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Why Everyone Sucks at Remembering Names

By John Graham

Everyone sucks at remembering names. 

CORRECTION: Everyone THINKS they suck at remembering names.

How many times have you been afraid to talk to the person you just met, because you couldn’t remember their name?

Add those all up over the course of your lifetime.
You’ve missed out on connections, relationships, opportunities…

All cuz you couldn’t remember a name.

That changes today.

You’ve probably heard my tips on remembering names before, but I want to give you something new today.

Normally when you remember someone’s name, you think of an image that reminds you of that name:
Liz = lizard
Joe = sloppy joe
Adam = apple

Then you imagine that image on a prominent feature of their face.

But sometimes you come across a name that doesn’t conjure a good image. 

Names like Madison and Henry. Or harder ones like Monique and Gustavo.

That’s when you get creative.

Imagine people you already know with that name:
That girl from your high school named Madison.
Imagine the Madison you know wrapping her arms around the Madison you just met.

Or take part of their name to make an image:
Henry = hen
Gustavo = gust of wind

Or make something up…using the first thing that pops into your head:
Monique = imagine she’s moaning…and think “she’s unique“
(moan + unique)
It’s weird, but effective.

I don’t recommend telling people you are doing this. Remembering their name is the goal…not weirding them out.

Do you want FREE mental performance & memory enhancement tips (from a USA Memory Champion…me!) sent to your email?

Then, enter your first name and email below!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: how to remember names, I suck at remembering names, why do I suck at remembering names

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Hi, I'm John Graham.

2018 USA Memory Champion and Speaker.

I don't have a photographic memory. I learned how to train my mind.

You can go from average to superhuman memory, just like I did.

Here's my quick story.

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