Shiny New Object Syndrome? Here’s How to Stop It From Sabotaging Your Success
Our edge as entrepreneurs comes from spotting trends and launching fresh ideas. The problem? Most of us have a graveyard of half-baked projects, forgotten launches, half-written newsletters, and more orphaned tech tools than we care to admit. Let's face it: innovation is our ADHD advantage, but execution moves the needle.
Shiny object syndrome is not a quirky personality trait; our ADHD brains are hardwired for novelty, so creating consistency takes self-awareness and strategy. Lucky for you, this episode is full of candid stories, neuroscience-backed insights, and actionable advice on how to overcome shiny object syndrome and finally finish what you start. Loan me your ear holes for the next 25 minutes for:
🧠The Neuroscience-Based Truth
Why your ADHD brain is forever thirsty for dopamine—and why trying to force yourself to focus just doesn't work for us.
🏃➡️The Cost of Chasing Novelty
The sneaky ways shiny object syndrome drains your revenue and energy (and how to recognize it hiding in your business).
📋5 Practical Strategies
Including: dopamine scheduling and reframing the "messy middle" to creating shiny object parking lots and setting up accountability that actually works.
🎨How to Enlist (Not Resist) Your Curiosity
Specific ways to channel your creative bursts into profitable execution, instead of abandoned projects.
📇Systems That Make Space for New Ideas (Without Derailing Your Progress)
Learn how a "shiny object fund" can keep your creativity alive while protecting your core business from the chaos of shiny object syndrome.
Fun Fact from the Episode:
ADHD expert William Dodson, MD, coined the expression “interest-based brain” to explain how we operate differently. Here is an article from ADDitude magazine that explains it ( including a one-minute YouTube video with a “House of Cards” style soundtrack).
🏆Ready to start creating more consistent business success—and work with your interest-based brain?
To make it extra easy to go from innovation to implementation, I created a free companion handout with all the go-to strategies mentioned in this episode for managing shiny object syndrome. Grab your copy right here.
🎙️And be sure you're following/ are subscribed to ADHD-ish on your favorite podcast app, because next week, I'm chatting with Dr. Michael Freeman, a leading psychiatrist, entrepreneur, researcher, and consultant. Trust me, you're not going to want to miss it.
© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.
