syndrome, 427 00:10:04,054 --> 00:10:04,804 the first thing I want 428 00:10:04,804 --> 00:10:05,894 you to do is pause. 429 00:10:06,564 --> 00:10:07,464 Give yourself that 430 00:10:07,474 --> 00:10:09,304 moment before you 431 00:10:09,304 --> 00:10:10,244 jump in and say yes. 432 00:10:10,809 --> 00:10:12,899 Pause, give yourself 433 00:10:12,899 --> 00:10:15,269 a moment to sit with 434 00:10:15,359 --> 00:10:17,539 any new ideas, any 435 00:10:17,539 --> 00:10:18,919 new shiny thing that's 436 00:10:18,919 --> 00:10:19,739 coming your way, give 437 00:10:19,739 --> 00:10:20,679 yourself a moment 438 00:10:20,689 --> 00:10:22,969 to sit and to pause. 439 00:10:23,859 --> 00:10:25,179 And I would suggest 440 00:10:25,319 --> 00:10:26,609 that if it's not a 441 00:10:26,609 --> 00:10:28,409 hell yes, this is 442 00:10:28,409 --> 00:10:29,249 the very thing that's 443 00:10:29,249 --> 00:10:29,729 going to help me 444 00:10:29,729 --> 00:10:30,669 achieve my goals, 445 00:10:31,259 --> 00:10:32,279 then it's probably. 446 00:10:33,538 --> 00:10:34,248 So first thing I want 447 00:10:34,258 --> 00:10:36,029 you to do is pause. 448 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:37,739 The second thing 449 00:10:37,739 --> 00:10:39,379 before we take any 450 00:10:39,379 --> 00:10:41,459 action is communicate. 451 00:10:41,929 --> 00:10:42,469 And this is where I 452 00:10:42,469 --> 00:10:43,639 want you to tap into 453 00:10:43,639 --> 00:10:44,869 your inner circle, 454 00:10:45,059 --> 00:10:46,219 that trusted board 455 00:10:46,219 --> 00:10:47,129 of advisors that you 456 00:10:47,139 --> 00:10:48,566 have around you, that 457 00:10:48,586 --> 00:10:49,806 network that you have. 458 00:10:49,896 --> 00:10:52,026 Of trusted people whose 459 00:10:52,346 --> 00:10:53,846 opinions you value, 460 00:10:54,086 --> 00:10:55,086 the people who, you 461 00:10:55,096 --> 00:10:56,106 know, are not going 462 00:10:56,106 --> 00:10:57,276 to say yes, just to 463 00:10:57,276 --> 00:10:58,416 make you feel good. 464 00:10:58,756 --> 00:10:59,346 They're going to 465 00:10:59,346 --> 00:11:00,266 really challenge 466 00:11:00,266 --> 00:11:01,066 your thinking. 467 00:11:01,596 --> 00:11:02,806 And in this space, 468 00:11:03,176 --> 00:11:04,336 it's about talking 469 00:11:04,336 --> 00:11:05,466 through with those 470 00:11:05,466 --> 00:11:06,716 people, your ideas, 471 00:11:07,216 --> 00:11:08,996 talk it through, share 472 00:11:08,996 --> 00:11:09,966 with them what you're 473 00:11:09,966 --> 00:11:11,796 thinking, explain to 474 00:11:11,796 --> 00:11:13,566 them why this idea is 475 00:11:13,566 --> 00:11:14,796 aligned to achieving 476 00:11:14,796 --> 00:11:15,696 your overarching 477 00:11:15,696 --> 00:11:17,576 goal, and then listen. 478 00:11:18,116 --> 00:11:18,946 Listen to their 479 00:11:19,306 --> 00:11:20,816 perspectives, listen 480 00:11:20,816 --> 00:11:22,216 to their questions, 481 00:11:22,506 --> 00:11:23,346 listen to their 482 00:11:23,356 --> 00:11:24,436 challenging because 483 00:11:24,826 --> 00:11:26,976 you're in a circle are 484 00:11:26,976 --> 00:11:28,076 the very people that 485 00:11:28,076 --> 00:11:29,416 can provide you with 486 00:11:29,586 --> 00:11:31,656 invaluable insight and 487 00:11:31,686 --> 00:11:33,406 prevent you from making 488 00:11:33,446 --> 00:11:35,276 any hasty decisions. 