The Generational Attention Gap

I speak to a lot of people every year. People think I can’t see them in the audience because of the lights, but I can.  In fact, I make it...

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Overtired. Overstressed. Overwhelmed. Stop the Over Trilogy.

I imagine you are a high achiever. You want more, you hustle, you want to be at the top, have the best team, achieve the pres- ident’s award, or get...

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The Great Multitasking Myth

In our modern world, the number of things that demand our attention has dramatically increased.

 

We are being pulled in so many different directions and being asked to produce better results faster and with fewer resources. Our solution has been to multitask or manic-task, as I call it. I’ve been guilty of this.

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We frantically switch between screens, paper, calls, and to-do lists in an attempt to get it all done.
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For years, we’ve been told that multitasking was the way to be more efficient and productive. Too bad it’s not true. The reality is we are multitasking more yet achieving less. We are busy, but not productive. We still feel like we can’t get it all done. Don’t you feel that? And it’s stressful, right?

 

One Big Lie.

The idea that multitasking will help us get more done is a myth. As a result of numerous studies and neuroscience research, we now know that the brain is incapable of performing multiple tasks simultaneously (yes, including talking and texting). Rather than multitasking, the brain is rapidly shifting from one task to another. And each time the brain switches tasks, it has to go through a start-stop-start process. Some estimates suggest that productivity goes down by as much as 40% to 50% when we task switch. Other studies have found that because this task switching increases the cognitive load on our brains, it also increases the chances of making mistakes and missing important information and cues, as well as hinders problem solving and creativity.

 

In his book Free, Chris Anderson, founder of TED Talks and editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, asked the reader, “Does multitasking just slice the same attention more finely?” The answer is yes.

 

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We are splitting our attention in many different directions, giving a piece of our attention here, a piece there, and another piece over there. As a result, nothing is getting our true attention and everything is getting short-changed.
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We need to replace our manic-tasking with single-tasking or sane-tasking, as I call it—staying sane while focusing our attention on the important conversation, proposal, or project at hand until it is completed.

 

Which do you do more of—manic-tasking or sane-tasking?

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Our Attention-Deficit Society

Have you ever heard someone say, “I have ADD today”?

 

ADD (attention-deficit disorder) has become a catchphrase for laziness, often used as an excuse for procrastination, lack of productivity, being easily distracted, not paying attention, and not completing tasks. People seem to wear it like a badge of honor, which is odd if you think about it.

 

ADD and ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) are true disorders that require medical treatment. They are physiological, biochemical disorders that make it hard for a person to stay focused and pay attention, thus limiting their ability to perform to their full potential.

 

Attention-Deficit Society

When I say that we have become an attention-deficit society, I don’t say it lightly. One of my family members was diagnosed with ADD in 1992, and I have seen the impacts of this firsthand. But I use this phrase intentionally to drive the point home that there is an epidemic of inattention in our world—a widespread, serious condition that has real consequences. Consider the following:

• Nine people die every day and 1,153 people are injured because of distracted driving. These are not just nameless, faceless These are partners, mothers, fathers, children, siblings, and friends. Possibly yours.
• Distraction results in an increased death count of pedestrians in Minneapolis, Minnesota. People are so consumed by their cell phones, they miss the fact the train is coming when they cross the tracks.
• The Information Overload Group says businesses lose $588 billion every year from interrupted employees.
• In a study of 2,000 respondents, Think Money found a total of 759 hours (that’s 31 days!) in lost time every year due to
• Since the year 1900, about 477 different species have become extinct because of our inattention to our environment and the destruction of natural
• The Global Nonrenewable Natural Resource Scarcity Assessment found that 23 of the 26 (88%) nonrenewable natural resources it analyzed will likely experience permanent global supply shortfalls by the year

Our inattention has real, often lasting, and sometimes devastating consequences. We allow other people, devices, and circumstances to control our attention.

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We think we are paying attention, but we aren’t.
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It’s a Choice.

Those with true ADD don’t have a choice in how well they pay attention. The rest of us do. We don’t have ADD rather IBC—inattention by choice. We have control of our brains, our thought processes, and our habits. Stop thinking that you have no power over your inattention and lack of productivity. Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

So, how did we get here? How did we become an attention-deficit society?

 

It’s not because we’re not smart or because we don’t care, but because so many other things are competing for our attention, both online and offline. The causes of the attention-deficit society are both internal and external forces. Our fast-paced, device-dependent, the hyperconnected world is speeding up, not slowing down. We have so many distractions and decisions, we can’t focus in the moment for a minute.

