Attention is the lifeblood of success. You have to grasp the minds of an audience if you want to influence. To grasp their minds you must engage with them for a period of time.
Attention is not something easily given either. Attention is something earned.
There are many workers in this world that believe that because they call a meeting they are deserving of your attention in that meeting. I have some surprising news for them – you have only so long to earn attention before you lose it entirely.
If I’m in a meeting that is clearly going in the wrong direction and will not achieve anything, why should I continue to waste my time on it when there are more pressing items I could put my time toward? What right does that meeting organizer have to waster my time simply because they don’t want to keep everyone focused?
Don’t waste your shots at getting the attention of others. The more time you successfully convince people to pay attention to you, the easier it will be to get it in the future.