Podcast Summary: Help Wanted – How To Hold People's Attention
Release Date: January 9, 2025
Host/Author: Money News Network
Hosts: Jason Feifer (Editor in Chief, Entrepreneur Magazine) and Nicole Lapin (Money Expert)
Introduction
In the January 9, 2025 episode of Help Wanted, titled "How To Hold People's Attention", hosts Jason Feifer and Nicole Lapin delve into the critical skill of maintaining engagement in communication. Whether you're an entrepreneur, employee, or leader, understanding how to captivate your audience is paramount. Jason introduces the concept of "brief bricks and mortar," a fundamental strategy to enhance communication effectiveness.
Understanding the Challenge of Communication
Jason Feifer begins by addressing a universal problem: "You are trying to communicate something, but it is not connecting". He emphasizes that regardless of the medium—be it writing, speaking, or any other form of information sharing—the primary challenge lies in ensuring that the message resonates with the intended audience.
Key Insight:
People inherently ask themselves, "Is this for me or not for me?" before fully engaging with any content. This internal question drives their decision to pay attention or disengage.
Introducing Brief Bricks and Mortar
Jason introduces the metaphor of "bricks and mortar" to elucidate effective communication:
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Bricks: Represent the facts or information being shared. These are the concrete elements of your message.
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Mortar: Symbolizes the context that binds the facts together, making them relevant and meaningful to the audience.
Notable Quote:
"The mortar holds everything together. It is what makes a brick useful. Assembling all those facts into a structure specifically designed for your audience." (05:30)
The Importance of Repeated Relevance
Jason stresses that answering the audience's primary question—“Is this for me?”—is not a one-time effort. Instead, it must be addressed continuously throughout the communication process to maintain engagement.
Example Scenario:
He illustrates this by comparing it to a long, rambling story from a friend. Initially, the audience is interested (“It's for me”), but as the story drags without clear relevance, interest wanes (“Is this going anywhere?”).
Notable Quote:
"If you want to hold someone's attention and connect with them, you must answer it repeatedly." (06:45)
Application of Bricks and Mortar: The Jimmy Fallon Example
To demonstrate the practical application of this concept, Jason recounts his experience profiling Jimmy Fallon for Entrepreneur magazine. Despite Jimmy's primary association with entertainment, Jason crafted a narrative that provided valuable lessons for entrepreneurs.
Detailed Breakdown:
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Bricks (Facts):
- Jimmy Fallon quit Saturday Night Live to pursue a movie career, which initially flopped.
- His lack of passion for movies led to failures.
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Mortar (Context):
- Jason contextualized Jimmy's journey to highlight the pitfalls of following a predetermined path without personal passion.
- He connected Jimmy's experience to a broader lesson for entrepreneurs about avoiding unimaginative career paths.
Notable Quote:
"It's just the path. Not your path, simply the path. A path, some path. A clearing that other people make for their own purposes, not for yours." (09:15)
Transforming Personal Stories into Audience-Relevant Lessons
Jason emphasizes the necessity of tailoring personal anecdotes to meet the specific needs and interests of the audience. By transforming his conversation with Jimmy Fallon, he ensured that the story provided actionable insights for entrepreneurs rather than just recounting Jimmy's career missteps.
Practical Steps:
- Identify the Core Message: Extract the fundamental lesson from the story.
- Align with Audience Needs: Adapt the message to address the unique challenges and aspirations of the audience.
- Integrate Lessons Seamlessly: Weave the lesson into the narrative to maintain flow and relevance.
Notable Quote:
"The mortar is what makes it meaningful. Because, look, here's the thing. You might have the best stories in the world... But nobody will hear them if you don't answer their first question." (11:00)
Enhancing Communication Through Audience Awareness
Jason advises communicators to adopt a mindset that places the audience’s needs at the forefront. This involves:
- Active Engagement: Continuously assessing whether the message remains relevant.
- Adaptability: Adjusting the communication style and content based on audience feedback and engagement levels.
- Purpose-Driven Content: Ensuring every element of the message serves the audience's interests and provides tangible value.
Example in Action:
When Jason is interviewed on a podcast about his career beginnings, he no longer provides a detailed personal history. Instead, he shares concise, relevant details and pivots to lessons that aspiring professionals can apply to their own career journeys.
Notable Quote:
"Now I think differently. Now I wonder, what does this audience want? If I'm being asked about my early career... it's probably because this audience cares about starting their careers." (10:30)
Conclusion: The Power of Context in Communication
Jason concludes by reiterating that effective communication transcends the mere presentation of facts. It's the strategic integration of context that transforms information into meaningful, engaging content tailored to the audience's needs.
Final Takeaway:
"A story isn't good because of what's in it. It's good because of how you tell it. And that really means it's good because you're aware of who you're telling it to." (12:10)
By mastering the "bricks and mortar" approach, communicators can ensure their messages not only reach but also resonate deeply with their intended audiences, thereby holding their attention consistently.
Additional Resources
For listeners seeking personalized advice, Jason and Nicole invite questions through their helpline at helpline@helpwantedoneynewsnetwork.com. Stay connected and explore exclusive content by following Money News Network on Instagram and TikTok.
End of Summary