 

If you are ready for you and your organization to begin paying attention to what matters most, book Neen James for your next conference and team event. Stop being crazy busy and start driving profitability, productivity, and accountability.

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Attention Matrix - Neen James

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Attention Matrix - Neen James

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Attention Pays on April 25th in Columbus

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Attention Pays on April 25th in Columbus

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Yoga for the Mind

Why is it that despite the face we’ve been told from childhood to pay attention, we still haven’t figured it out? It’s not that we aren’t smart. It’s that so many other things are constantly competing for our attention, and all the competition leads to endless distractions and interruptions.

 

We must commit to change our focus, our habits, and our brain in order to pay attention to what matters and make your attention pay.

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We need to be intentional, mindful, with who gets our attention and we must be productive in what gets our attention too.
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In order to change our brain’s way of thinking about attention, we need to stop some of our behaviors. It may feel uncomfortable – like yoga for the mind – to stretch our minds to embrace something unfamiliar and different than what we’ve become accustomed. Like building muscle, it takes practice, routine, and habit. Like yoga for your mind, intentional attention is the deliberate act, daily practice, and commitment to following through with the stretches that make us grow. It’s so worth it.

 

Are you ready to come to the mat every day, ready to work with the body and mind we have, to get the strength we need to do great things?

 

Let’s truly pay attention to what matters so we can be happier in our relationships, more fulfilled in the work we do, and safe inter the world we have created. This way we can create meaning, create success, and create a legacy.

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Our Society’s New Currency

Intentional attention is our societies new currency. When we invest it wisely, it pays meaningful, long-term dividends. By intentionally and deliberately paying attention to who and what matters, we get the results we want. It might be difficult, but the return on investment in your work, home life and community will be huge.

 

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One of the biggest returns on intentional attention is creating defining moments in life, not just for you, but for others.
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Now is the time to create a life filled with significant moments you will remember, share, and celebrate and that those moments will include the people you love at home and the people you care for at work. It’s time to be proud of your successes and create an experience in the world you will never forget.

 

Creating significant moments is just the start. Intentional attention pays in so many other ways.

 

Personally: 

• Deepen relationships
• Achieve work-life integration
• Find greater purpose and meaning
• Create more meaningful memories
• Increase wealth

Professionally: 

• Create a laser focus
• Boost productivity
• Accelerate results
• Increase profitability
• Enhance accountability
• Grow client-based sales
• Improve customer satisfaction and loyalty
• Enrich team dynamic and improve morale
• Attract and retain top talent
• Get promoted
• Heighten employee engagement

 

Globally: 

• Spread respect and kindness for others
• Protect vital resources
• Honor our environment
• Leave a lasting legacy

 

We all have responsibilities at work, home, and in our community to pay attention. How well does your attention pay?

 

Are you willing to make the investment of your attention to the things that matter most to you? Join the Attention Revolution and commit to being strategic and intentional with what you say yes to. Sign up for my newsletter below and receive tips and inspiration on how to let go of what doesn’t matter, so you can be intentional with what does.

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At What Price Do We Forfeit Attention?

The cost of our inattention is real and the consequences are enormous. It’s not just our financial costs that get impacted, but the tangible costs to our personal, professional, and societal costs to our individual and collective lack of attention.

 

At a personal level, our health, our relationships, and our opportunities for career advancement suffer significantly when we don’t give thoughtful attention to ourselves and the people we care about most. Professional, lack of attention has a dramatic negative impact on our day-to-day productivity, employee engagement, sales, and bottom line results. Globally, our carelessness has led to irreparable hard to our natural resources, plant and animal species, and the planet itself.

 

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The price we are paying for our inattention is far too great.
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We get one life to lead. Is this how we want to choose to spend it? Always overwhelmed, overtired, and stressed? Or, would we rather feel productive at the day’s end, feeling accomplished and joyful knowing what we’ve contributed to our lives and the lives of others? When we pay attention, we get to utilize our talents and skills because we are committed to staying focused.

 

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Paying attention isn't giving intentional attention.
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You may think you are doing work that matters, but maybe you’re not. You may think you make people in your life feel like they matter, but do they really? It’s not that we don’t want to pay attention. We really are trying, but perhaps we fail to see where we could be doing better.

 

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Women’s History Month: What Woman Would You Like to Thank?

During Women’s History month we often celebrate the celebrities, authors, poets, and pioneers who have gone before us to create a path.

There are 10 women who have shaped the woman I am today – I’d love you to meet them.

