The Shiny New Things Syndrome

This past week has been a mix of productivity and distraction. While I’ve made solid progress polishing features and refining the design and UX for Sunnycloud, I’ve also found myself sidetracked by a shiny new thing: AI. It’s fascinating and full of potential, but it’s also a reminder of one of the biggest challenges founders face - staying focused and crossing the finish line.

Polishing the product

I’m not a designer, and it shows. But I have a clear vision of how I want the product to work, even if I’m not always sure how to make it look amazing. This past week, I’ve focused on taking the wireframe-like design I started with and making it look more polished and user-friendly.

I also spent time finishing a couple of half-built features and refining others. It’s exciting to see the product come together and inch closer to a public release!

There are still 2-3 vital features to complete and a few smaller tweaks, but we’re not far off now. It’s all about getting these final pieces right so that when Sunnycloud goes live, it delivers a smooth and intuitive experience.

Distracted by Shiny New Things

You have your roadmap. You have your to-do lists. And then, boom - some amazing video on YouTube, a post on LinkedIn, or an article pops up and flips everything upside down.

Lately, that’s been AI for me. I’ve been fascinated by it for a while (like the rest of the world), but I hadn’t really had the time to dig into it until recently. And honestly? It’s incredible what’s possible! I’m not afraid to admit it - I’m an AI fanboy.

Here’s how my brain works: for years, I’ve known that what was once called Machine Learning, and now often referred to as AI (especially Generative AI), had massive potential. But to really dive in, I needed to “see” the application or use case for it. It took some time, but now that I’ve gotten into the current state of AI, my brain has gone into overdrive. Ideas on how to implement generative AI in the CRM are overflowing, along with thoughts on how it could become a core component of other great products.

I need to harness this newfound passion and stay focused so I can launch the CRM soon - then I can get back to dreaming about AI features.

One thing’s for sure, though: there will definitely be some AI features in the CRM down the line. I won’t promise when or what just yet, but trust me, it’s coming. And when it does, it’s going to be awesome. (Hint: something really cool is coming quite soon)

Conclusion: Refocusing on the Finish Line

It’s easy to get sidetracked by exciting new tech, but at the end of the day, the goal is to get the product into users’ hands. I’m refocusing on crossing the finish line and ensuring the CRM platform delivers the core experience it needs to.

I’m curious… how do you handle “shiny new thing” syndrome when you’re working on something big? Let me know!