In Defense of Shiny Objects

Shiny Object Syndrome, ADHD, and—what was I saying?

Hi Cringers,

Have you heard of “Shiny Object Syndrome” (SOS)?

It’s often considered “the biggest problem for today’s entrepreneurs.”

The idea is to not get so distracted by all the “shiny” new tools, services, trends, and opportunities that you lose sight of the more practical components of running your business, such as a sensible business plan, focused content strategy, optimized website, etc. 

And, I get it. Shiny objects can be highly distracting. I’m ADHD. My entire existence is trying to resist the pull of shiny objec—whoa! Just saw an ad for a cool ravioli maker, sorry, what was I saying?

Oh yeah, shiny objects. Like everything, there is a flip side to this argument.

Just as there are pros with ADHD, there are also pros to Shiny Object Syndrome (because, let’s face it, aren’t these practically the same thing?).

With ADHD, I CRAVE novelty. I get incredibly, deathly bored when I’m faced with the same thing or process repeatedly.

And while I know I shouldn’t, that I need to self-regulate and bore myself like a normal bore, there are certain benefits to living this way.

For one, I know a lot about a lot. And I don’t mean that in a pretentious way, I just mean because I’m constantly seeking novelty, I’m always collecting new information about a variety of topics.

The major benefit of this is creative thinking. Because I’ve dabbled all over the place for so long, I can make connections that others might miss and see opportunities where others don’t.

As a solopreneur creator, I’ve explored and considered a lot of different tech objects.

There are tools to:

• Summarize video scripts

• Create Avatars or turn yourself into an avatar

• Create merch

• Build websites

• Schedule social posts

• Build and host online communities

• Manage and track links

• Check grammar

• Create newsletters

• Develop courses

• Write emails

• Narrate articles

• and create AI-generated excuses

Do you know HOW HARD IT IS TO EXIST AS AN ADHD PERSON IN 2023?! It’s rough out here, people. Every time I turn around there is a new shiny object. And no amount of meditation or self-discipline can fix that. This is life now.

I’m aware that I need to add structure to my routine, block out my day, and make room for the core business tasks I need to do. 

However, I also crave shiny objects to keep me motivated. So, instead of resisting the pull, why not block out time to explore them?

In the age of AI, when thousands of new tools are coming out every day, it makes sense to stay current. Maybe it will help your business and maybe it won’t, but at least having an awareness of the various shiny objects can help you expand your imagination about what’s possible.

The knock on Shiny Object Syndrome is that it takes away from time you could spend on more impactful business pursuits, but what if you discover a shiny object that will save you time? Isn’t that worth the time spent on finding the shiny object?

It’s a gamble and I’m not suggesting you drop everything and chase after every shiny object, but I do think it’s worthwhile to regularly research new tools, trends, and services to stay competitive and know what’s out there.

Just as there is a time and place for discipline and structure, there is also a time and place for novelty and exploration.

Don’t get so caught up in your bread-and-butter tasks that you lose your sense of excitement and possibility. This is necessary to keep us ADHDpreneurs excited and moving forward.

Close to 30% of entrepreneurs are ADHD. ADHD people are driven to seek novelty. Why not work with this way of thinking instead of against it? ADHD entrepreneurs need to schedule boring tasks, and neurotypical entrepreneurs need to schedule time to have fun. 

Yin and yang, you get the picture.

Consider the Cringe Letter cover art. This has become central to the Cringe Letter branding. I only discovered how to create these because I was in the throes of Shiny Object Syndrome and playing around with Canva’s Magic Media tools.

Instead of spending hours painting these myself, I found a tool to help me do it in under five seconds.

Then there’s my Cringe Club fashion line (coming 2024), which I imagined and prototyped thanks to my SOS/ADHD. If I hadn’t fallen into various research holes I wouldn’t have known A) that creators even had merch stores and B) that I could use Canva to create prototypes. 

The upside of paying attention to shiny objects is you may be able to use some that can save you time, expand your business, and help you stand out.

So don’t be so quick to poo-poo shiny objects, just don’t let them take over your life, and yeah, I guess do the boring stuff you have to do too…you know, because…money.

Anyway, happy holidays! This will be my last Cringe Letter of 2023, but I’ll be sure to catch you all in the New Year.

I’m planning to keep Cringe Letter free, but if you’ve enjoyed it this year and want to give me some shiny objects to show your support, I wouldn’t say no.

Until next time, cringers. XO