Shiny Object Syndrome: Why It Happens & How to Overcome It

It’s 2 a.m. on a frigid winter night in Chicago. The city’s skyscrapers pierce the silent sky, and most people are fast asleep. But Bryan is wide awake, glued to his laptop. He’s watching a YouTube video by some influencer who’s extolling the virtues of dropshipping, how multiple people have become millionaires in recent years by selling products online without ever stocking inventory. Tushar is hooked.

The catch? Just a week ago, Bryan was deeply invested in cryptocurrency tutorials, another influencer on YouTube convinced him that crypto is the only future investment worth making. A week before that, he was following a 21-year-old on Instagram who claimed to earn a hefty income purely through content writing, prompting him to consider launching a career in freelance writing.

If you check Bryan’s LinkedIn profile, you’ll see a long list of certificates in various domains: digital marketing, stock market basics, and even a Python course certificate lying somewhere in the digital pile. If Bryan’s story sounds familiar, it’s because many of us have been there chasing one new skill, one new “guaranteed” business idea, after another. This phenomenon is called Shiny Object Syndrome.

What Exactly Is Shiny Object Syndrome?

Shiny Object Syndrome is the tendency to keep jumping from one new opportunity, skill, or project to another, purely because it looks exciting, novel, or promising. This is especially common among Millennials and Gen Z, who have a world of information at their fingertips and an equally overwhelming number of influencers telling them what to do next.

An easy analogy is a massive all-you-can-eat American buffet. There’s fried chicken, mac and cheese, nachos, pizza, salad bars, burgers, and a dozen other mouthwatering options. In our eagerness to “try everything,” we lose the chance to truly savor any one dish. Similarly, when you constantly chase every shiny new opportunity, you end up with a surface-level understanding of many things but never gain mastery over any.

Why We Fall for Shiny Object Syndrome

Before discussing solutions, it’s crucial to understand the core reasons behind Shiny Object Syndrome. If you’re not clear on why you’re constantly jumping from one idea to another, any solution will only be temporary.

1. The Illusion of Progress

Starting something new feels exciting. There’s a sense of novelty, which tricks our mind into believing we’re making real progress. In reality, hopping from one half-finished course to another might feel productive, but it rarely leads to tangible expertise or success.

2. Lack of Clarity

We have parents, peers, influencers, and random acquaintances telling us what we “should” do. But we lack clarity about our career path. Where do we truly want to go? What do we want out of our professional life? Without clear, personal goals, chasing every new skill or trend seems like the only option.

3. Social & Cultural Pressures

Many of us face pressure from family members or friends urging us to follow a “secure” path or the latest big trend. Then there’s the broader social media pressure where everyone seems to be “doing better” than you. This combination can nudge you into exploring a hundred different paths instead of focusing on one.

4. The Social Media Highlight Reel

On social platforms, people share only their successes: the six-figure freelancing gigs, the big corporate job, the hot startup that took off, or acceptance into a top-tier university. Rarely do you see the failures, rejections, or the long, gruelling path behind that success. Convinced that “everyone else” is achieving big things, you might start chasing anything that promises quick results, hoping to keep up.

5. Democratization (and Overload) of Knowledge

Learning anything is easier than ever. There are cheap or even free courses on everything: dropshipping, crypto trading, coding, digital marketing, you name it. With so much information readily available, you can’t help but think, “If I pick up these five new skills, I’ll be unstoppable!” Unfortunately, the time and effort required to master a single skill is often overlooked.

6. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

Technology evolves at breakneck speed, and innovations like artificial intelligence can transform entire industries overnight. The fear that you’re missing a revolutionary trend or a game-changing skill compels you to dabble in everything. This “What if I miss the next big wave?” anxiety can lead you astray from more meaningful, longer-term goals.

The Result: A Pinball Life

All these reasons combined can leave you feeling like a pinball in an arcade machine bouncing around aimlessly from one wall to another. Without giving a single skill or idea enough time and focused effort, you never achieve the “compounding effect” that leads to real growth.

You may see college friends sticking with machine learning for three years and now leading advanced AI projects; or a batchmate who started as a junior developer and stayed in the field long enough to be promoted to senior roles.

Of course, it’s not about staying committed to a path that has virtually no probability of success. Blindly persisting in something forever, when all odds suggest it’s not viable can be foolish. There’s a fine line between commitment and futility. Quitting can be the right choice if you have compelling evidence that a certain path truly has no future for you. But that’s a topic for another day.

