SQUIRREL! 5 ways to manage distractions in your creative small business
- Lorna Thomas
- Jul 11, 2024
- 3 min read
Who hasn’t been distracted by a shiny new thing?
My dog loves chasing them. (I only let her because I know she can’t catch them!)
And you probably encounter a lot of them in business.
I was introduced to the concept of squirrels representing shiny new ideas and distractions by one of my early clients. With great self-awareness, she would shout “Squirrel!” to herself whenever she felt compelled to chase another “great idea” that she knew, in all likelihood, wouldn’t work out.
The allure of shiny new ideas
What shiny things distract you from your real priorities?
There’s a sliding scale...
For instance, I prefer starting a new business book filled with promising ideas over finishing an old one. That’s OK. But I also prefer writing new content for my newsletter, LinkedIn posts, website, or new workshops instead of making sales calls. Yes, marketing and product development are important, but avoiding sales can cost my business money.
Working with creative small business owners means I often see shiny new ideas and distractions doing their sparkling thing...
One of my clients struggles to finish anything she starts. When you run a business by yourself, that’s a big problem. Another client sees her actions through but quickly gets bored of the concept. And another has many business ideas and tries to progress several of them at the same time.
The neurodivergent perspective on "squirrels"
“Squirrels” are even more pronounced for those who have ADD/ADHD. I have a client for whom “squirrels” show up constantly, tempting and distracting, destroying focus, efficacy, and productivity. It’s possible to spend all day at “work” and have nothing useful to show for it.
While exciting enough to draw our attention, “squirrels” can cause great frustration and, at their worst, ruin a business due to lack of focus, poor decision-making, and an inconsistent approach.
5 ways to manage distractions in your creative small business
So how do you manage these "squirrels" and stay on track? Here are a few tips that can help:
1. Set clear goals:
Define your priorities and break them into manageable tasks. This helps you stay focused on what’s important. Ask yourself, “Is this “squirrel” a genuine priority or just fun?”
2. Time blocking:
Allocate specific time slots for different tasks, including time for creative exploration and time for essential but less exciting tasks.
3. Limit distractions:
Identify your biggest distractions and find ways to minimise them. This could mean setting boundaries for when you check emails or social media – and sticking to them!
4. Accountability partner:
Share your goals with someone who you respect who can help keep you accountable. Regular check-ins can help you stay on track.
5. Reward yourself:
This is the one thing business owners do consistently badly. Find appealing ways to reward your efforts and to compensate you for deciding not to chase a “squirrel”. They need to be good!
Balance excitement and focus in your business
You need to get excited about your business. It’s incredibly important to have fun while you’re at it too. But you don’t need to chase every squirrel. It’s easy to justify why you’re doing it in the moment, but when you come out the other side, what impact has it made on growing your business?
Try out these 5 ways to manage distractions in your creative small business: they really work. And make sure you’re always asking yourself of whatever you are doing, “Will this sell more X [whatever you’re selling]?"
As a business coach and mentor for creative small business owners, many of whom are neurodivergent, I understand the challenges of staying focused amidst a flurry of distractions.
If you’d like more personalised strategies to cope with your squirrels, I’m offering a free 30-minute strategy call – no sales pitch, just 30 minutes purely about you and your business.
My goal is to help you harness your creativity, stay on track, and build a successful business without getting side-tracked by every shiny new idea that comes your way.
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