President, Royal Lepage Connect Realty | CEO, Aligned Agent Academy, Top 50 Women in Canadian Real Estate REP Magazine.
From keeping up with multiple social media platforms to constantly changing algorithms and desiring to reach anyone and everyone in their market, real estate agents can get stuck in “shiny object syndrome.” I’m no exception — I’ve been eager to try every new marketing tactic that pops up in the digital world, too. But I often remind myself that just because it’s working for some people doesn’t mean that it’s going to be the right thing for me and my business.
If you’re finding yourself constantly looking and comparing to see what others are doing, feeling the pull to jump on the bandwagon of what is new and hot or catching yourself wanting to make a change in brokerage/team because you’re not seeing the results you want, chances are what you’re experiencing is shiny object syndrome.
There’s nothing wrong with exploring change and trying new things, but if they aren’t in alignment with your business and beliefs, they won’t do you much good. In fact, the end result might mean you end up derailed from your original goal. Let’s talk about what shiny object syndrome really is and how to align yourself when you find it happening.
How We Get Derailed By ‘Shiny Objects’
Our brains are wired with mechanisms to keep us safe and efficient. When your decisions and actions are aligned with your goals, you experience ease and productivity. The problem with new, shiny objects is that your decision to act on them is usually driven out of impulsivity, which means you’re likely not working in alignment. Working in alignment with how your brain works best helps you to stay on track and achieve the results you want.
But we’ve all been there. You start your day with a rock-solid to-do list, only to find yourself scrolling through your phone wondering whether or not you should buy a greenscreen and start learning how to make Reels and TikToks. Before you know it, you’re caught in the web and instead of focusing on the pillars of your business that will help you achieve your goals, you end up with nothing to show for the time you put in. In the absence of clarity and focus on the goals that are meaningful to you, you’re easily distracted by shiny new objects. Is it you? Are you doing something wrong? Is it them? Are they really doing better than you? Maybe it’s a bit of both?
Grounding In Alignment
Here’s the thing. Everything works if it works for you. For long-lasting results, you have to ground yourself in what you want your career and your business to look like. When you feel pulled into the next hot thing, take a moment to ask yourself these questions:
• Where is your business headed?
• What operations systems do you enjoy?
• What marketing tactics do you enjoy?
• What social media platform are you most comfortable with?
• Where have you seen the most growth in the past?
Getting clarity on where your business is going is the most important. If you don’t have an end goal or vision, you don’t have a way to get there. You’ll be wandering aimlessly without a strategy. Once you nail down your vision, you can align any other systems or tools into your overall business strategy. This isn’t to say you’ll never change your tools or systems, but you should spend more time researching things and feeling out if they align with your strategy. If they do, you can implement them as part of your business plan at a later date, or delegate them when you hire someone. You don’t need to keep up with every shiny object out there. The latest thing might not be what you really need.
Clarity And Overcoming
So how do you get clarity and realize when you’re getting derailed? When you feel yourself getting pulled in a new direction, stop and ask these questions:
• What am I feeling right now?
• Am I feeling centered?
• Am I feeling grounded?
• Is this an opportunity for research or do I just feel pulled?
• Am I falling behind in my business, or just distracted?
• Am I comparing myself to someone else with no real basis?
If your answer amounts to anything other than “I am clear. This makes sense for my business,” you’re getting derailed. Take a moment and go back to the vision of your business. Confirm what systems and tools already align with your vision and feel doable for you. If the shiny new object does seem like it could fit into your business strategy and how you operate best, think on it and set a time to make a decision. With this method, you’ll stay on track with your goals and be intentional. It’ll make you a better real estate agent, and especially a better leader in the end.
We can all get caught up in shiny object syndrome. It’s how we react, realign and get clear on our goals that matters. Separate the small success of a new tool or platform from the steady growth of businesses that have stood the test of time. There’s no magic wand to fix an issue in your business; it has to start with you.
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