My path has been shaped by this list below. I am who I am today because of these women who are part of my DNA.

Each of these women, while they may not realize it, have been influential to me and role models of greatness that history will one day talk about.

 

Mum – your strength as a single mum raising two little girls will always astound me. My love of Christmas, and celebrating life’s moments is because of how you role modeled this when we were little girls growing up. You were always, and still are the social butterfly always looking for ways to host others, make them feel special, help them feel seen…. I get that from you.

 

Aunty Carol – your love of life and laughter is contagious and I get mine from you. You always made us laugh, you find the funny, you role modeled travel and adventure to this little girl from a tiny town. You showed me how big the world really was and that I could be or do anything I wanted in this life. My love of laughter comes from you. My sense of adventure comes from you.

 

Candy – your wit always makes me giggle and your deep connection to honesty and authenticity is inspiring to me. You will always be one of the greatest loves in my life and as I watched you grow from my baby sister into a successful mum and career woman I burst with pride. Kaftans and cocktails forever.

 

 

Megan – your ability to see right into my soul will forever astound me. Your sense of justice inspires me. You saw more than the outside. You helped shape my style, gave me confidence, and helped steer me when my ship felt like it was sinking. You always have the right thing to say at the right time for the right situation. You were right. My history was changed when you walked into my life in those stilettos all those years ago.

 

 

Tami – your service to others, your ability to perform, and bring joy and light into the world is a constant reminder to me (and others) of the influence you are in the world. Our histories will be intertwined forever and our journey is marked by so many lessons and celebrations. I am a better performer because of you.

 

JJ – as a successful businesswoman, devoted mum, constant cheerleader, and encourager… and the world’s best personal trainer I am inspired by your drive, your ability to see (and hold) my potential for me so that I can become stronger, more balanced and even more determined. I see not only physical, but mental and emotional changes because of what we achieve together. History will look back at your see all your hard work in the world and how it forever changed the hearts, minds, and bodies of people and the influence you have to help people unleash their best self.

 

Tamsen – your brain, your heart, and your beauty inspire people everywhere. I will always be grateful Scott connected us. My goals are achieved because of our accountability. My life is more focused because of you. You change history with the work you do.

 

Robyn – you were the first ‘motivational’ speaker I ever saw and you helped me see this as a career choice… and you helped me realize I could do that. Your constant encouragement, love, support, and friendship as I have authored books, grown my practice and strengthened my skills on the platform – you were a big part of my history.

 

Barbara – watching you navigate a male-dominated industry with grace and poise was inspiring to me. You took a chance on me early in my career and helped me see that anything is possible when you pay attention to the details and you deliver 150% more than everyone else. You were the biggest influence in my corporate career, I still hear you in my head even 20 years later.

 

Jen– couldn’t do life without you my friend. You role model spiritual commitment and faith more than anyone I know. You have been through my whole history and you are the keeper of my deepest secrets. Your love of dreams and beauty inspires me. Life is more glamorous and fun with you in it.

 

Who is a woman that has influenced your history? Tag them below and tell me why? Can’t wait to hear your stories.

 

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Always Busy, Not Productive.

Are you tired of constantly being busy, not productive?

 

Do you run from one meeting to the next, yet never feel like you achieve results?

 

 

Are your personal and professional lives suffering because you can’t devote quality time and attention to either?

 

For more than 15 years, I’ve worked with leaders and professionals in a multitude of industries and all list concerns within minutes of our first meeting. They all have something else in common, too – the desire to move past their overwhelmed, overstressed, and overtired existence and lead a more fulfilled, productive, and intentional life.

 

Do you want that, too?

 

I think most of us do. Yet that possibility seems forever out of reach in a world that constantly demands more from us. It’s frustrating when we feel like we work so hard to create enough time with those we care about. Many clients share with me that they don’t feel valued at work, and some share they feel the same at home. That makes my heart sad.

 

My clients also tell me they simply don’t have any enough time in the day to “get it all done.” Can you relate? If so, I will give you the same tough love I give my clients:

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You don't have a time management crisis; you have an attention management crisis.
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Attention Pays is a philosophy to become highly productive and achieve lasting work-life integration. (I don’t believe in the work-life balance myth!) It seems there is one fundamental characteristic that too many of today’s leaders are lacking: the ability to give their undivided attention to whom and what matters most at that moment.

