The First 9 Seconds

We live in an always-buzzing world, pulled in all directions—by shiny objects, constant chatter, loud images, and text alerts.

Your brain travels through the world like a tourist walking through Times Square for the first time:

  • Overwhelmed
  • Overstimulated
  • Moving toward whatever seems most interesting at that second

Human beings have been reduced to a 9-second attention span—equivalent to the attention span of a goldfish.

No, you’re not that special. You don’t get 11 or 14 or 18 seconds.

You get 9.

The research is clear: the most fascinating messages always triumph. Always.

That’s why you need to craft an introduction that is so fascinating that you break through the 9-second barrier and get the chance to continue the conversation, to build a relationship, and perhaps to add a tribe member or convert a sale.

If no one takes action after your introduction, you’ve missed the chance. You lose. They’re on to the next conversation, the next ad, the next option.

But . . . if you understand and apply the principles of the Fascination Advantage, you’ll be able to create a powerful 9-Second Fascination Statement—a tool designed specifically to get you past the 9-second hurdle.

It’s all based on the 7 Advantages of fascination (the seven different ways you naturally captivate others). You customize your 9-Second Fascination Statement, according to your specific personality archetype (the unique combination of your top two Advantages). That means there is space for you to talk about what it is you do best, in a way that works with your natural way of captivating people.When you purchase either the Fascination Advantage Starter Kit or Custom Package, you receive the 9-second Fascination Statement digital volume, which takes you through the process of creating your very own irresistible introduction.

Creating a 9-Second Fascination Statement means that you will own those first 9 seconds every time.

It all starts with knowing why you’re fascinating. Because you are. The Fascination Advantage™ will identify that key difference within you, so that you can stand out from the crowd, and your competition.

And stand out you must. Because in a 9-second world, you have a choice:

Stand out or don’t bother.

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About the author

Sally Hogshead

Sally skyrocketed to the top of the advertising world in her early 20s, fascinating millions of consumers for clients such as MINI Cooper and Coca-Cola. Since then, she’s published two New York Times bestsellers on the science of fascination, and is one of only 172 living members in the Speaker Hall of Fame. Over a million professionals have taken the Fascination Advantage® personality test to discover how others perceive their communication.

6 Comments

  1. TrixieHunterMerrill

    i have a printout of the 9 sec fasc statement but it says there is a video to go with the process and i cant find it. is there a way i can get it again so i can finish my worksheets?

  2. KaranKhanna

    Thanks for this really amazing post I liked it a lot!

  3. OlgaRook

    Thank you Sally! It is a challenge to boil it down to 9 seconds and to the core type characteristics.    “With uncommonly personal approach and artistic ideas I create unique and exquisite portraits for my clients”   (7 seconds)

  4. DarrenHill

    Try this one on… dunno if it is a tad long.  “I make a difference to the difference makers. Using original, contemporary insights into human behaviour, I help leaders develop effective behavioural strategies in their workplaces.”

  5. KathyZader

    Nick, that is an outstanding 9-Second introduction for your About page! We especially like how you customized your approach.    ~ The team at Fascinate, Inc.

  6. NicholasTozier

    Interesting. I’ve been playing with this to revise my new “About” page.    “Nick infuses every post with penetrating insight, infectious passion, and empowering know-how… all topped off with Tweetable quotations and addictively clickable headlines.”    Do I get extra points for onomatopoeia? 😉

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