Is Attention the Number One Currency?

Possibly. Attention is a trait that every human being has. It is very important to us, but if it is leveraged incorrectly, it could be a disaster. Law of attraction is no different.

Companies these days mistake attention with the intention (to buy). They think that just because advertisements have a large number of impressions, it makes the product a popular seller.

I believe that attention is very important, and grabbing the attention of others at the right time is crucial.

Just like every other successful thing in life.

Where does it come from?

Attention is everywhere. If you’d ask me to think of what it could be, here’s my brain dump.

• Your favorite coffee shop humming to your favorite song
• Staring at a really cool meme while browsing the web
• The latest obnoxious thing you see while you’re on the road
• A random conversation with someone across the table
• Possibly an advertisement that looks appealing to you?

There are lots of ways it can come to you. If done right, it can become your number one currency.

What do you mean by “Done Right”?

Let’s just say, for example, you create content through video. Without providing any value for the viewer, the viewer’s attention dies quickly, and then the viewer moves on without giving you any value.

The kinds of value can come in many forms. On top of my head, I could think of value as:

• Products that accomplish a task
• Information crucial to self-development

Don’t mistake gossip for value, since gossip has no value whatsoever. Attention without value is not attention. It’s spam.

Why do we hate advertisements so much?

Remember those pop-ups and undefined amounts of pitching on television? Also, how people are selling (not sharing) on social media?

The reason why we hate advertisements so much is because many advertisements aren’t giving enough value. All they care is about selling, selling and selling.

Not that selling is wrong, but a product is useless unless it solves a specific problem, or gives its true value.

My ending thoughts

I personally feel that attention is a valuable asset. If you value it very much, then it should be treated as “value”. It also must be carefully leveraged, likewise, quality over quantity.

If the purpose of advertisements were to grab attention and convert them into paid leads, it is no different from sponsored spam.