Who’s Bob?

So we keep banging on about the power of our minds and how much impact our thinking has on our day to day existence; we talk about the effects of beliefs on personal and business success. And every so often we come across an example of the stunning capabilities of our minds that leave even us gob-smacked.

So there I was, a couple of weeks ago, off to Cheltenham to speak at the Fitness Industry Association annual conference. And my good mate, another Tim, had invited me to play in the golf tournament the day before. He had teamed us – him and me – up with a lovely American called Derek and a Brit turned Canadian called Bob Gray.

Now Bob is a bit special. He is the only man on the planet, as far as we know, who can write extemporaneously upside down, plus upside down and backwards with both hands and feet, while blindfolded and speaking phonetically backwards! It’s true – I saw him do it. And all this whilst being one of the nicest guys you could possibly meet who also plays a mean game of golf – damn him! He also teaches memory techniques and I am now the proud possessor of two techniques that have enabled me to remember easily the names of everyone I have met at recent networking events. Something that I have to tell you was not my forte! My point? That we need to keep challenging our beliefs of what we are capable. That the only thing that really holds us back from utterly exploding our potential, is ourselves.

So, just remember that. And if you need help, call Bob!

In the meantime, to help you in both your business and personal life, here are Bob’s top tips for remembering names – they work!!

1. You can’t remember what you don’t know: The first thing you’ve got to do is hear the name. It sounds obvious but when we’re introduced to people we’re often so preoccupied that we don’t actually hear their name. Be sure to give your undivided attention to listening to the name.

2. S-P-E-L-L it out: After you’ve heard the name, spell it out in your head. Accuracy is not important. The idea is to ingrain the name on your brain.

3. Ask and ye shall receive: If you hear an unusual or interesting name, inquire about its origins. Any additional information will help make a name more unforgettable.

4. Repetition is key: Repeat the person’s name once or twice in the course of your conversation. But don’t go crazy! Use it one last time when you part company.

5. Associate, partner: A more advanced technique is to associate a variation of a person’s name with something visually striking about them. Take the person’s name and change it slightly to something that sounds like it but conjures up an image. Thus “Ken” becomes “can.” If Ken is wearing a gaudy tie, mentally replace the tie with a can of beans hanging around his neck. At the end of your meeting if you can’t remember Ken’s name, just look at his tie and you’ll think of a can of beans. The more silly and ridiculous it is, the more memorable.

6. Use it or lose it: For long-term memory retention, you need to establish a very specific review schedule. Repeat the name to yourself about an hour after you learn it, then again one day, one week and one month later. With a little practice, you’ll never forget Ken with the can of beans around his neck.

If you want to find out more go to www.MemoryEdge.com

Oh, yes, and I played quite well. Thanks for asking.