Do you get really excited at the end of the year, like I do? I have always been a person who adores goal setting. It is something that gives me great joy. This is because I’m a dreamer. It’s really easy for me to spend time with my ideas and organize them into neat little goals-- equipt with milestones, delegation plans, and KPIs (key performance indicators).
But what often happens as the weeks and months pass, I get distracted. I find myself flying further and further away from my plans, pulled in many directions with new ideas popping up every week. If you experience this, you’re not alone. Shiny object syndrome is a real thing. In fact, an Inc Magazine article defined it as “a condition that inflicts millions of business owners each year. Instead of focusing on the big picture tasks that fuel growth for their business, they get side-tracked by a new business idea or project that feels new and exciting.”
So what is the cure for this endless distraction? I have been grappling with this for a long time. The solution seems to be cultivating a laser focus on what matters most.
Another great book on this topic is “the one thing”, by Gary Keller. He states, “Things don’t matter equally. Success is found in doing what matters most.”
What I glean from these insights is that we are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by options and priorities. And the first place you can make some real progress to understand what truly matters is during yearly goal planning time.
On the teams I’ve worked in, there is always great intention during goal planning to present ideas and then collaboratively prune them-- to actually prune them down to the essential thing(s) that need/must get done. But it may come as no surprise that the process of pruning usually doesn’t happen. Sharing ideas or presenting goals during a planning session should be up for discussion. Teams need to hold each other accountable to make sure not one person or department is taking on too much. If you’re a team of one or just starting out-- what means you need to hold yourself accountable.
But why is it so hard to prune goals down?
Take a listen. 👇🏻
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Victoria is a Marketing Mentor to early-stage founders. She has built compelling brands around the globe and has worked as a marketing director across several verticals. She is passionate about helping women think BIGGER about their businesses and giving them the tools to grow. She'd love to connect on LinkedIn or email her at hello@ugliboss.com.