In my local and business interactions there are a lot of entrepreneurs and start-up co-founders. Many of them have what I call Shiny Object Syndrome. Everything is the next new and shiny thing.

We live in a society that wants to multi-task to seem more productive. You have seen these folks in the car next to you, reading emails, texting, putting on makeup, eating with two hands. Studies demonstrate how multi-tasking is not effective. See here, here, and here.

I see it demonstrated by drivers all the time. Most people cannot drive and use the phone - for talking or texting. They are distracted between two important mental tasks - driving and actively listening.

For entrepreneurs, some just like the idea or the initial start of a new venture. Then it is off to the next shiny thing. It's attention deficit disorder to a high degree. Success is about more than just starts. Success is about focus, follow through, and in some cases grinding. For adrenaline junkies, this is the part where the fun ends.

There is a difference between pivoting and shiny object syndrome. A Pivot in a business may be necessary for market traction or survival. The pivot isn't a new shiny object; it is the light in the tunnel.

In a me-too marketplace, jumping on the bandwagon of everything that passes you by may not be smart strategy. Your own customer base may not want or need the new object -- or may not want to buy it from you.

Sometimes it is a function of the new trend; everyone wants to be inside the "in" crowd, to appear to be trendy. Well, wait 10 minutes, a new trend will come your way.

The marketplace doesn't really reward Shiny Object Syndrome; it rewards grinding it out. It rewards the Grind - working at it each day. Following through. It takes time to build something. You can't speed up a pregnancy or how a plant grows. Sticktoittiveness.

"It takes years to become a doctor, lawyer, professional athlete, successful business owner, inventor, or you name it. Too often people will try something, not see immediate success, and ditch the idea and adopt their old ways. The reason people fail when dieting is the same reason people fail to have success in other areas. Successful people invest in themselves and realize that doing big things takes time." [source]