You start your day out with a list of must-do’s. You must hold that team meeting, write a new blog post, call three people you met at the networking event last night, get the flowers ordered for your parent’s anniversary, meet with your financial expert to go over last month’s numbers, etc. In a recent Entrepreneur.com article, they defined Shiny Object Syndrome as a “disease of distraction”. Combine that with the overwhelm that most entrepreneurs deal with and you have a recipe for disaster. How do you get more done? More products to create, more blogs to write, more opt-in pages to build, more clients to connect with, more, more, more.

Here’s the problem with shiny object syndrome. It prevents you from getting more done and achieving success by shifting your focus away just when you’re about to hit your sweet spot. It’s true. I’ve seen it happen time and time again. A promising startup just begins to make sales and gain a following, and then out of the blue, the owner does a pivot into a completely unrelated niche or business.

All that work… just gone.

Don’t let this happen to you.

Get More Done Step 1: Set Clear Goals

The first step toward the clarity and focus you need to avoid shiny object syndrome and get more done is simply to know your goals. Where exactly are you going? Do you want to build a six-figure consulting business? Earn a living from your blog? Design websites for offline businesses?

Regardless of your business model, if you don’t know your goal, you will always struggle with focus, and every new strategy and tool will pull you further away from your dreams.

Get More Done Step 2: Commit to a Plan

Before you implement a new marketing strategy, change business plans, or even purchase a new tool, ask yourself if you’re truly willing to give it a fair shot at success. Marketing strategies take time to grow legs. Business models can require years to show a profit. And that shiny new tool won’t earn back its cost if you toss it aside next week for something different.

Be realistic with yourself, and make a plan to give your idea the best shot at success. Make a commitment to yourself and your business.

Get More Done Step 3: Put on Your Blinders

If you are going to get more done you must put on your blinders and take action. At first, make it small incremental tasks- things you can do in 20 minutes. Then you will find that you can eventually work in bigger time frames. Oh, another thing that works well for me is a list. I love to check things off of my list when it’s done. Do you work from a list?

Focus on what you know works, keep your goals in mind, and recommit to making your business as good as it can possibly be.