Episode #27: Shiny Object Syndrome, Spending Freezes & the Trap of Constant Learning

This podcast delves into the concept of Shiny Object Syndrome, a phenomenon that can hinder productivity and focus, particularly among entrepreneurs. I candidly share my recent struggles with this affliction, highlighting how an obsession with learning, especially regarding artificial intelligence, has led me to acquire numerous resources without sufficient implementation. We will explore the ramifications of this consumption mindset and the importance of establishing boundaries to foster genuine progress in our endeavors. I propose actionable strategies, such as instituting a spending freeze and designating specific hours for consuming new information, to regain momentum and clarity. Ultimately, the episode serves as a clarion call for self-awareness and disciplined engagement in the pursuit of our aspirations.

Takeaways:

• The concept of Shiny Object Syndrome can severely hinder one's progress and productivity.

• It is essential to recognize one's consumption habits to regain focus and momentum in business.

• Establishing time blocks for consuming information can help mitigate overwhelm and maintain productivity.

• A spending freeze can serve as an effective method to curb unnecessary purchases and refocus on goals.

• Identifying the most valuable aspects of educational programs can prevent feelings of overwhelm and enhance learning.

• Recognizing that perfection is an illusion allows individuals to embrace their journey and foster personal growth.

Link notes: https://cart.kreativedigitalmediainc.com/ai-work-week-slayer/

TRANSCRIPT:

Hello, my friends, and welcome to another episode of the Design your dream Life podcast. My name is Kara. I am your host. I am so happy you're here. There's been a few changes recently.

I decided to scrap my intro because I'm like, why do people who want to listen to my podcast every single week need to hear the same thing over and over and over again? So there will be no more intro. And this week is another totally unscripted. Who the hell knows what I'm going to say? No notes, no nothing.

Just a conversation with me. Well, sort of a conversation with me. Also, please keep in mind, today it is early in the morning where I am and I have a puppy sleeping beside me.

So if you hear him get up, if you hear him whine, I apologize. But hey, it's life. And I wanted to get this episode out. So I was thinking yesterday, what do I want to talk about today?

Especially something that I feel like is in my. Going on in my life right now that I feel like maybe you guys could relate to, maybe you can't. I don't know.

But I want to talk about Shiny object Syndrome. And I feel like recently I am in a phase of it and I have got to stop. And what's really interesting is you can enter this phase in multiple ways.

How I entered it is because I. First of all, it's hard because anyone who is an entrepreneur should be a lifelong learner. You know what I mean?

We always need to be learning and improving. And I think, think too with AI. You guys, I'm so obsessed with AI.

I think I'm going to do a few episodes about how I personally am using AI to really reduce my work week, to reduce even the tasks my VA does. And just like learning how to, like, take processes and systems and create custom GPTs to just spit out phenomenal results.

That's not what this episode is about. I will record that maybe next week if I remember. But I'll make a note.

But at some point, I will start talking about some AI stuff because it's so cool. But this is why I personally have gone into this Shiny object syndrome is because I wanted to learn all the things about AI.

And then as I was starting to learn things about AI, I wanted to see how other people are selling things about AI, you know what I mean? So usually when you're trying to do market research. Sorry, I got something in my mouth. There you go. And you study people who are in your market.

And for me, I will buy their stuff. I'll. I will Buy their stuff. I won't necessarily go through their program. I want to go through their sales process.

So personally for me, I'm like, okay, I want a funnel hack. Like what, what is it? What is their offers? You know, how many offers do they have in one funnel? All of that. And again, I don't do that to copy them.

I'm. I'm doing that just to see what is there on the market because I want to do something different.

I don't ever believe in copying anybody, but I do believe in studying. And so for me, when I'm doing this, I'm looking to see like, okay, what is out there, what are their offers, what is their messaging?

And so lo and behold, before you know it, I feel like I have bought way too much shit lately. And I, well, and I do want to consume some of it because I'm so obsessed with AI because I've bought in so many AI things.

There have been some things that haven't been AI, but mostly have been a lot of AI things. And then you start getting into consume mode. And when you get into consume mode, you fall out of actually doing the things you need to do.

And it's so easy to do this, you guys. It's.

It's so funny to me because I've been doing this for a really long time and that I want to admit this because I feel like it doesn't matter what level you are, it's like there are still parts of you. It's like, I'm so good with money, but I will go into spells where I'm not good with money or I will be really good with my mindset.

And then I'll go into spells where I'm not good at mindset. And I think that is just part of the journey. It's not that you're ever gonna be perfect, cuz perfection is an illusion.

But I think what is so important about growth is that you can identify that you are in a bit of a spiral and you can pull yourself out. I think that that is growth. To me, that's what that feels like.

So I can identify instead of just living in here, living in shiny object syndrome land, I can be like, okay, Kara, this is enough. You have purchased enough, you need to stop. I'm putting myself on a 30. I might even do 60. 60 feels like a long time. Maybe 30 day spending. Freeze.

And I have done this before actually one of my girlfriends, like you should do a 60 day. I think was. No, it was three months maybe. And it was so hard but it was so good.