 

I’m not talking heart-hearted, kinda listening, multitasking, doing something on your phone attention. I mean the deliberate, fully present, look-them-in-the-eye type of attention. This crisis is everywhere I look – in our homes, in our workplaces, in our communities. We think we’re paying attention but we’re not and as a result,  individuals, professionals, and communities, our genuine engagement has dramatically declined. Our attention is being wasted – stolen by technology, constant interruptions, and our own habits.

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We have become an attention deficit society.
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We now accept distracted as the norm. We are so focused on technology, our never-ending to-do list, and our lack of time. As a result, we fail to pay attention to the people, priorities, and passions that are truly important to us. And although we are more connected than at any time in history, we are more disconnected from ourselves, each other, from our work, and from our world than ever before.

 

You know what I’m talking about, therefore I know you see it, too. No one truly pays attention anymore.

 

Let’s commit to stop that. Join the Attention Revolution as we unveil strategies to change our behaviors and choices as they relate to our attention. Sign up for my newsletter and discover tips, ideas, and inspiration to stay focused and make better choices. Then finally, you can begin paying attention to what matters most in your life.

 

 

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My 2019 Word of the Year

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My 2019 Word of the Year

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The Costs of Inattention

Is attention really all that important?  Yeah, actually it is. The cost of our inattention is real and the consequences are enormous. And I don’t mean just financial costs. There are tangible personal, professional, and societal costs to our individual and collective lack of attention.

 

At a personal level, our health, our relationships, and our opportunities for career advancement suffer significantly when we don’t give thoughtful attention to ourselves and the people we care about most. Professionally, the lack of attention has a dramatic negative impact on our productivity, employee engagement, sales, and bottom0line results. Globally, our carelessness had led to irreparable harm to our natural resources, plan and animal specifies, and the planet itself.

 

The price we are paying for our inattention is far too great.

 

You get just one life to lead. How do you want to spend it? Overwhelmed, overstressed and overtired? Or joyful, productive and attentive? Are you squandering the amazing talents and skills you possess because you can’t stay focused at work? We have only one planet to care for. What kind of legacy and world are we leaving to our grandchildren?

 

You may think you are paying attention, but are you giving intentional attention? Maybe you think you are doing work that matters, but maybe you’re not. You may think you make people feel like they matter, but do they really? It’s not that we don’t want to pay attention. We are trying – so we think. We:

• Believe connecting with friends and family through social media creates authentic, meaningful connections.
• Think survival by multitasking is our only option.
• Try to be all things to all people.
• Feel we must be accessible to everyone all the time.
• Create mindfulness programs at work.
• Go to time-management training positions.
• Create never-ending-to-do-lists
• Try new fancy planners.
• Download the latest apps.
• Color code our calendars.
• Read anything we can about how to get it all done.

 

And yet, we still feel frustrated. We are missing something when it comes to truly understanding attention – Intention.

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The Benefits of Giving Intentional Attention via Duct Tape Marketing

I recently had the privilege of being a guest on Duct Tape Marketing podcast where we discussed the power and rewards of giving your intentional attention to tasks, goals, priorities, and people in life who matter most. I invite you to listen in and learn.

Cheers,
Neen

Click here to listen to Neen James on Duct Tape Marketing

 

Today’s guest on the podcast is author and keynote speaker Neen James. James is a leadership expert who teaches her audiences to harness their focus and attention to build relationships with their teams and customers. She is also the author of Attention Pays: How to Drive Profitability, Productivity, and Accountability.

On today’s episode, we talk about how being intentional in giving our attention can help us in both our personal and professional lives.

Questions I ask Neen James:

• What is the cost of lack of attention?
• How do you learn to listen with your eyes?
• Is your ability to give attention a part of your personal brand?

What you’ll learn if you give a listen:

• Why intentional attention is critical, both in life and business.
• Why it’s important to learn how to (nicely) say no.
• How giving attention can help you to get attention.

Key takeaways from the episode and more about Neen James:

• Learn more about Neen James
• Order your copy of Attention Pays
• Get the Distraction Questionnaire and other book extras
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Connect on LinkedIn

Like this show? Click on over and give us a review on iTunes, please!

This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Klaviyo. If you’re looking to grow your business there is only one way: by building real, quality customer relationships. That’s where Klaviyo comes in.

Klaviyo helps you build meaningful relationships by listening and understanding cues from your customers, allowing you to easily turn that information into valuable marketing messages.

What’s their secret? Tune into Klaviyo’s Beyond Black Friday docu-series to find out and unlock marketing strategies you can use to keep the momentum going year-round. Just head on over to klaviyo.com/beyondbf.

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Have We Become an Attention Deficit Society?

Do you often wonder if you suffer from attention deficit issues?

