Can you remember to back when it was exciting to find a penny? A five year old will stop dead in her tracks to pick one up, even if it’s not shiny and new. And if it’s heads up, well, that’s all the better—a penny richer AND good luck!find a penny

Would you stop for a penny these days? What about a quarter? If you were in a hurry to something really important, how much would it need to be to stop you in your tracks? For me, paper money, the larger the bill, the better! When I was running the marathon, only a genuine $100 bill would have enticed me to pause and pick it up.

I’m bringing this up because most of us find “pennies” on a regular basis. Some entrepreneurs and I were just talking about them last week; we called them “bright shiny objects.” They are the ideas, projects and opportunities that land in our path, begging us to jump in and participate.

The problem with these “pennies” is that they are more of a diversion than a benefit. If you are working on a BIG GOAL, ask yourself if this “bright shiny object” is going to move you closer to your goal. If not, then it’s ok to leave it lying there. If you are trying to get the big rocks in your jar, then don’t be fooled by pebbles and sand disguised as shiny objects.

My latest “penny” was an offer to have a coffee-table book published about my art. I almost “picked it up,” but then thought about how that worked in with the rest of my goals. Will that book help me get a series of painting classes delivered on-line? Would the benefit of the book outweigh the diversion of valuable time? Not enough to justify the time it will take away from my real focus. I put it aside to revisit later this year.

Have you turned down a “shiny penny” lately? We hope you’ll proudly TELL US about it!