And so I think I'm going to do at least 30 days and then I'm going to renew maybe and see if I want to do another 30 days.

So a spending freeze for me in business means I am not buying any course, any, no matter how awesome, no matter what will happen, is some really good opportunity, I swear always comes when, when I decide to do the. And I'm like, oh my God, I want this so bad. But then I remember, I'm like, no, I'm on a spending freeze. So that's no.

That's gonna be a no for right now. So for me, in order to pull myself back and get myself back into full momentum, plus, I also then have to consume some of this stuff, right?

Because I do wanna consume some of it. I actually have a sticky note on my monitor right now that says consume. And I've got 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 things on it. And I've scratched off one.

Actually, I feel like I might be able to scratch off too. So for me, I'm like, so then my deal for consuming you guys, when you're in Shiny Object syndrome, you need to cut yourself off.

And it's almost like a sugar detox or whatever. It's like, no, we're done. We're not buying anything else. And we're gonna focus on creating momentum in our business.

We're gonna go back into the things that drive profit. And yes, learning can also provide profit, but it can also just consume your entire time. So here's how I pull myself out. I identify it then.

Secondly, I give myself consuming hours and they are not during my work hours. They might be before work and they might be after work and they might even be on a weekend.

My consume hours are like, instead of Netflix, I'm going to consume some of this stuff, you know, and that can be hard if you, you know, are trying to have a Netflix night with, with a hubby or whatever. So I don't let that interfere. But I find the time.

I'll find the time before my workday or after my workday or if I've been super productive and let's say I'm finishing up around 2:00 clock, maybe I'm like, okay, two to four. Let's make that consuming hours, you know, So I make sure that those consuming hours are time blocks and they're not affecting my regular work week.

I think when we're entrepreneurs and we have control over our schedule, it is so crazy how our schedule can control us if we do not own it, right. It's, it's crazy. And let's. I want to go back. I want, also wanted to make another point about being in overwhelm and being in a state of chaos.

So it's really interesting. I've been a part of a few, you know, high ticket masterminds over the years. I've met some really dear friends.

I don't regret being in these masterminds because of the relationships that I still have to this day because of them.

Some of my favorite humans in this planet, besides my family, are people I've met in masterminds in the business world who we just have almost like a sisterhood, you know, so that I don't regret it.

I can't say I regret it, but what I will say is if you're ever considering a high ticket mastermind or not, even, even if it's not a high ticket, but you're paying to be in a mastermind and it is not just about connection and meeting people, I find that they can also get you stuck in consumption mode and not action mode. And here's what I mean by that.

When you are in these things, depending how often they meet, if they meet quarterly, if they meet, I don't know, two or three times a year, it really just depends. Some do virtual and they meet monthly. I'm like, omg. And there's.

You're getting all of these ideas thrown at you consistently and then before you know it, you're spinning your wheels just in implementation, trying to implement. And remember what I always say, and I do believe this, the 80, 20 rule. 80% of what we try doesn't work, 20% does.

And to me and my circle of friends when we've been in these world, we've just gotten so burnt out because it's like you go and your brain is just exploding with all of this cool stuff. You come back, you can't possibly implement all the things on that list that you want to implement before you meet again.

And yet you're going hard and you're trying and majority of it isn't working for you. Maybe one thing will, but most doesn't. And so then you're like, ugh.

And then before you know it, you're meeting again and your brain's getting overloaded again. And so it's, it's just fascinating. So for me right now, that's not to say I'm not in masterminds, I'm actually in one mastermind and one.

I don't want to, I don't, I don't know that it's an actual mastermind. It's a version of a Mastermind. I'm in two things. They're both, in my opinion, low ticket. One is $5,000, one was three, $500.

That to me is low ticket because a lot of things are like 25, 30k, 50k. So to me, those are low ticket. And I do get value out of it and I do. I show up the way that I need to.

And so now, again, coming back to this shiny object syndrome, it's like I create my boundaries so I don't cut myself off from those things. I just rework of, like, what does success look like for me in these programs? And I pick those things and then I forget the rest of the.

I don't necessarily like the one mastermind. I swear to God, I do not have time to show up for those calls. I can't.

But I have other things in there that I am utilizing that makes it worth my investment. And that's what I focus on. And so I want to give you permission to do that as well.

I think sometimes when we buy things, we think like we have to use every single thing, like to get our money's worth. It's like, no, you don't. Like, what is it that you actually needed from here? Get that thing out of it. That's the thing that you need out of it.

You don't need to get everything out of it. Just the thing that you came here for. Focus on that. Right?

Because then you don't feel as overwhelmed when you're like, oh, my gosh, I feel like I have to do all the things and I. I'm not showing up the way I need to show up, and I need to give more and I need to do.

It's like, okay, listen, we all have lives to live, so give yourself some grace.

All right, my friends, if you feel inspired at all, share this with a friend who might be in shiny object syndrome mode like myself right now, and maybe it will inspire them to pause for a moment and put yourself on a spending freeze. Give yourself a consuming time block. Stop buying and get to work. All right. I hope you have an amazing week. My friends and I will see you next week.