That dopamine hit when you find a new app or course that promises to fix everything? Yeah… it's not your next big breakthrough—it's shiny object syndrome. If you've been bouncing from one "this will fix it" purchase to the next, this episode is your reality check and reset. I'm sharing five brutally honest questions to ask yourself before you buy that next tool, planner, or program—questions that keep your focus on what actually grows your business instead of what distracts you from it.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- The five questions that reveal whether a new tool is worth your time or just another distraction
- How to spot the difference between progress and avoidance
- Why your "future self" test is the best filter for new ideas
- How to stop planning and start doing without burning out
- The expensive lessons I learned the hard way (like my email platform disaster)
Key Topics Covered:
- Why the problem isn't the tools—it's you (00:01:00)
- My costly mistakes: ActiveCampaign, planners, and projects I abandoned (00:01:38)
- Question 1: Do I already have a solution available? (00:03:26)
- Question 2: Am I avoiding something? (00:04:22)
- Question 3: Would my future self or business be doing this? (00:06:34)
- Question 4: Will this actually save me time or money? (00:07:33)
- Question 5: Am I spending more time planning than doing? (00:08:35)
Reset & Reclaim Action Step:

Before you buy, pause. Ask yourself these five questions out loud—it'll take less than two minutes and could save you hundreds of dollars and hours of distraction. If even one answer feels off, don't buy it. Or at least bookmark it for later and move on to what actually matters right now.
Mentioned in this episode:
- My email platform disaster: switching from Kit to ActiveCampaign and back
- Tools mentioned: Trello vs Notion, project management systems, planners
- Chaos Detox: CaraChace.com/chaos-detox – build systems and boundaries that fit your life
- The Productivity Rebellion (free monthly guide): CaraChace.com/productivity-rebellion
Connect with Cara:
- Website: CaraChace.com
- Instagram: @carachace
- Email: [email protected]
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