Shiny Object Syndrome Strikes Again
Argh! Really! I wrote about this in one of my first blogs... but BOY is it hard to keep focused.
So, when I joined Wealthy Affiliate (this time) it was because I was working with a direct sales business and I wanted to expand my business online... which is something that you won't learn from your direct sales company training. :-) There's people out there doing it, but they have figured it out themselves. Since I'm not a stranger to blogging, I thought, awesome -- I have the skill set to really rock the online thing. But I need help learning how to do the sales part, to recruit people onto my team, to train people. So I started looking for training.
But. BUT. When you're the kind of person I am, who loves learning, who clicks on interesting links... then you start seeing ads for training, for inexpensive info products that promise and easy little profitable side business "in 30 minutes a day!"... oh, the temptation. Have any of you fallen for these things, too? I really don't want to know how much money I've spent on these things.
It happened again last week. Thankfully, this was only a $7 info product, but that's $7 I'm out for a little training that was a COMPLETE waste of my time.
REALLY!! Haven't I learned this lesson yet?! Apparently not.
So I'm writing this today to encourage myself, and others, to step off the bright, shiny object train. Get off the train!!
* No more shiny object purchases!
* Unsubscribe from those email lists!
* Commit to coming to WA and interacting here BEFORE Facebook!
* Progress in the WA training every day, even if it's only part of a lesson!
I actually made the decision to step down from my direct sales business. I looked at the time I would have to invest, the time away from my family hosting parties and attending vendor events, packing up orders, delivering them, responding to customer needs, and training the (eventual) team -- and I just realized that is not the business model I want to follow. Yes, you CAN be successful in direct sales, I personally know people that are. But you have to LOVE doing that work: recruiting, selling, training, solving problems, customer service.
My mostly-introvert self doesn't enjoy those things. Even calling a customer who has already ordered and I need to set up a delivery time? Not my cup of tea. In fact, the less I'm on the phone, the happier I am!
But blogging? Blogging I can do. Work that I can fit into the spare hours I have, that is not taking time away from being a wife and a mom. The skills I need to learn really fit with my more introverted personality: becoming a better writer, doing keyword research, learning how to make cool graphics, using social media.
If you're like me and keep following the shiny objects, let's encourage each other to stay focused and succeed together!
Recent Comments
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Yeah, I too suffered from Shiny Object Syndrome. Some of them are so irresistible. Thankfully, I'm over it and can now just delete the email or unsubscribe instead of clicking on the links I get.
Ah, just the inspiration I was looking for today! Yes, you sure can blog! I stepped off of the Shiny Object Train last week and I am sticking around! Please follow me back Kim
Yep I have bought lots of those low value items - like $7... A complete waste of time, every SINGLE one!! Very annoying. I haven't done it for a while because it's been pointless, hopefully I will stop now!
Why do we keep doing it when we KNOW it's a waste of time?! So frustrating. Yes, let's just stop!!!
If you need any advice about SOS then just come to me I have a garage full of them and a shipping container out back as well lol.
I think it is part of the whole process as we get into online marketing. I still purchase product, but now with the knowledge base, I am developing it is more dedicated to increasing my productivity, so very useful.
The hardest thing is to make the change from being a buyer to becoming a seller or jumping the fence as I like to think of it. My rule of thumb is, will it help me in my business, do I really need it and is it going to get the results that it claims it will and is there a superior product coming out next week?
Being here at WA and learning the skills that we are is so helpful in moving things forward, buying the odd thing that is helpful is not such a bad thing. So glad I jumped off the product bus a couple of stops ago only to jump back on if I feel inclined. Excellent post, Kim thank you.
Thanks for sharing. It *is* hard to make the switch from buyer to seller, and I'll tell you what, when I make that switch I'm going to really over deliver, so people aren't sitting around and saying, "Well, that was a complete waste of money." Right? I have gotten some good products too, but they are few and far between.
Hi Kim. Struck a chord with me too! Wretched shiny object purchases. Maybe I should wear a wristband that pings when I start looking at shiny objects. On second thoughts, maybe I should invent the app myself and make some money. Ha. Ha. Says me, who doesn't even know what a backlinks is!
Jan
Haha! Maybe we need to put rubber bands on our wrists that we snap when we get tempted! :-) A little negative reinforcement!! Seriously.
If you're not careful those shiny objects can get costly. There is always an endless supply of them. Thanks for sharing your experience, Kim.
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Damn, this is soo me right now. Thanks for this post! :)