The shiny object syndrome. It’s a huge problem among real estate investors and entrepreneurs.
You find an educational system, strategy, methodology, secret, course, whatever; you invest in it and buy the books and go to the seminars and study it all… until you discover a new educational system, strategy, methodology, secret, course, whatever.
You end up a lot like this puppy – gleefully playing with something until your limited attention is caught by something else.
Don’t misunderstand me: there is value is getting educated, and there is value in getting exposure to many strategies and methodologies. But too many investors and entrepreneurs continue searching one course after another, one system after another.
What are they looking for?
They might tell you a different story (you’ll probably hear a different excuse every time about why the system won’t work for them) but in reality here’s what happens: the investors and entrepreneurs get caught up in the excitement of the new thing for a while, basking in the possibilities and perhaps doing a few of the fun and easy up-front actions… until the real work needs to start. Then it becomes difficult. Then they mistake that difficulty for something being wrong. Then they hear about something easier and they run after it.
But just because the course, system, strategy, or methodology that you’re following gets difficult doesn’t mean that it’s broken or that you’re doing something wrong. Real work can sometimes be challenging, especially the first time you do it. (Remember learning to ride a bike? It’s easy now but there were probably some tears and scraped knees on the first day.)
If you’ve been investing in one course after another and would rather take ONE of those strategies to the finish line instead of spending money on more, then here are 6 things you can do…
6 Ways To Avoid The Shiny Object Syndrome
- Set goals. Don’t just imagine a life of excess riches down the road. Set specific short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals for the topic you’re studying and figure out what you need to do to achieve those goals
- Set a reminder for yourself. Set a weekly alarm on your phone to pop up and remind you to stick with it. Just setting the alarm to buzz on your phone will be a regular reminder not to give up.
- Get mentored. Find a mentor who is an expert in the area you’re studying and get them to mentor you. Commit to getting mentored until you achieve a specific outcome.
- Get accountability. You have many people in your life, tell them what you’re up to, share your goals, and (here’s the important part) ask them to check in with you regularly to ensure you’re on track.
- Join A Mastermind. This is a small group of like-minded people. They provide accountability, support, and suggestions.
- Strive for mastery. There are amateurs and then there are masters. The amateurs are new to each course or system. The masters have pushed through the challenges. Get inspired by the possibility of mastery and push through.
Among investors and entrepreneurs, the shiny object syndrome is a problem. There’s always some new course or idea that comes along and promises to solve all the problems we’re facing. And although those courses can be good (and perhaps the key to take us to the next level), they’re only good if we take the time to learn and take action. These 6 strategies will help you actually benefit from all that education you’ve been investing in.
