Have you ever found yourself needing to memorize a persons name in only a few seconds?  Perhaps you have on a short elevator ride to the presidents office, and you need to know the main players.

I’d like to test this technique out.  It’s new, unproven, but I think it would work.

On a recent vacation to North Carolina, we decided to try some fishing in the ocean.  (Called surf fishing)  At the tackle shop we met some “knowledgeable” locals who gave us some great tips, and spots to try.  They quickly said their names as they were leaving the shop, and I didn’t have an opportunity to use some of the regular memory tips, so I tried something new.

I said the first person name forward, then backward, then forward again.  Donnie Martin, Martin Donnie, Donnie Martin.

The idea is to engage the “focus” part of your brain, to get it to pay attention.  Repetition, saying the name 3 times.  But by adding the “bakwards” name, makes me concentrate on “what the name is backward”.

It’s new and untested, so I’ve been doing it with everyone I meet recently, and although I don’t necessarily remember the face, I do seem to be able to hook the name into my memory.

Give it a try and let me know in the comments section how it works for you.