How do I avoid shiny object syndrome and stay focused on what works?

Shiny object syndrome is one of the biggest business killers out there. When you hear about a new marketing tactic, tool, or platform, your first instinct should be to ignore it completely. Don’t let it take up any brain space. Only investigate something new if you see it mentioned 10-plus times by people you follow, know, and trust—people who have achieved real success and are running successful businesses or large marketing departments. Wait until they’re talking about it and publishing case studies. Once that threshold is met, then you can take the time to investigate and test it. This filter is incredibly freeing. You’ll be amazed at how many shiny objects you ignore that never come up again because they weren’t worthwhile. Focus religiously on the small list of things you know work, and do them consistently. That’s how you succeed.

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Asked by an artist distracted by new marketing trends · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2020-08-05