If you’re reading this, I bet you’ve faced Entrepreneur’s ADD (also titled Shiny Object Syndrome) at least once. Possibly to the point of crippling you! You bounce from one idea to another, to another, then to this project and that and “oh this has come up and it needs to get done!” and… The result?

You get nothing done!

Most of us have beat ourselves up vigorously for this at some point! Told ourselves that we aren’t moving forward fast enough because of this. We aren’t as successful as we could be because of this - but can’t seem to change it either!

I’ve done the same thing, and I’m here to give you five steps to help you handle that Entrepreneur’s ADD!

1. Don’t Try to Change Your Whole Life At Once

The idea that we can change our whole lives overnight is completely ludicrous.

But so often we believe that we can.

Think about it like losing weight. I know from personal experience that making gigantic changes for short term results ends up with putting all that weight back on (plus more of it) two years later. That’s because, when I did that, I didn’t make sustainable changes to my diet.

Remember: small changes are sustainable!

Rather than starting by making a list of 15 different things to change in your life (and rewriting your whole calendar and starting a morning routine for yourself, and etc…) start by just doing one thing. Rather than rewriting your whole calendar, just start by checking your calendar in the morning (I know some people who don’t even check their calendar… You can’t rewrite your whole calendar if you’re not even checking it, btw!).

Think of the smallest thing you can consistently change about your productivity habits, and start there!

2. Review Your Goals Daily

Know exactly where you want to go with the business, all the time!

I know so many entrepreneurs who have either lost sight of their goals, or are so stuck in the day-to-day operations that they aren’t thinking rationally about reaching their goals in the business. We all have brilliant ideas for changing up our businesses, but we need to assess whether or not they’re going to take us toward or away from our goals - regardless of what the idea is.

The next time you are getting ready to add something to your to-do list on your calendar, ask yourself this question: Is this going to move me and my business toward the goal?

If the answer is yes, absolutely, 100%, then add it! If you aren’t sure, if you don’t have proof (and be careful about taking gurus at their word! They often exaggerate their success for the sake of a sale), then take a minute and put it on your “Maybe Later” list!

The last question to ask yourself before you add something else to your calendar, is whether or not you’ve given yourself enough time to make the other tasks on your calendar successful. If not, then it’s up to you to step back and determine that it’s a cool idea but one for down the road. (I personally keep an Asana page for “Cool Future Projects” that fit under this category)

3. Implement A Morning Routine

Yes, I just said don’t try and change up everything at once and even used the idea of adding a morning routine as a joke. But!

Here’s the key...

My morning routine lasts about an hour and a half. It involves all of the following:

• Journaling

• Playing Violin

• Planning the Day

• Meditating

• Reading

• And more!

The list goes on. But it didn’t start there. My morning routine started as a five minute sit-down with my journal to write everything I could think of that I was grateful for. It has grown into that 1 ½ hour morning routine because I built it slowly on small, sustainable changes.

Start your morning routine by determining one thing you can do every morning for five minutes to help your day start off better.

Only after you’ve developed a good habit of that one thing should you add other things you feel like you should be doing but don’t have time for in the day.

4. Create Accountability

A lot of the time I encourage entrepreneurs to get a coach, but it doesn’t have to be that. You just need to find someone who is going to create accountability for you with regard to how your productivity is going on things. This is really helpful.

It can be an accountability partner, but remember that this is a two-way street. They have to get something out of it too. So they can’t just be holding you accountable, and when they fall off the wagon, you have to help hold them accountable as well!

I go to a lot of work when I’m being an accountability partner for my clients. I’m proactive about reaching out, I make myself available to them - even when they don’t want to talk and might not be as friendly as when things are going well! But I get paid to keep reaching out and pushing them forward and staying in touch.

If you need help creating some accountability, I’d love to find a way to help you out! Shoot me an email at Stephanie@TheStephanieScheller.com and let’s chat!

5. Use a Calendar

Everyone’s got a calendar, but not everyone uses it. You need to use it. In fact, it needs to become your Bible!

I’m not kidding.

Hold yourself to your calendar and check it consistently.

I do this all the time, and have things blocked out in different colors so I can see what is an appointment and what is on my pending to-do list. When things don’t get done at the end of the day, I move it to the next day so that it is always in front of me and always where I can see what I need to get done. It makes it so much easier to hold myself accountable to knock things out.

So there you have it!

Five steps to help cure your Entrepreneur’s ADD (Shiny Object Syndrome) and help you continue to move your business towards greatness!

If you want explosive growth that creates greatness in your business, check out the website for the Grow Retreat 2020 here! It’s happening in January, and it is the event to be at for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses (And yes, Mike Michalowicz and Dean McFlicker are confirmed speakers at the event!!!).