If you find yourself constantly chasing after the next big thing, feeling overwhelmed, and struggling to finish anything, you might be suffering from Shiny Stuff Syndrome. This disease of distraction plagues many business owners. It's like being a kid in a candy store, but instead of sweets, you’re surrounded by shiny new business strategies.

Think about a typical day: you're scrolling through your social media feed when a new marketing strategy pops up, promising to revolutionise your business. Without a second thought, you dive in. Sometimes, it’s driven by seeing competitors or “worthy rivals” doing something new that you feel compelled to copy or reinvent. Before you know it, another new shiny opportunity catches your eye, and the cycle repeats itself.

So, how do we avoid this trap? Here are four key strategies:

1. Pause: Before diving headfirst into a new idea, take a moment to pause. Is this a "hell yes" that aligns with your goals? If not, step away.

2. Communicate: Talk to your trusted advisors, and your inner circle. Share your ideas and explain how they fit into your overall strategy. Their honest feedback can prevent hasty decisions.

3. Measure: Define success for every new venture. Track your progress and results. This data will tell you what's working, what's not, and where to focus your energy.

4. Quit (When Necessary): Don't be afraid to cut your losses. Measuring success allows you to identify when to quit and refocus on your long-term goals.

Submit your Question: Spotify - click the button below. All other platforms - send me a DM on Instagram or email: support@janinegarner.com.au

LINKS:

Connect with Janine:

Elevate with Janine

The Focus Finder Assessment

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

How many business cards have you collected at networking events that you’ve never done anything with?

And if we take that a step further, how many networking events have you gone to that have felt completely transactional?

You don’t learn anything new, the connections you make don’t go anywhere, and it all feels like a big old waste of your energy.

I know this might seem confusing and perhaps a little counterintuitive (especially coming from an avid networker myself). I want to challenge the traditional notion that networking events are necessary for business success.

Quality over Quantity

Traditional networking events often push quantity over quality. The pressure to collect a stack of business cards creates shallow connections. It becomes an exercise of how many people you can meet for fear of not getting to that one person who could be instrumental to your business.

Building a Strong Inner Circle

Instead, I want to focus on building a strong inner circle, a tight-knit group of 4 ideal people. This might sound small, but it's incredibly powerful. Here's why:

• Time Investment: A smaller network frees up time and energy for deeper connections.
• Meaningful Relationships: Focus on quality over quantity. Invest in cultivating authentic relationships with those who truly matter.
• Be Yourself: With a smaller network, you can be your true, authentic self.

The Magic Four

So, who should be in your inner circle? Here are the four key players:

• The Teacher: This person stretches your thinking and helps you build your competitive edge.
• The Promoter: Your biggest cheerleader, pushing you towards your goals and believing in you more than you believe in yourself.
• The Pit Crew: Your unwavering support system, keeping you grounded and present.
• The Butt Kicker: Holds you accountable and keeps you focused on achieving your goals.

Building Genuine Connections

Here are my top 3 tips for building a quality network:

• The “Thank You For” Approach: When reaching out to someone after an event, use the "thank you for" approach. Highlight something specific you appreciated about their work.
• Be the Little Fish: Step outside your comfort zone! Seek out opportunities where you're the "small fish" again, surrounded by people who can push you to grow.
• Conscious Connections: Audit your network and see where the gaps are. Start connecting with people you want to be part of your life's next chapter.

Remember, quality over quantity! A strong inner circle is the key to building a powerful network that fuels your business growth.

---

Submit your Question: Spotify - click the button below. All other platforms - send me a DM on Instagram or email: support@janinegarner.com.au

---

Connect with Janine:

Elevate with Janine

The Focus Finder Assessment

Website | Instagram |

As a leader, how many times have you found yourself overwhelmed, spinning in circles and unsure of the right direction to take?

In a world that pushes us to succeed, get ahead and do more, it can become impossible at times to see the forest for the trees. We become so engrossed with the details of the individual tasks at hand or the problems we’re trying to solve that we lose sight of the overall purpose of the venture.

It’s in these moments we need to step back and assess what aspects we might be overlooking in order to gain clarity on the bigger picture. Today, I’m sharing with you four key questions you can ask yourself to elevate your leadership and gain critical insights on the overall health of your business:

1. What am I not paying attention to right now?

2. What could really be going on here?

3. What are the people around me really worrying about?

4. What are people not saying that needs to be said?

We’ll explore each of these questions and the powerful impact they can have on your perspective in business.

I encourage you to give it a go this week - ask yourself these crucial questions so that you can better understand yourself, your business and those you work with. And remember, embracing moments of stillness and introspection can foster clarity, innovation and a stronger connection with your business vision.

Mentioned in this episode:

Take our 5-minute Focus Finder Assessment

Focus Finder Assessment