Shiny Objects Are Killing Your Progress: Here's How to Fight Back One simple mental habit can keep your digital business on track.
In the world of online business, your biggest threat isn’t failure, it’s distraction disguised as opportunity.
Today I almost took a $20 detour that could have cost me weeks of focus.
I was doing my usual routine: browsing digital product forums, checking out what others are launching, and drawing inspiration. There’s a handful of creators I respect and keep tabs on, their work often teaches me something. But this time, something shiny caught my eye.
It was slick. It was tempting. And it was completely unrelated to what I’m building right now.
See, I’m in the middle of creating a digital product and writing the sales pages to go with it. I’ve got momentum. A plan. Direction. But this $20 product almost pulled me off course.
Here’s what would’ve happened if I had clicked “buy”:
I’d have read it cover to cover.
I’d probably test out the strategy.
And in doing so, I’d drift, subtly, but surely, away from my current project.
Not because the product was bad. In fact, it was probably pretty good. That’s the trap.
Shiny object syndrome doesn’t show up in the form of garbage. It shows up as exciting, relevant, useful… just not for you right now.
This is the silent killer of progress, especially in your first year of business. It’s not failure that gets you, it’s distraction that looks like opportunity.
So here’s the question I’ve trained myself to ask anytime something tempts me off course:
“Will this move me forward with what I’m working on right now?”
If the answer isn’t a confident yes, I pass. No guilt. No FOMO.
When I buy something like a PLR (private label rights) product, there’s always a specific intention. I already know how I’ll use it, how I’ll reshape it, how it fits into my current workflow. That’s not a shiny object, that’s a tool.
But when I’m tempted by something that sends me spinning in a different direction, I’ve learned to pause. Sometimes I’ll jot it down in my notebook and revisit it in a day or two. Nine times out of ten, the sparkle fades. And that’s my answer.
Sometimes I’ll jot it down in my notebook and revisit it in a day or two. Nine times out of ten, the sparkle fades. And that’s my answer.
If it’s not still on my mind a few days later, it never mattered that much.
When you’re over 50 and just starting your online business, your biggest asset is your ability to stay focused and simplify. You’ve got wisdom, perspective, and experience on your side, now you need a process that protects your time and energy.
That’s why I keep my questions simple:
Will this help me with what I’m building right now?
Will it make my business more complicated?
Is this in line with my goals, or is it just a fun thing to do?
Discipline isn’t about being rigid. It’s about being intentional. It involves understanding that every commitment has a cost, and at times, what seems like a “cheap” product can lead to significant losses in momentum.
Refinement takes repetition. Progress comes from sticking with your current project, even when it’s messy or slow or frustrating. That’s how you learn. That’s how you build confidence and clarity. One focused step at a time.
So the next time something shiny catches your eye, pause. Ask yourself the right questions. And remember, you’re not missing out by staying focused. You’re building something real.
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