Are you tired of constantly being busy but not productive?

Do you run from one meeting to the next, yet never feel like you achieve results?

Do you feel overwhelmed, overstressed, and overtired?

Are your personal and professional lives suffering because you can’t devote quality and attention to either?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’re not alone.

 

For more than 15 years, I’ve worked with leaders and professionals in a multitude of industries. Almost every client I work with lists these same concerns within minutes of our first meeting. They all have something else in common, too – the desire to move past their overwhelmed, overstressed, and overtired existence and lead a more fulfilled, productive, and intentional life.

 

Do you want that too?

 

I think most of us do. Yet that possibility seems forever out of reach in a world that constantly demands more from us. It’s frustrating when we feel like we work so hard to create a lifestyle for the people we love, and yet we aren’t getting enough time with the people we care about.

 

Many clients share with me that they don’t feel valued at work and some share they feel the same at home. That makes my heart sad. I want to fix that, and this is the driving force behind my work. Clients tell me they simply don’t have enough time in the day to “get it all done.” Can you relate? If so, I will give you the same tough love I give my clients: You don’t have a time management crisis; you have an attention management crisis.

 

It seems we lack the ability to give our undivided attention to whom and what matters most at that moment. I’m not talking about half-hearted, kinda listening, multitasking doesn’t something on your phone attention. I mean the deliberate, fully present, look-them-in-the-eye type of attention.

 

I see this same attention crisis everywhere I look – in our homes, in our workplaces, in our communities. We think we are paying attention but we are not. As individuals, professionals, and communities, our genuine engagement has dramatically declined. Our attention is being wasted – stolen by technology, constant interruptions, and our own habits.

 

We have become an attention deficit society.

 

We now accept distractions as the norm. People are so focused on technology, our never-ending-to-do-list, and our lack of time, that we fail to pay attention to the people, priorities, and the passions that are truly important to us. We are more connected than at any time in history and yet more disconnected from ourselves, from each other, from our work, and from our world than ever before. You know what I’m talking about. I know you see it too. No one truly pays attention anymore.

 

It’s time to make a change. It’s time to pay attention to what matters most. If you’re ready to commit to giving your undivided attention to your professional and personal life in a way like never before, subscribe below to my newsletter and take the 5 Step Attention Challenge free for signing up. Then, take it yourself, share it with your family, or even challenge your team. By taking these steps, you will begin to commit to the Attention Revolution and begin making a change today.

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What's Your Word for 2019

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Why I Love My Peloton

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What's Your Word for 2019

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Why I Love My Peloton

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Texting While Driving? Now It’s Being Tracked.

Distractions not only cost us time and attention, they cost us lives. One company believes they have stumbled upon a solution to understanding why. Read this fabulous article, originally published in www.thehustle.co, and read more about the future of attentive-driving.

A company that tracks how distracted you are while driving raises $500m from SoftBank

 

Cambridge Mobile Telematics announced it sealed half a billion dollars from the SoftBank Vision Fund — the investment pool with a seemingly endless pot of ca$hola.

The infusion will help expand CMT’s  DriveWell platform that is already a favorite among insurers, wireless carriers, and others to track driving risk and ultimately help make the roads safer.

The core of ‘behavior-based insurance’

With innovations in mobile sensing, AI, and behavioral science, CMT has become the market leader in mobile telematics. They helped shoehorn the mobile usage-based insurance phenomenon.

Founded in 2010 by Bill Powers (a serial entrepreneur), Hari Balakrishnan, and Sam Madden (both computer science professors at MIT), CMT was the first service to effectively mine sensory data from phones for auto insurance.

The ultimate backseat driver

Insurance providers use this data to measure driving performance and incentivize driving quality. In turn, this has lowered operating costs by reducing crash rates.

Results from the field are pretty solid: The driving feedback, rewards, and contests delivered via the DriveWell platform reduce phone distraction by 35% on average, and at-risk speeding and hard braking by 20%.

Today, the company works in more than  20 countries with a global customer base of several million users.

It sees when you are texting, and it knows when you’re unsafe

According to a 2017 CMT  study,  an astounding 73% of drivers want auto rates to be based on how safely they drive. Among the other findings:

• 52% of crashes involve distracted driving
• 29% of phone distractions occurred at speeds exceeding 56mph
• The average duration of these distractions is 135 seconds

Bottom line: While a social-credit-esque driving platform may slightly spell ‘authoritarian boogie man,’ road fatalities have increased 14% since 2015. So… pick your poison.

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