(The speech I gave lastnite was very well-recieved, with a number of people asking that I make the transcript available… Well here it is! I have included two useful sources of reference at the end)
This speech is about: ATTENTION
Attention is simple to describe:We focus on something, to the exclusion of other things for a point in time. To varying degrees, you’re paying Attention to this speech – I am the object of your attention. Simple.
Now, remember the definition of Attention: focussing on something to the exclusion of other things for that moment…. you are paying attention to this speech, to the exclusion of, for example talking to the person next to you. BUT – not everyone here is giving me the same amount of Attention. The Finemaster may be paying closer attention than most because
a)she’s my sister, and
b)she’s waiting for me to say something wrong so she can fine me!
But although most of you are looking at me, some of your Attention is elsewhere too. Perhaps you’re thinking of what’s coming next instead of what’s being said now.
Pure Attention requires a reduction in irrelevant stimulus…. So as an experiment we are going to do a little Attention building exercise:
Right now, if you are slouching at all, I want you to sit up straight.
For the next 30 seconds… in silence… pay acute attention to the ambient noises around that you weren’t aware of… starting… now.
(Wait 20 seconds)
BOO! [Wake up call!]
Got your Attention again! And a bit more of it too! And the whole point of this speech is to highly how very important that little gain in Attention is – especially to Toastmasters.
Has anyone here heard of the Attention Economy? [only one person had]
I’ll explain…
With the booming media, Internet and advertising industries, many people thought that we were entering an Information Economy.
They were wrong… See, Economics puts value on what is scarce. Information is certainly NOT scarce… but as the amount of information increases, one resource is becoming increasingly scarce… Attention.
We have unlimited information, but limited Attention. We have Advertisers using shock tactics, humour, sex and anything else they can throw at us to get us to pay Attention to them.
And, increasingly, it is becoming more expensive to attract and hold our Attention.
Hence the term “Attention Economy�.
With Attention comes Power. With the Attention that you’re giving, or should I say… paying me… I have a certain amount of power. I can make you sit in silence – as I did just now… or I can make you imagine something absurd – like asking you to imagine, now, a Purple Panda Bear. Even if you try NOT to imagine a Purple Panda Bear, chances are it’s too late, I’ve abused the power you gave me and made you think of something that you had no intention of thinking when you came to Toastmasters tonight… a purple Panda!
Now that I have briefly illustrated the meaning of “Attention�; and why it’s so important. I will finish up with how you can use that knowledge.
Just knowing that it has **real economic value** is sure to make you spend your Attention more conscientiously.
But I’ll “leave you with one “trickâ€? to use it better: Remember that not all Attention is equal. The more you concentrate on something, to the exclusion of other things, the more exactly you understand it.. and the more valuable it will be.
“Genius is the art of reducing the complicated to the simple�.
So reduce clutter, mental and physical. If you’re the one paying attention – you’ll learn more. If you’re the one earning Attention… you’ll be more clearly understood.
Fellow Toastmasters, we are excellent Attention givers and getters.
When you applaud this speech… applaud yourselves too if you’ve learnt something…because you’ve just made a wise investment.
Thank you.
[Resources: The Attention Economy (a very popular report); Attention (Wikipedia Definition)
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