489 00:11:36,286 --> 00:11:38,030 So step one, pause. 490 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:39,970 Step two, communicate 491 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:41,170 the third one. 492 00:11:41,170 --> 00:11:42,470 Then if you are going 493 00:11:42,470 --> 00:11:43,900 to do the very thing 494 00:11:44,020 --> 00:11:45,050 that you've decided to 495 00:11:45,050 --> 00:11:47,500 do is to measure, it's 496 00:11:47,740 --> 00:11:49,600 so important that you 497 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:51,880 decide and you define 498 00:11:52,030 --> 00:11:54,050 what success looks like 499 00:11:54,230 --> 00:11:56,120 for every single new 500 00:11:56,210 --> 00:11:56,930 venture that you're 501 00:11:56,930 --> 00:11:58,120 going to undertake 502 00:11:58,680 --> 00:12:00,760 this measure criteria. 503 00:12:01,105 --> 00:12:02,355 This definition of 504 00:12:02,465 --> 00:12:03,841 success, and this 505 00:12:03,841 --> 00:12:04,675 is where this paying 506 00:12:04,675 --> 00:12:06,075 attention is so key, 507 00:12:06,435 --> 00:12:08,425 pay attention with 508 00:12:08,615 --> 00:12:10,415 every single result 509 00:12:10,455 --> 00:12:11,515 that you are getting as 510 00:12:11,515 --> 00:12:12,685 a result of the thing 511 00:12:12,685 --> 00:12:13,855 that you are doing. 512 00:12:14,109 --> 00:12:15,019 This will help you 513 00:12:15,029 --> 00:12:16,519 stay focused and 514 00:12:16,529 --> 00:12:17,829 measure your progress. 515 00:12:18,169 --> 00:12:19,869 Effectively in my 516 00:12:19,879 --> 00:12:20,709 elevator in the inner 517 00:12:20,759 --> 00:12:21,819 circle community, we 518 00:12:21,819 --> 00:12:23,329 do this every single 519 00:12:23,579 --> 00:12:24,469 day, every single 520 00:12:24,479 --> 00:12:25,429 week and every single 521 00:12:25,429 --> 00:12:26,529 quarter, every single 522 00:12:26,529 --> 00:12:28,049 quarter, we decide 523 00:12:28,049 --> 00:12:28,859 what our measures 524 00:12:28,939 --> 00:12:30,369 of success are. 525 00:12:30,589 --> 00:12:31,759 We then plug them 526 00:12:31,829 --> 00:12:33,139 into an accountability 527 00:12:33,139 --> 00:12:34,399 dashboard so that 528 00:12:34,429 --> 00:12:35,929 every single week 529 00:12:36,055 --> 00:12:37,221 my clients can 530 00:12:37,231 --> 00:12:38,311 measure whether the. 531 00:12:38,576 --> 00:12:39,216 Effort that they're 532 00:12:39,216 --> 00:12:40,556 putting in the work 533 00:12:40,566 --> 00:12:41,676 that they are doing 534 00:12:41,896 --> 00:12:42,776 is delivering the 535 00:12:42,776 --> 00:12:44,176 results that they want. 536 00:12:44,606 --> 00:12:46,296 Measuring your activity 537 00:12:46,356 --> 00:12:48,066 is key because it's, 538 00:12:48,166 --> 00:12:49,536 this is the very thing 539 00:12:49,546 --> 00:12:50,776 that can show you 540 00:12:51,006 --> 00:12:52,326 either what to stop, 541 00:12:52,636 --> 00:12:54,166 what to start and what 542 00:12:54,166 --> 00:12:55,616 to keep doing to ensure 543 00:12:55,616 --> 00:12:56,436 that you are moving 544 00:12:56,436 --> 00:12:57,786 towards your goals. 