SOS! (Shiny Object Syndrome)

13 years ago

The only way to control this is to fix the time we are going to spend on forum. Either help other people or jump from thread to thread, your choice.

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Gary King

13 years ago

Originally Posted by jugroo

The only way to control this is to fix the time we are going to spend on forum. Either help other people or jump from thread to thread, your choice.

Agreed - exactly what I'm doing now, helping others with their problems too!

Originally Posted by MilesT

GARY! Long time no see, hope you're well!

Yeah, SOS can be a prob. I stay focused by shutting down WF and FB during my prime production hours, I don't skip off to every sales letter that lands in my inbox, and I work in short, concentrated bursts that help me achieve many small goals, all day.

Other than that I love shiny objects.

Cheers!

Cheers Miles, life is good thanks - hope you are too bud.

I also have to stay out of email - that's the one that gets me the most.

Thanks

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MilesT

13 years ago

GARY! Long time no see, hope you're well!

Yeah, SOS can be a prob. I stay focused by shutting down WF and FB during my prime production hours, I don't skip off to every sales letter that lands in my inbox, and I work in short, concentrated bursts that help me achieve many small goals, all day.

Other than that I love shiny objects.

Cheers!

Thanks

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downhomebruce

13 years ago

Yes, those shiny objects along the side of the road...pull over to grab one and the next thing you know you're off the road headed somewhere else!

Self-discipline and focus are often easier said than done, but those are the tickets, imho. Not reading any new sales letters until the day's work is done...making it a point not to buy any new products before letting at least 24 hours pass (after which some of the shine starts to wear off)...and not letting yourself stray from the task at hand -- which is simply to stick with the plan!
Of course, if one doesn't have a good, solid plan for one's business, then those shiny objects can look mighty inviting ...

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Gary King 13 years ago

Originally Posted by downhomebruce

...making it a point not to buy any new products before letting at least 24 hours pass (after which some of the shine starts to wear off)

Great one - the "cooling off" period.

The push for saving that 3 bucks before the price goes up sometimes gets us all.
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- Dan C. Rinnert 13 years ago
  
  I don't have that problem because I've developed a comprehensive method of avoiding it. The first thing I do is--hold on, just a minute... a new thread just popped up...
  
  .
  
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  Dan's content is irregularly read by handfuls of people. Join the elite few by reading his blog: dcrBlogs.com, following him on Twitter: dcrTweets.com or reading his fiction: dcrWrites.com but NOT by Clicking Here!
  
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  Steven Wagenheim 13 years ago
  
  I don't suffer from it...seriously. I am totally immune. I buy what I need,
  when I need it and look for info on subjects I need, when I need it.
  
  I may be one of the most productive and disciplined people you're going to
  run into.
  
  Life's too short to even entertain the thought of having SOS.
  
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  Signature
  
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TheWealthSquad

13 years ago

Have a strategic plan and a focused set of activities that go with that plan.

Shiny object seen - query - Does this fit my strategic plan? No - ignore and keep making money

Yes - Does it fill a gap or need I have to implement my strategy plan? No - Ignore and keep making money

Yes it fills a need - Buy it, IMPLEMENT it and keep making money

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bravo75

13 years ago

If I really think I need something, I will bite the bullet and buy it. However, I will take my time and do serious research first.

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Daniel J

13 years ago

SOS! That's hilarious! I tend to get sidetracked as it is. When there are a billion things fighting for my attention in the IM world, it just makes matters worse. I find I NEED to make "to do" lists and then spend focused time on the things that DO make money BEFORE giving myself "free time." Even then, I try to LIMIT that free time. Great thread!
Daniel J.

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Benjamin Ehinger

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Gary King

Ah, Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS) or whatever you want to call it...

When diagnosed with a mild case of SOS, one exhibits strange behaviors like spending hours on Internet Marketing forums without much purpose, bouncing from thread to thread.
Should the case be more severe, (as is often the case with newbies - love ya), it results in bouncing from thread to thread and product to product, wild idea to wild idea - all leading NOWHERE.

We all suffer from it. Some days our symptoms are worse than others.

Perhaps we can help each other by sharing our best tips to keep the symptoms under control...

To alleviate my personal symptoms, I try to stay organized. Keep track of what I've done each hour, things like that.

What do you do to avoid SOS?

Have a great day!

Gary

Gary,

My best tip for this is to do one of two things depending on how you work. I, myself, have to bounce around a little bit and normally do a part of one project, then another, then check the forum, then do it all over again until I finish everything for the day. Just the way my crazy brain works.

However, many need to focus on one thing at a time. My advice is that if you can do what you need to do without being connected to the internet or without your browser open, then don't open it until you finish your project. Use your forum time as a reward for success. Tell yourself that if you finish your work you are allow so much time in the forum.

For example, if you have 5 projects that will take you an hour each, then you have 5 full hours of work. Maybe after each project reward yourself with 15 minutes of forum time to just do whatever you want. This also help to let your brain kind of relax in between projects.

Benjamin Ehinger

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DaleM 13 years ago

Having suffered big time from this SOS syndrome for well over a year and a half I have finally established a daily schedule for work, play, SOS things and things etc. that is in concert with my weekly goals.
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Gary King

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Benjamin Ehinger

Gary,

My best tip for this is to do one of two things depending on how you work. I, myself, have to bounce around a little bit and normally do a part of one project, then another, then check the forum, then do it all over again until I finish everything for the day. Just the way my crazy brain works.

Benjamin Ehinger

Awesome, embrace what works best for you - to be honest, I do the same - almost cyclical if need be - I like and do quite a few different things to so I need to put effort into each on an ongoing basis.

Gary

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Wayne-JJ

13 years ago

I find this similar to impulse shopping. When I have the urge to buy something that is not related to what I am working on right now, I'll move away from the page...and when you give your brain some time to "cool down" you realize that you do not want to buy it after all!

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AndrewStark

13 years ago

I had real trouble with magic bullet syndrome where I was constantly looking at tons of new things to get more traffic, but it was mainly avoidance as I was trying to put off product creation.

Anyway it took me ~ 6 months, but I managed to get the product created, set up a WSO, and all that's left it to create the main salespage. Then all of the tactics I've learnt for traffic can actually lead to something good.

Also I've done an interview with an expert, and they're acting in a mentoring approach by putting pressure on me to actually do something with the interview.

Lastly it's also good to spend a few hours a day away from the computer, sitting on it all the time just makes SOS worse.

Thanks

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SOS! (Shiny Object Syndrome)

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