The Reminder Principle


Harry Lorayne's television career began with an appearance on I've Got a Secret in 1958. He also appeared on Jack Paar, Ed Sullivan, and on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson 23 times. His "secret" talent? He didn't dance, sing, or twirl plates. What he did do was memorize the names of all 400 people sitting in the studio audience. Author of many books on memory, including his Page-a-Minute Memory Book, Lorayne is one of the country's foremost experts in memory techniques.

"When I was young, I got terrible grades in school. I kept bringing home failing grades, and every time I did, I'd get punished for it. The tests were all for things that required memorization. You either knew the answer or you didn't. For instance, if the question was, 'What's the capital of Maryland?' you either knew it was Annapolis or you didn't. So I set out to learn how to remember the answers. What I discovered was that the trick to memorization boils down to two words: Pay Attention. You can't remember anything you haven't noticed in the first place.

"The first step is making the information you want to remember meaningful in your mind. Most names and numbers, for instance, are abstract. Most names do not mean anything. So how do I remember that the capital of Maryland is Annapolis? I know a girl named Mary. I see an apple land on Mary. An apple, land on Mary...Annapolis... Maryland. I lock the silly picture in my mind, and I will never forget it.

"All memory is based on the reminder principle. One thing reminds you of something else. We make subconscious connections all the time. If you want to purposely remember something, you have to consciously and knowingly make the connection."

What we are interested in is what sticks in our consciousness. Everything else we get rid of as quickly as possible.

—William James,
psychiatrist




Diamond Power. Gems of Wisdom From America's Greatest Marketer
Diamond Power: Gems of Wisdom from Americas Greatest Marketer
ISBN: 1564146987
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 207
Authors: Barry Farber

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