It’s important to know when we are using the wrong strategy to get where we want to go.  If you run east to capture a beautiful sunset, you are using the wrong strategy.

There have been many times in my past that I’ve been so caught up in a strategy, I didn’t pull my head out of it long enough to realize I was going in the wrong direction.  I’ve started two retail businesses in my life; wrong strategy, wrong direction. Retail isn’t my thing. As an entrepreneur though, I get caught up in the “shiny new object” syndrome and follow it wherever it leads. This “syndrome” is really a strategy. It’s a strategy of feeling something new again. It’s a strategy of feeling something exciting and passionate. When I set up these retail adventures, my goal was to feel those feelings again. I knew where I wanted to go and I thought the strategy would get me there.

Long after the newness, excitement and passion melted away, I was still following the same strategy. It was no longer about the newness. It was no longer about the excitement or passion. It was about doing it just because I started it. I never stopped and asked myself, “What’s my outcome here?” I never stopped to pop my head up from the strategy until it was too late.

I’m in the process of winding down my last little retail adventure/disaster. And I know that the “shiny new object” strategy is still a problem for me. I see things and think to myself, “Ooooh! I could do that…” And now I’ve learned to leave it there, in my head. I can still feel the newness, excitement and passion. I just don’t have to act upon it.

I’ve also realized that what I really want is to create this “shiny new object” strategy in my business as a NLP Trainer, 1-on-1 coach and author. What I really want is to create new things for my clients in this business thereby satisfying that entrepreneurial urge  providing more value.

Where in your life have you gotten off track? Which strategy is leading you in the wrong direction?

It’s time to pop your head up and get some perspective.

Is the sunset east or west?