Attention!: The power of simple decisions in a distracted world

by Rob Hatch

***BUSINESS BOOK AWARDS 2021 SHORTLISTED TITLE*** Attention! is a practical guide for reclaiming the power of our time and attention. In a world of endless distraction, we have given away two of our most valuable time and attention. Technology has given us the incredible gift of access to an ever-increasing amount of information and has opened the door to a vast array of choices and opportunities. However, having more options doesn’t correlate to an increase in our success. Research shows that having more to choose from causes anxiety and decreases our likelihood of taking action. We have become paralyzed and polarized, reacting instead of acting and ceding control of our decisions to a continuous onslaught of information, marketing, and interruption. We live in an age where we struggle to decide which information is real or fake. We find it challenging to make even the most straightforward decisions for our happiness and success in our lives and business. This book will help you reframe your relationship with the demands on your time, overcome decision fatigue, and understand the value of creating space. Rob Hatch sets out a powerful framework and flexible approach that gives you the space to focus your attention on what is important, the power to make decisions aligned with your goals, and the ability to take action with confidence. 'Rob Hatch has created something new in a crowded a flexible method that reframes how we can do our best work better. Because he built these frameworks for himself and his own struggles, they're simple and practical. Because he's been teaching them to hundreds of people, you know they work. I use these methods myself and with my team. It gives us the flexibility to be freely creative in our creative work and solidly productive in our structured work.' - Becky McCray

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 6, 2020

Reviews

[Richard Tubb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Put success in your way!

I've followed author Rob Hatch work online for many years, so was thrilled to read his first book.

Rob's writing style is conversational, easy to follow but impactful.

This book is a series of practical techniques you can use to, in Rob's words, put success in your way.

If you've ever got frustrated by not reaching a goal you've set for yourself, or made good progress towards a goal but fell off course, then this book will be helpful to you.

I'd suggest this book is essential reading for any business owner, entrepreneur or, indeed, anyone who wants to reduce the distractions in their life and achieve more valuable goals.

[Jay French · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of these productivity books that focus on attention over the past few years. Distraction and attention have been common book topics, driven by what seems to be plentiful research and a plethora of coaches providing solutions giving people more control over their own time. This is a book by an author who is also a coach. In effect, it is a book length advertisement for the coach’s services. I often review similar book-vertisements, and I gauge them by seeing if they provide value without resorting to spending money with the coach. I think this one does a good job of describing methods to increase your focus on getting results that you are trying to attain while ignoring time-wasters. But if you’ve read this kind of book before, you will likely find, like I did, that there’s nothing really new here. The author does have an interesting way to describe the problem (inability to focus when faced with making many little decisions), which draws out his recommended solution (re-engineer your processes to eliminate those distractions), so I found this one of the better of the distraction books that I’ve read. Good on the general concepts, not so deep when it comes to the nitty gritty. Nicely done, although nothing ground-breaking.

[Becky McCray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boiled down, this is a book about how we can do our best work better today. To overcome the distractions of life and technology, the author says, we have to stop mindlessly reacting. We need to decide in advance. The basic ideas are recognizable, but they come together in a new more practical method.
At a time of crisis and disturbance, we need this kind of solid foundation.
Because I've followed Rob Hatch's newsletter for years, I've read many of these ideas before. In this longer format, he has room to string them together more meaningfully. I use these techniques every day, almost as unconscious habits. It's to the point that I'm surprised when I see people not using them. "Don't you know how to Put Success in Your Way?" "Didn't you read about Small Big Small?"
Once you start using them, you'll want to teach them to friends and co-workers, too. I do. That's how much they help you do your best work better.
I received a proof copy of this book from the author.

[K Saju · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rob Hatch has documented his learnings which he has also used with success in his personal as well as in his coaching sessions with his clients. The premise of the book is providing us with a system,a framework which we can adapt and setup for our use, as he has aptly put: "Eliminate Distractions and Put Success in Your Way."
Quite a few of his ideas has already been posted and advocated by others but what I found engrossing was in how he has applied those principles to himself in his journey to his definition of success. There are a lot of takeaways from the books and though none are such that it will immediately take effect, but day by day you can feel those improvements bearing fruit. I especially was interested in his review of the "Tomorrow Guy" and "Last Night Guy" and have applied it in my life.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book, definitely recommended read in this information overload age.

[Zahida Zahoor · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book consisting of one-sentence paragraphs; catering for people who lack the ability to read more than a few pages without grabbing their phones, but unfortunately you still grab your phone as the book is repetitive.

However, I enjoyed reading about having compassion for today and tomorrows guy, understanding what you might need now and, in the future, and to plan and organise accordingly. There were other useful nuggets of information including the use of reflective practice (look into what worked and why in order to maximise success), eliminate decisions in order to prevent decision fatigue and to put success in your way making it easy for you to achieve what you want.

I personally didn’t find anything of revelation in the book but picked up a few good tips.

[Rachel Simmons · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I kept getting distracted while reading this book, because I would suddenly be like, “what is he talking about?? How did we get here?” But I eventually realized that he does not transition between ideas or concepts, and so it’s...mildly jarring? It’s not really confusing because the ideas are simple enough, it’s just disorienting.

Overall I liked it, but at one point I found myself asking if anyone legitimately edited this book. It’s kind of like...he’s thinking a mile a minute but skipping every third sentence of thought. Or he expects you to be able to read his mind/assumes you already understand him.

[Chloë Forbes-Kindlen · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, I'm biased. When Rob speaks, I listen. That's because I learn every single time and his book was no different. I kept thinking of at least 5 or 6 different books I read that shared a similar thesis but I did nothing with.

Not only was Attention! easy to read, it was really easy to implement and take action on. Spoiler alert! I did take action on everything laid out and I continue to refine some of the systems based on clear measured results. Rob really does help put success in your way. I hope everyone takes the time to read this!

[David Gilani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and then I like to read a book about some aspect of minimalism to help re-focus myself. This month, it was Attention!... i.e. how to be minimalistic in your mental focus and decision making. I wouldn't say that this is the best book on clear minds / decision making / focus that I've read... but it was clear, good humoured, with good examples throughout. So overall didn't ever feel like a banal nor clunky read.

[Darya · Rating 3 out of 5]

We live in the world full of distractions and tjings, circumstances and business that demand our attention. How can we focus to make correct and weighted desicions? This book provides some tips.

[Stephen Lockyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can occasionally become repetitive and self-congratulatory, but overall a really interesting book. And set of ideas.

[Andres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Helped me reorganize my priorities and start a new fulfilling life.

[Pro Mukherjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Traditional wisdom in a modern day context. I liked one of the principles shared in the book - “put success in your way.”

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Mark Whittaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeping it simple

I’ve followed Rob for more than a few years now, and his book does a great job distilling the info he’s shared in his emails and webinars. He lays out some simple steps for keeping on track with anything you want to accomplish. He writes with a clear voice that is engaging as well as instructive. Thanks, Rob!