How Shiny Object Syndrome Sabotages Business Success

Our edge as entrepreneurs comes from spotting trends and launching fresh ideas. The problem? Most of us have a graveyard of half-baked projects, forgotten launches, half-written newsletters, and more orphaned tech tools than we care to admit. Let’s face it: innovation is our ADHD advantage, but execution moves the needle.

Shiny Object Syndrome is not a quirky personality trait; our ADHD brains are hardwired for novelty, so creating consistency takes self-awareness and strategy. Lucky for you, this episode is full of candid stories, neuroscience-backed insights, and actionable advice on how to do just that.

Loan me your ear holes for the next 25 minutes for:

🧠The Neuroscience-Based Truth

Why your ADHD brain is forever thirsty for dopamine—and why trying to force yourself to focus just doesn’t work for us.

🏃‍➡️The Cost of Chasing Novelty

The sneaky ways shiny object syndrome drains your revenue and energy (and how to recognize it hiding in your business).

📋5 Practical Strategies

Including: dopamine scheduling and reframing the “messy middle” to creating shiny object parking lots and setting up accountability that actually works.

🎨How to Enlist (Not Resist) Your Curiosity

Specific ways to channel your creative bursts into profitable execution, instead of abandoned projects.

📇Systems That Make Space for New Ideas (Without Derailing Your Progress)

Learn how a “shiny object fund” can keep your creativity alive while protecting your core business

Fun Fact from the Episode:

ADHD expert William Dodson, MD, coined the expression “interest-based brain” to explain how we operate differently. Here is an article from ADDitude magazine that explains it ( including a one-minute YouTube video with a “House of Cards” style soundtrack).

🏆Ready to start creating more consistent business success—and work with your interest-based brain?

To make it extra easy to go from innovation to implementation, I created a free companion handout with all the go-to strategies mentioned in this episode. Grab your copy right here.

🎙️And be sure you're following/ are subscribed to ADHD-ish on your favorite podcast app, because next week, I’m chatting with Dr. Michael Freeman, a leading psychiatrist, entrepreneur, researcher, and consultant. Trust me, you’re not going to want to miss it.

© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.