545 00:12:58,626 --> 00:12:59,446 Now, the final 546 00:12:59,466 --> 00:13:00,556 step here of. 547 00:13:00,786 --> 00:13:01,975 Avoiding shiny 548 00:13:01,975 --> 00:13:03,485 stuff syndrome is 549 00:13:03,685 --> 00:13:06,175 quit knowing when 550 00:13:06,443 --> 00:13:07,623 cut your losses. 551 00:13:08,523 --> 00:13:09,283 Now I'm not saying 552 00:13:09,293 --> 00:13:10,273 that every single 553 00:13:10,273 --> 00:13:11,252 experiment, every 554 00:13:11,252 --> 00:13:11,982 single thing that 555 00:13:11,982 --> 00:13:12,892 you do, you quit. 556 00:13:12,902 --> 00:13:13,392 That's not what 557 00:13:13,392 --> 00:13:13,872 I'm saying. 558 00:13:13,872 --> 00:13:15,102 But what I am saying 559 00:13:15,402 --> 00:13:16,852 is that through the 560 00:13:16,852 --> 00:13:18,322 last step of measure, 561 00:13:19,222 --> 00:13:21,102 making a decision as 562 00:13:21,102 --> 00:13:22,386 to what success look 563 00:13:22,537 --> 00:13:24,767 like, and when to quit. 564 00:13:24,992 --> 00:13:25,642 is key. 565 00:13:25,972 --> 00:13:26,812 Knowing when to 566 00:13:26,812 --> 00:13:27,792 cut your losses. 567 00:13:28,152 --> 00:13:29,352 It's about sticking 568 00:13:29,352 --> 00:13:30,402 to your long term 569 00:13:30,402 --> 00:13:31,982 goals and adjusting 570 00:13:31,992 --> 00:13:33,792 strategies as necessary 571 00:13:33,802 --> 00:13:35,632 to remain aligned with 572 00:13:35,632 --> 00:13:36,802 your ultimate vision. 573 00:13:37,379 --> 00:13:39,649 So four things, pause, 574 00:13:40,229 --> 00:13:42,509 communicate, measure, 575 00:13:42,819 --> 00:13:44,789 and if necessary, quit. 576 00:13:45,747 --> 00:13:46,957 These three deadly 577 00:13:46,987 --> 00:13:48,687 S's, shiny stuff 578 00:13:48,797 --> 00:13:50,567 syndrome, isn't just 579 00:13:50,567 --> 00:13:52,127 about distraction. 580 00:13:52,567 --> 00:13:53,817 It's a mindset that 581 00:13:53,817 --> 00:13:54,627 can be mastered 582 00:13:54,627 --> 00:13:55,197 with awareness 583 00:13:55,767 --> 00:13:57,167 and discipline and 584 00:13:57,217 --> 00:13:58,347 intentionality. 585 00:13:58,847 --> 00:14:00,207 By staying focused 586 00:14:00,207 --> 00:14:01,167 on your objectives 587 00:14:01,207 --> 00:14:02,497 and resisting that 588 00:14:02,807 --> 00:14:04,557 wonderful allure 589 00:14:04,557 --> 00:14:05,867 of every new shiny 590 00:14:05,867 --> 00:14:07,117 distraction, you 591 00:14:07,117 --> 00:14:07,847 can actually forge 592 00:14:07,847 --> 00:14:09,127 a path to a more 593 00:14:09,327 --> 00:14:10,277 sustainable and 594 00:14:10,307 --> 00:14:11,367 successful business. 595 00:14:12,047 --> 00:14:12,497 Remember 596 00:14:12,527 --> 00:14:13,277 staying focused. 597 00:14:13,767 --> 00:14:14,877 Isn't about 598 00:14:15,137 --> 00:14:16,477 avoiding new ideas. 599 00:14:16,737 --> 00:14:17,757 It's not about avoiding 600 00:14:17,757 --> 00:14:19,097 new ideas, but it is 601 00:14:19,407 --> 00:14:21,087 about mastering the art 602 00:14:21,417 --> 00:14:23,367 of selective attention. 603 00:14:24,057 --> 00:14:26,177 Keep your eyes on your 604 00:14:26,267 --> 00:14:28,507 prize and let the rest 605 00:14:28,507 --> 00:14:29,787 of the noise fade away. 606 00:14:30,497 --> 00:14:31,707 So until next time, 607 00:14:31,977 --> 00:14:33,077 keep being brilliant 608 00:14:33,347 --> 00:14:34,177 and don't let the 609 00:14:34,177 --> 00:14:35,597 shiny stuff get in 610 00:14:35,597 --> 00:14:37,137 your way this week.