Goldfish 9, humans 8

I recently read that a goldfish has an attention span of 9 seconds.

?And, that a few years ago, Microsoft found that humans have an attention span of 8 seconds (oh, the irony - I still haven't forgiven them for their introduction 15+ years ago, by default, of the productivity destroying email ‘toaster’ - the thing that pops up bottom right in Outlook to say you not only have mail, but here's a snippet to distract you).

That goldfish can focus more than humans now is not surprising, with all the opportunities we give ourselves to be distracted (it's a choice).

?And this is not a new problem for managers wanting to boost their teams’ productivity, or marketers wishing to gain the valuable attention of customers.

?One of my favourite quotes from David Oligivy, the advertising genius from the 1950s the Mad Men series is rumoured to be based on, said:

“On average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.”

Small businesses needing to increase sales conversions can get a great return on investing time in studying how to become better copywriters (or hire a kick-ass one).

This is one area of my PD, Professional Development, I have increased in recent years.

For managers, fostering a culture of high performance with a low-distraction workplace or (work habits if the team is mostly remote), can squeeze out more valuable work from their team.

Do you and your managers discuss and continually work on reducing the distractions your team is tempted with each day?

One Tool or Professional Development Resource:

Being a productivity and efficiency nerd, I have studied many different methods, mindsets and tools to get more hours, and quality output, from my work week.

So, last year we launched the ‘Transform Your Performance’ free two week online course.

It’s 30 minutes a weekday - reading the lesson I wrote for that day, then doing a handful of things to help you and your team be more productive and less stressed at work.

During the two weeks, we recommend you listen to the best book on productivity I have found, it’s one of my favourites.

Blog posts live this week

• The small business growth seesaw - people and marketing.?

Podcasts live this week

• Episode 485: Revolutionizing Auto Industry: Founder of Cooper Automotive, Unveils Proven Strategies! Expertise in Data-Driven Growth Led to over $10 million Revenue, 10 Stores, and Remarkable Achievements. Dive into Success Stories Now. (Mark Cooper)
• Episode 486: From Zero to 7 figures: Migration Unity's Unveiled Growth Secrets. Discover Proven Tactics that Transformed a Small Business into a Revenue Powerhouse. A Guide to Scaling Success – Unlock the Keys to a 10x Boost in Your Business. (Scott Brennan)
• Episode 487: QFF: Driving Success: Seasoned Business Leader with a Rich Portfolio Across Industries, Unveils Proven Strategies for Small Businesses to Excel. Learn from a Visionary CEO, Propelling Companies to New Heights at McGregor and Associates (Barbara McGregor)

Podcasts Throwback

Founded a Language Institute in Boston at 28, later incorporated into an International Education firm with 20% annual revenue growth.

Adapted to the pandemic by transitioning to online coaching, empowering individuals to maximize their potential.

Demonstrated agility and innovation in navigating business challenges while maintaining a focus on personal and professional development.

Listen to episode 108 I did with Edward in May 2021.

Regards,

Troy Trewin | Founder

P.S. If you’re not sure how to work through your #1 growth challenge at the moment (people, marketing, strategy, systems or funding), book a Growth Chat with me. In 20 minutes, I will recommend some resources to help.