Importance of Work
Defeating shiny object syndrome
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The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks sense.
Proverbs 12:11 (NET)
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I struggle with “shiny object syndrome.”
It’s a particularly strong disease among the more entrepreneurial type people, though just about anybody can suffer with it.
What happens to me is I get an idea. A wonderful idea.
Then I start going after this idea (usually some sort of business project) and fulfill it to my best ability. Along the way I run into some hurdles, making the once wonderful idea seem a little dull. If the hurdles are big enough, I may even give up on the idea altogether.
Regardless, the hurdles cause me to pause and look around.
And then I’ll see it.
A brand new, shiny object.
That other idea I was working on but wasn’t going perfectly? Well it can’t hold a candle to this new idea that looks so bright and shiny.
And so, I find myself chasing after that brand new shiny object … until I hit a hurdle.
And round and round it goes.
To me, this is what it’s like to chase daydreams instead of working the field.
From what I’ve seen, just about any business idea can work, but you have to be willing to put in the hard work and stick it out.
I wish I had learned this lesson when I first memorized the verse instead of having to learn it via the school of hard knocks.
Also, it’s a lesson that I have to keep top of mind nearly every week, because inevitably hurdles come and new shiny objects arrive, tempting me away from good, old fashioned, hard work.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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