Signs You’re Stuck in Shiny Object Syndrome

1. Multiple Online Courses half-finished in topics ranging from digital marketing to stock trading.
2. Frequent Shifts in Business or Career Goals, spurred by the latest video or social media post.
3. Certificates in Diverse Fields that have no clear thread linking them together.
4. Constant Comparison with peers who have “made it” by sticking to one path.
5. Overwhelmed and Burnout but still itching to jump on another new thing.

How to Overcome Shiny Object Syndrome

The good news is that Shiny Object Syndrome is not a life sentence. Below is a three-step framework to help you find focus, stay motivated, and see real results from your efforts.

1. Define Your North Star

A North Star is not simply a job title or a position (e.g., “I want to be a civil servant” or “I want to be a software engineer”). It’s more of a direction than a fixed destination. Ask yourself:

• What kind of impact do I want to have in my career?
• What lifestyle do I imagine for myself (remote work, 9–5, travelling)?
• Which skills or areas truly excite me over the long haul?

Your parents, mentors, or friends can give input, but the final decision about your North Star must come from you. Having that overarching direction ensures you’re not blown off course by every interesting or profitable opportunity that surfaces.

Examples of a North Star might be:

• “I want to work on technology that simplifies people’s daily lives.”
• “I want to build a creative career that balances freedom and financial stability.”
• “I want to lead projects that drive sustainable change in my community.”

Once this is in place, any new opportunity can be evaluated by asking, “Does this move me closer to my North Star, or is it just a detour?”

2. The 90-Day Rule

A frequent reason we don’t see results is that we give up on new skills or projects way too quickly often within a week or a month. This doesn’t allow enough time for deeper learning or initial failures that inevitably occur.

Commit to 90 days before switching to anything else. During those 90 days:

• Dive deeply into the skill or project.
• Resist distractions: write down all “new ideas” in a notebook instead of immediately pursuing them.
• Evaluate your progress only after the 90 days are up.

Whether it’s learning Python, writing a book, or starting a small online business, three months is enough time to see if you genuinely enjoy it, are making progress, and have the potential to become proficient. It’s also short enough that you don’t risk wasting years of your life. After the 90 days, you can decide to continue, pivot, or drop it responsibly.

3. The Mentor Check

Relying solely on internet influencers can be misleading because every domain has its dazzling success stories—and they can be highly selective. On the internet, everyone can publish their “I made millions in X!” story. Realistically:

• Find someone just a few steps ahead of you in your chosen field. If you’re a junior developer, talk to a senior developer. If you’re an aspiring writer, speak with an established mid-level writer.
• Ask them about the realities of the role: the challenges, the failures, the actual earnings, and the daily grind.
• Seek out both positive and negative experiences so you get a balanced perspective.

This firsthand mentorship or even a single honest conversation can serve as a reality check, helping you figure out whether a field aligns with your North Star and is worth a 90-day deep dive.

The Slow-Cooked BBQ Analogy: Let It Smoke

Achieving career success is like slow-cooking a barbecue brisket, it requires time, proper resources, attention, and patience. You can’t just keep lifting the smoker’s lid every five minutes to toss in different spices or sauces and expect a gourmet meal. Overdoing it or frequently changing ingredients will ruin the outcome.

Similarly, to see the fruits of your efforts in any field, you need to let it “smoke” and cook at a consistent temperature. Giving yourself dedicated time and practice in one domain, while resisting the urge to chase every “shiny” new idea is essential for deep mastery.

When You Feel Stuck or Unmotivated

Even with a clear North Star, a 90-day rule, and a mentor check, there will be times when motivation runs dry. Three key factors play a critical role in sustaining intrinsic motivation:

1. Autonomy: Feeling in control of your own choices.
2. Competence: Feeling like you’re genuinely improving in your field.
3. Relatedness: Feeling connected to peers, mentors, or a community that supports your goals.

If one of these is missing, you’ll find it harder to stick with any path long enough to see results. Addressing these three factors, whether that means finding a supportive group, breaking down your goals into manageable tasks, or choosing a domain you truly care about can help you stay on track.

Final Thoughts

Shiny Object Syndrome can be incredibly tempting, especially in an era where knowledge is abundant and social media showcases instant success stories. However, true expertise like a perfectly slow-cooked brisket demands time and unwavering focus. Define your North Star, follow the 90-day rule, seek guidance from real mentors, and be patient with your learning curve.

Yes, it’s natural to compare yourself with peers who seem to have it all figured out. But your journey is unique and fleeting distractions only prolong the time it takes to achieve something meaningful. Pick a path, stick with it for a set period, and you’ll be amazed at the progress and depth of knowledge you can attain.