Do you suffer from FOMO? (Fear of Missing Out) syndrome? It seems to be a big thing now that it has a name/acronym! But in reality, it has always been around and can be stressful and overwhelming.
No one, in our industry (or any industry) or in personal life wants to miss out on an opportunity or experience others are having.
I know several people who attend dozens of conferences a year. Many of these folks tell me they “need” to be there to make sure they are up on the trends and networking with the right folks. Some CSR managers feel they need to accept all the invitations they receive from their partners to attend golf tournaments, galas, and Christmas cocktail parties. They don’t have to be at them all, but they think they might miss out on something if they are not. Unfortunately, we tend to fixate on these situations.
Often, instead of prioritizing existing projects or responsibilities, (be they work or personal), we double up and take on too much because we don’t want to miss out on something. We end up overcommitting to things, experiences, or events that we really don’t have time for.
It’s all about the fact that you do not want others (especially a rival, the competition, or if you are trying to keep up with the Joneses) experiencing something important that you will miss. It is “social envy.” The result is ineffectiveness, stress, anxiety, and an overfull calendar.
When you have FOMO and change your calendar to make sure you don’t miss out, it disappoints others who you had to cancel a meeting with or confer with. It causes you to miss another opportunity. Again, unfortunately, you are now planning based on FOMO rather than prioritization of goals and objectives.
Overcoming FOMO isn’t easy. It means prioritizing based on strategy versus emotion. Keep your head down and stay focused. Don’t worry about what other people are doing. Worry about what you need to be doing!
Brent Barootes has spent almost 35 years in the sponsorship marketing industry, developing and delivering profitable sponsorship programs that result in returns on investment for non-profits, charities and other properties and rights holder as well as sponsors. As President and CEO of The Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists® he leads a dedicated team of professionals delivering measurable results for their clients.
