Overcoming Shiny Object Syndrome: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reviewing Your Tech Stack Effectively

What is tech stack?

To me, a tech stack is a collection of technology tools and software solutions used to support the day-to-day operations of your business. This can include hardware like  your computers and phones, as well as software like email clients, accounting software, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, marketing automation tools and anything else you may need to run your business.  Your tech stack may also include website builders, social media platforms, and e-commerce solutions, depending on your business’ needs and goals.

Why is your tech stack important? 

For a small business owner, choosing the right tech stack is crucial for maximising your productivity, improving efficiency, and increase growth. It’s important to regularly review and update the tech stack to ensure it aligns with the changing needs and goals of your business. This may involve adding new tools and solutions, retiring outdated ones, or integrating existing systems to streamline workflows and enhance collaboration. A well-designed tech stack can help you stay competitive, adapt to new challenges and opportunities, and achieve long-term success.

So, what does my tech stack look like? 

As a small business owner, the technology tools and software solutions you use can make a big difference in your ability to grow and succeed. When I started my business in 2018, my tech stack was minimal, with a focus on low-cost tools that could help me manage my clients and projects. But as my business grew and my needs changed, I began to explore new tools and solutions that could help me work more efficiently and effectively.

Here’s a look at my tech stack in 2018:

👉🏻 Dubsado for all my client management and onboarding (not lying, it’s my OG and has been with me since the beginning and was free for up to 3 clients)

👉🏻 Trello (free)

👉🏻 Mailchimp (free)

👉🏻 Quickbooks (low cost but required)

👉🏻 Gmail (free) 

👉🏻 WordPress (DIY, cheap hosting plan)

These tools served me well at the time, but over time I began to realise that I needed more robust solutions to manage my growing business. Today, my tech stack looks very different:

💸 Dubsado (still here, I’m never going to leave it haha)

💸 Squarespace for my website and digital product sales

💸 Zapier to connect all the things and automate

💸 Loom for recording all my project overviews and video libraries for my clients

💸 Zoom for client meetings

💸 Google workspace for hosting my custom domain email and online file storage

💸 Flodesk for email marketing and my lead magnet delivery

🆓 Clickup for detailed list project management

🆓 Slack for communication with my team members (and other groups I’m in)

💸 Hnry for my accounting

As you can see, my current tech stack is much more robust, with a mix of paid and free tools that work together seamlessly to help me manage my business. While some of these tools come at a premium cost, I find that they save me time and allow me to focus on income-generating activities.

One of the key benefits of my current tech stack is that each tool serves a specific purpose and does its job well. And when it doesn’t seem like they can talk to each other natively, I have Zapier to help me. With this automation tool, I can connect all the different parts of my tech stack, allowing me to work more efficiently and effectively.

As a small business owner, it’s important to regularly review your tech stack and explore new tools and solutions that can help you grow and succeed. By staying up-to-date with the latest technology (while avoiding shiny-object syndrome) and tools, you can streamline your workflows, improve your productivity, and focus on what really matters – building your business.

What is shiny object syndrome?

Shiny Object Syndrome is my main toxic trait 😆 It’s the tendency to get distracted by new and exciting tools, without fully evaluating their benefits in your business. It’s a common problem particularly in today’s fast-paced landscape, where new software and trends seem to emerge every day. 

For me it looks like this: I’m chatting to a small business owner about a software I’ve never heard of before. As soon as we stop chatting, I immediatelysign up for a free trial, even though I’m already probably using a software that performs a similar function. Before long, I’ve found myself spending hours exploring the new tool, even though It’s really not productive to what I’m doing that day. 

I know I’m not alone in this, and when I talk to other business owners about it means losing focus and productivity (I call it productive procrastination). To avoid falling victim to Shiny Object Syndrome, it’s important to take a strategic and disciplined approach to evaluating new tools for your business. This means setting clear goals and objectives for your business, and evaluating potential tools in terms of how well they align with those goals. It also means being willing to say “no” to new tools that may be tempting, but ultimately distract you from your core business objectives. While it’s important to stay up-to-date with new trends and technologies, it’s equally important to be mindful of how you allocate your time. 

How to productively review your tech stack while avoiding shiny object syndrome

Reviewing your tech stack can be a productive exercise for small business owners, but it’s important to approach it in a strategic and disciplined way in order to avoid falling victim to Shiny Object Syndrome. Here are some tips on how to productively review your tech stack:

1. Identify your business goals and objectives: Before you begin reviewing your tech stack, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your business goals and objectives. This will help you evaluate potential tools and technologies in terms of how well they align with your overall strategy.
2. Evaluate your current tech stack: Take a close look at the tools and technologies you’re currently using and evaluate their effectiveness in meeting your business needs. Are there any tools that are redundant or no longer necessary? Are there any tools that are causing inefficiencies or bottlenecks? Are you spending money on premium subscriptions but not using the tool as much as it’s worth it?
3. Identify gaps and pain points: Consider areas of your business where your current tech stack may be falling short. Are there any tasks or processes that could be streamlined or automated? Are there any pain points that could be addressed with the right tool or technology?
4. Research potential solutions: Once you’ve identified gaps and pain points in your tech stack, research potential solutions that could address these issues. Be sure to evaluate each solution in terms of how well it aligns with your business goals and objectives. Does it have an ongoing cost? Does it combine features of multiple tools into 1?
5. Prioritise and test: Once you’ve found the tools you think will help, prioritise them based on their potential impact on your business. Be sure to test each solution thoroughly before fully committing to it. This will help you avoid investing time and resources into a tool that ultimately proves to be ineffective or unnecessary.
6. Stay disciplined: Finally, it’s important to stay disciplined and avoid getting distracted by new and exciting tools. Create some space in your business quarterly or bi-yearly to make reviewing your tech stack a priority.

So, what is my tech stack going to look like in the next phase of my business? 

The main guys are sticking around as these are what I consider the foundation to my business and I could not run it without them: 

✅ Dubsado

✅ Zapier

✅ Loom

✅ Zoom

✅ Google Workspace 

✅ Clickup 

The changes look like: 

Website: Moving from Squarespace to Showit (I’ve got an amazing template from Emma Troy that I can’t wait to put out into the world)

Checkout: Because I’m moving from Squarespace and Showit doesn’t have native checkout built in, I’ve signed up to use Thrivecart. I’ve used it many times over the years and it’s super simple to set up, is a one off payment rather than a subscription AND has a digital product/course platform included in the price which I’m going to need really soon.  I know it seems like I replaced 1 tool with 2, but when I was reviewing the benefits for me it was a no brainer.

Email Marketing: Moving from Flodesk to Mailerlite (at this stage, I’m still in the testing phase) mostly because of the monthly cost and the face that I do not send enough emails to justify it. It’s still super easy and fun to use, it’s just not something I’m a die hard fan of so I’m super open to change. I also really wanted something that natively integrated with Thrivecart without having 1000000 zapier zaps for each notification. 

So there you have it! I’d love to know what you think of the under-the-hood goings on in my biz and what your tech stack looks like! 

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.