SHINY OBJECT? OR SOLID GOLD?
How do you know whether or not an idea is worth pursuing or simply a distraction?
Well, truth be told… I couldn’t give you a definitive answer! So, I brought in three guests to join me in my 100th episode of Content with Character to help tackle the question!
Joining me to answer this question are three immensely special guests: one of my best friends, Lindsay Dreyer, my brilliant collab buddy Barb Davids, and… the man, myth, and legend, my husband, Jason Aborn.
Representing three walks of my life, each of these guests have agreed to hop aboard onto MY shiny object train (or solid gold idea? TBD) and deliver an episode on deciphering between what’s worth pursuing and what’s not for YOU!
We get into:
- Where shiny objects hide and pop up personally and professionally
- What entrepreneurs struggle with in shiny object syndrome
- How to weigh out the decision for yourself using heart, soul, and of course… maths
- And more!
Meet, one of my best friends, Lindsay Dreyer!
Three businesses, a podcast, and three young children… Lindsay’s a multi-passionate entrepreneur and amazing human being.
With a lot on her plate, Lindsay still gets lured by shiny object syndrome from time to time. But, before she goes in 100% on an idea, she uses visualization to create a vivid movie that plays out in her mind. Then she asks herself:
Do I like it?
Does it feel good?
She also shares that she’s quick to quit if it isn’t worth her time, energy, or money.
Advice from Lindsay: Play out the scenario in your mind. Create the budget (money, time, energy). Write the sales page, take steps to set it into motion, and see how you feels. And, make sure you’re clear on what problem it solves before you chase it!
Connect with Lindsay Dreyer:
City Chic Real Estate · Venus Rising Energy Work & Tarot · Happy Agent Co. · Instagram · The Happy Agent Co. Podcast
Bio: A truly happy real estate agent… I know, it seems too good to be true! Meet Lindsay Dreyer, Founder of Happy Agent Co. & The Happy Agent Method, Broker/Owner of City Chic Real Estate, oh, and let’s not forget mom of 3! Both personally and professionally, Lindsay is living proof that you can have a thriving real estate business AND live a joyful, abundant, and satisfying life. Through Happy Agent Co. and the Happy Agent Podcast, Lindsay guides agents to master their numbers, implement systems that create ease, and attract their dream clients without exhausting themselves. She takes a holistic approach and helps you align your career, personal life, and well-being so everything works together.
Meet my online friend and brilliant collaborator, Barb Davids!
Website marketing consultant and generator of GREAT ideas, I asked Barb to join me in this conversation because she’s always presenting me with new opportunities for us to work together.
From the outside, it looks like Barb is very focused -despite her many ideas, they’re all very aligned and streamlined.
She confesses that if you pull back the curtain, you’ll find notebooks, voice memos, Google docs, and more with ideas that haven’t been set into motion or that she’s started and abandoned. Sometimes, the “squirrel” phenomenon is a side effect of procrastination, and other times it’s a mismatched value or a hidden belief she has to unpack.
Advice from Barb: To help herself overcome shiny object syndrome, she starts with CLARITY. Then, she looks at her options and asks herself:
Which decision will I regret the least? Or: Will I regret not going down this path/trying this?
Connect with Barb Davids:
Compass Digital Strategies · Small Business Sweet Spot Podcast · Instagram · YouTube
Bio: Barb Davids is the founder of Compass Digital Strategies and host of the Small Business Sweet Spot podcast. With over 25 years of experience in digital marketing, she’s not here for the fluff. Barb is all about direct, results-driven strategies that help ambitious business owners create and implement true, simple marketing that actually works. Since launching Compass Digital Strategies in 2018, she’s helped business owners increase organic search traffic by 256%, generate 22% more leads, and drive 51% more sales from Google organic search. When she’s not behind the laptop or podcast mic, you’ll find her running with her dog, Stone. Based in Gilbert, AZ… until the next adventure calls.
Meet my husband, Jason Aborn!
Spouse to me (God bless him 😂), residential painter, and man of many hobbies…
I brought Jason in for two reasons. One, he has his own relationship with starting and stopping a lot of things. That said, he doesn’t chase a lot of shiny objects professionally, only in his personal hobby and educational world. Secondly, he’s seen me pivot and squirm a lot -which to many, him included, has appeared like a lot of chasing distractions instead of focusing on what works.
I bring him in to have a candid conversation around his relationship (and mine) with the shiny object syndrome.
Advice from Jason: Do the math. Not just the financial investment, but the time, energy, and ROI. Weigh out the risks vs. rewards in what you might be running towards!
Connect with Jason Aborn
Bio: Jason is the owner of Pitcher Mountain Painting, a family-owned residential painting company in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. He and his father bring 32+ years of experience, a commitment to high quality, and a discerning eye to every project they take on. Jason lives in Temple, New Hampshire with his wife, Emily (that’s me!), and their not-so-rambunctious dog, Clyde. He loves watching birds while sipping his coffee on the back deck and enjoying the beautiful hiking trails this area has to offer.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you have time?
- Is this going to help me get further where I want to go or push me away from that goal and vision?
- Will this detract from something else I value in life? Ie. family time, friends, my clients, etc. If so, is it worth it?
- Do I WANT to do this?
- WILL I do this and see it through until the end?
- Is this in alignment with what you want to be known for and what you’re building in your business?
- Do you have the resources (time, money, energy)?
- What’s the BEST possible outcome you can imagine? What’s the WORST possible outcome you can imagine? Are you ok with both of those potential outcomes?
- Are you willing to dig deep or get help if the idea presents challenges and snags along the way?
- What are the steps /assistance needed to set this into motion?
- Are you STILL just as excited about the idea after asking yourself these questions? If it will lose its luster, it’s likely just a shiny object.
Advice from ME: WAIT to decide. I wait as long as possible now to make decisions. I don’t purchase or sign up when the pain is raring or the copy on the sales page is blaring. When in doubt, wait it out.
Connect with Me, Emily Aborn
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I’m Emily Aborn, I’m a Small Business Copywriter, Content Marketing Consultant, Speaker, and Podcast Host of Content with Character. I’m a dog mom to Mr. Clyde and wife to Jason. Our little family lives in the backwoods of New Hampshire where we spend time hiking, stacking wood for the eternally long and freezing winters, reading, and procuring random and useless knowledge for future trivia games.
Email: emily@emilyaborn.com
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