You Sleep When You Die

Last week I wrote about everyone’s RAS (Reticular Activating System). I explained how RAS works. For those of you who didn’t read it, I’ll catch you up real quick. If you’re walking through an airport, there’s lots of noise: people talking at ticket counters, people talking on cell phones, people buying things, people making announcements over the loudspeaker…it goes on and on and on. But all of a sudden you subconsciously activate your RAS. You activate it to listen only if you hear your own name or flight number being called. You’re able to block out everything else.

Lucky for you, the principles of RAS can help you achieve goals beyond your wildest dreams.

I want to give you another example…

Thanks to Jim Maxfield and @HarilaosMichael for providing two of last week’s top questions. Remember, get your questions about advertising, business, the economy and more answered every Wednesday by posting comments to blog posts or, better yet, on Twitter via #askjz.

“Jordon, give us your business perspective on the U.S. debt issue.”

“I’ve been following what people like Robert Prechter and Marc Faber have been saying about the world economy. What’s your take?”

Thanks to Ed Ethridge for providing one of last week’s top questions. Remember, get your questions about advertising, business, the economy and more answered every Wednesday by posting comments to blog posts or, better yet, on Twitter via #askjz.

“What is your response to Jonathan Salem Baskin’s recent Ad Age article, “What If Giving Up Your Brand Really Means Giving Up?” If the trend is moving towards NOT trusting the people we engage with through social media platforms, how will advertisers and marketers adjust? And will it even still be relevant?

You’ve always espoused growing a brand while simultaneously driving traffic and sales. Where does social media fit into this Brandtailing pyramid?”

Every one of us has a Reticular Activating System (RAS) in our brain. RAS is an area of the brain that helps us transition from “relaxed wakefulness” to “high attention.” Because RAS puts things on our awareness radar, it plays a vital part in our ability to achieve goals. Get it? Making your million dollars. Plant it in your head NOW…deep in your RAS.

Have you watched the new TV show, Undercover Boss? The new CBS reality series follows high-level chief executives as they go ‘undercover’ in their own companies. These execs get an up-close-and-personal look at the inner workings of their organizations, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Waste Management, 7-Eleven and Hooters have already been featured.

You’ve got to be freakin’ kidding me! How do these employees not know they’re working hand-in-hand with their company’s own CEO??