Can I Have Your Attention? Eliminate Distraction and Focus on What Matters
It’s almost as if work was designed to make focus impossible — endless channels, constant urgency, infinite options. The very tools meant to help us produce more have become the biggest obstacles to producing anything meaningful. The ability to protect and direct attention has become the difference between motion and progress.
We’ve optimized everything except the one resource that matters: human attention. Every tool that promises productivity delivers distraction. Every initiative that should simplify adds complexity. Organizations moving faster while accomplishing less. Leaders managing every minute while their attention splinters across infinite priorities. Everyone knows they’re busier than ever while questioning if any of it matters.
This keynote — rooted in Curt Steinhorst’s bestselling book, Can I Have Your Attention?, and deep research into human performance — reveals why focus has become the scarcest resource in business and what to do about it. Because knowing what matters is only half of the equation. The other half is creating the conditions where people can work on it. Stop managing time. Start protecting attention.
Key learning outcomes include:
- The science of attention — what enables it, what destroys it, and how to design for it.
- Practical techniques for protecting attention in an interruption culture.
- Organizational frameworks that make focused work possible, not heroic.
- A shared language for focus that works from the C-suite to front lines.
Stop managing time. Start protecting attention.
Curt Steinhorst
For nearly two decades, Curt Steinhorst has helped leaders solve this human equation. Long before AI became every C-suite’s top strategic priority, his bestselling book Can I Have Your Attention? revealed how technology was reshaping human cognition—identifying the attention crisis as just the opening symptom. Today, his research guides leaders through the next evolution: from managing digital distraction to maintaining human judgment in an AI world.
Curt brings rare operator credibility to these conversations. As an executive at Venus Aerospace, he helped build the team and strategy that pioneered rotating-detonation engines—a fundamental break from 60 years of rocket design and a generational leap in efficiency and cost. They achieved it with a culture that moved fast, embraced risk, cut through bureaucracy, and put people first—proving breakthrough technology doesn’t have to break the people behind it.
A Forbes contributor with 500+ keynotes delivered across four continents, Curt is a trusted voice for Nike, Deloitte, Southwest Airlines, JPMorgan Chase, and the U.S. Naval Academy.
Curt bridges the gap between AI potential and human adoption. His core message: sustainable competitive advantage isn’t about the technology you deploy—it’s about the human capabilities you cultivate.
The Eclipse Mindset: How to Break Barriers, Adapt, Innovate, and Create History
Jon Carmichael’s journey to capturing one of history’s most breathtaking images of a solar eclipse wasn’t just about photography—it was about perspective, audacity, and the relentless pursuit of possibility. In this inspiring keynote, Jon shares how embracing The Eclipse Mindset—one that sees beyond obstacles and reimagines limitations—allowed him to turn uncertainty into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Through captivating storytelling and stunning visuals, Jon takes audiences on his journey from a childhood dream to a high-stakes mission at 39,000 feet, where teamwork, intuition, and bold thinking led to a breakthrough moment. Just like an eclipse reveals a hidden beauty that’s only visible for a fleeting moment, Jon shows how our biggest opportunities often emerge from the shadows of challenge and change.
Audiences will leave equipped with:
- A powerful shift in perspective—how to eclipse self-doubt and old ways of thinking
- Strategies for embracing uncertainty as a launchpad for innovation
- The courage to take bold action, even when the path is unclear
- A renewed sense of curiosity and limitless possibility
Jon’s story proves that when we step into our eclipse moment—where preparation, intuition, and risk-taking collide—we can transform setbacks into breakthroughs and create history.
Jon Carmichael
World-renowned astrophotographer known for one of “History’s Most Amazing Photos”
In a world of constant challenges, success depends on our ability to reimagine what’s possible. Through stunning visuals and compelling storytelling, Jon Carmichael helps organizations and individuals transform their perceived limits into launching points for breakthrough success. Jon’s journey from passionate photographer to worldwide inspiration proves that when we dare to reimagine our boundaries, we discover opportunities we never knew existed.
A world-renowned astrophotographer celebrated for capturing the critically acclaimed “history’s most amazing Executive Speakers Bureau photograph,” Jon Carmichael captivated the world when he unveiled his image of the 2017 Great American Eclipse, taken from an airplane at 39,000 feet after years of meticulous planning. His relentless pursuit of a seemingly impossible vision—convincing the captain of a commercial airliner to alter its course—embodies the power of audacity, empowerment, and aiming higher. The thrilling story behind the photograph and the obstacles he overcame have inspired audiences worldwide.
Beyond his stunning visual work, Jon is a remarkable storyteller and business motivational speaker. His signature Eclipse Mindset challenges individuals and teams to push past perceived limitations, embrace bold thinking, and elevate their goals beyond what seems possible. Through his inspiring keynotes, he shares how vision, grit, and daring action lead to extraordinary breakthroughs. His storytelling compels audiences to take risks, defy expectations, and confidently navigate uncertainty—turning obstacles into stepping stones for success.
Jon’s captivating work has been spotlighted on Good Morning America, the Wall Street Journal, INC Magazine, USA Today, and even Times Square. With over 20 years of experience, he has been the trusted lead photographer for top brands such as Twitter, Dell, Microsoft, and ESPN.
His impressive portfolio includes collaborations with notable figures like President Obama, the Dalai Lama, David Copperfield, Lady Gaga, and even Batman. A pivotal moment in Jon’s career came in 2015 when Elton John, a renowned photography enthusiast, became the first to collect his limited-edition photographs, marking a transformative turn in his artistic journey.
Jon Carmichael doesn’t just deliver a speech—he takes audiences on an immersive journey that aligns with their unique challenges and aspirations. Whether the focus is on leadership, innovation, resilience, or pushing beyond perceived limits, Jon weaves his message through breathtaking real world stories of chasing audacious dreams and redefining what’s possible.
With stunning visuals, heartfelt emotion, and moments that make audiences laugh, reflect, and dream bigger, Jon’s keynotes are more than just talks—they’re transformative experiences designed to ignite ambition, fuel innovation, and inspire people to aim higher than they ever thought possible.