Got Your Attention? Book Summary - Got Your Attention? Book explained in key points
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Got Your Attention? summary

How to Create Intrigue and Connect with Anyone

4.1 (79 ratings)
18 mins

Brief summary

Got Your Attention? by Sam Horn is a guide on how to capture and maintain people's attention in the fast-paced world we live in. It provides practical advice on how to stand out in crowded markets and communicate effectively with others.

Table of Contents

    Got Your Attention?
    Summary of 8 key ideas

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    Key idea 1 of 8

    To keep your audience hanging on every word, pique their curiosity and fuel their imagination.

    People today are impatient. As soon as you open your mouth, people in the audience have already made up their mind: about what kind of person you are and what you can do for them.

    If you don’t give them something exciting to latch onto, they’ll tune out immediately, and start paying attention to the next act.

    So how can you avoid this fate?

    You need to pique your audience’s curiosity about your knowledge and what you have to offer.

    Here is where Did You Know? questions play a key role. Offer your audience three important bits of information that they don’t know, but are eager to know.

    It’s easy to do: just craft three, one-sentence Did You Know? questions to start your conversation. These questions might be about the problem you’ve set out to solve, the importance of your work, a dramatic shift in the field, or the unmet needs in the market that you’re filling.

    Let’s say you’re talking about a book that addresses landing a job in today’s tough market. Your three questions might look like this:

    Did you know that...80 percent of the 3.6 million jobs available in 2012 were never advertized?

    Did you know that...on average, only 20 percent of job applicants actually get an interview?

    Did you know that...in 2013, 53.6 percent of college graduates in the United States under 25 were jobless or underemployed?

    Granted, making people curious is half the battle. Now you need to fuel their imagination to maintain their curiosity about your subject, and that means pitching a solution.

    Let’s stay with the book example. Your solution for your talk might sound something like this:

    Imagine that...once you read this book, you’ll stand a chance of finding 40 percent more openings for your dream job or boosting your chances of getting an interview by 30 percent!

    This technique works, as when you phrase potential outcomes like this, you’re helping your audience actively think about what you’re saying.

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    Key ideas in Got Your Attention?

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    What is Got Your Attention? about?

    Got Your Attention? (2015) is the ultimate guide to grabbing and holding the focus of distracted people in today’s fast-paced world. You’ll learn how to overcome the impatience and chronic distraction of your audience to make yourself a compelling, engaging speaker.

    Got Your Attention? Review

    Got Your Attention? by Sam Horn (2015) is a thought-provoking book that explores the art of communicating and capturing attention in today's fast-paced world. Here are three reasons why this book is worth reading:

    • With its practical techniques and strategies, it helps readers master the skill of grabbing and maintaining attention in any situation.
    • The book offers real-life examples and case studies that demonstrate how to make a memorable impression, making it invaluable for anyone looking to stand out.
    • Through its engaging stories and insights, the book keeps readers hooked from start to finish, ensuring the learning process is never dull.

    Best quote from Got Your Attention?

    If what youre sharing doesnt have real-world relevance for them, why should they pay attention? Its simply not a high-enough priority.

    —Sam Horn
    example alt text

    Who should read Got Your Attention??

    • Anyone who wants to get the attention of distracted minds
    • Job seekers looking for advice on how to stand out
    • People who want to create meaningful connections

    About the Author

    Sam Horn, also known as the “Intrigue Expert,” is a messaging and branding strategist with 20 years of experience working with clients like Intel, NASA and Boeing. She has also helped thousands of entrepreneurs and executives produce books, keynote speeches and TEDx talks.

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    Book summaries like Got Your Attention?

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    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

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    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

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    Got Your Attention? FAQs 

    What is the main message of Got Your Attention??

    The main message of Got Your Attention? is how to grab and hold people's attention in a distractible world.

    How long does it take to read Got Your Attention??

    The reading time for Got Your Attention? varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Got Your Attention? a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Got Your Attention? is worth reading as it provides practical techniques to capture and captivate audiences.

    Who is the author of Got Your Attention??

    The author of Got Your Attention? is Sam Horn.

    What to read after Got Your Attention??

    If you're wondering what to read next after Got Your Attention?, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • POP! by Sam Horn
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    • How to Become a People Magnet by Marc Reklau
    • Good Energy by Casey Means
    • When Genius Failed by Roger Lowenstein
    • The Little Book of Stoicism by Jonas Salzgeber
    • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
    • Be Obsessed or Be Average by Grant Cardone
    • $100M Leads by Alex Hormozi
    • Read People Like a Book by Patrick King