Living in the Age of the Goldfish Response Rate

Recent studies have shown that humans have reached a new low.

Humans now have an attention span that rivals a goldfish.

Goldfish supposedly have a memory of less than 10 seconds. Humans seem to have bested that with one study showing humans have an 8 second attention span.

Yes, we have beaten the lowly goldfish at something else.

What Can You Do in 9 Seconds?

Well, if these studies are to be believed you better learn to market, sell, service and support everything and everyone … all within 9 seconds.

A Microsoft study highlights the deteriorating attention span of humans, saying it has fallen from 12 seconds in 2000 to eight seconds

Smartphones are making humans subject to the whims of a passing squirrel. In this study – researchers have discovered that the human attention span has dropped by 50% in 15 years.

Fact Checking --- It’s a good thing. Another study has shown that goldfish can actually remember things for 3 and even 5 months.

While I think I know a few people with a Goldfish Attention Span Problems (GASP) I’m pretty sure most humans can pay attention for at least twice this long.

• What’s your experience?
• Do you know people with extremely short attention spans?
• How do you get through to them? Do you adapt or do they?

Share your thoughts here in the comments.


Jeff is an expert in the Enterprise Content Management industry. He brings over 20 years of Channel Sales, Partner Marketing and Alliance expertise to audiences around the world in speaking engagements and via his writing. He has worked for Microsoft, Kodak, and is currently the Chief Evangelist at K2.
Tweet him @jshuey or connect on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Google+ He is active in the Microsoft Partner Community and is the co-founder and President of the IAMCP Seattle chapter.

He is a contributing author to Entrepreneur, Elite Daily, Yahoo, US News and to the Personal Branding Blog.