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Tricks to remembering names

cnn.com — Being able to remember names is a valuable asset in both the business and social arenas. It helps you build instant rapport with new contacts, and, as many companies place a premium on interpersonal and relationship-building skills, it makes a decidedly good impression on employers, too. This is a few months old, but it is still a good read.

Who dugg this? Made popular Oct 17, 2005

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  • FunkyGuy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1yeah I dont think its bad or anything to be like "sorry whats your name again?" then once they tell you be like ohh (their name) sorry about that hah, usually kills tension too if done properly, sounds like you are interested.
  • phubner, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Surefire way to remember names:

    1. Ask their name. You don't even need to listen to the response.
    2. Act surprised and say "That's my name too!"
    3. Next time you meet, let them say, "Hey n$"

    Voila - they remember their name for you. And if they don't say your name, they forgot it.

    ;-)
  • inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0nice one
  • FunkyGuy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0yeah im terrible at remembering names too, probably because I remember so many damn screenames. I will try this out, great digg, I wish I had read this before last night....
  • wizpig64, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i am HORRIBLE at remembering names! in real life anyways, id rather just know them by their faces. but online its easier, cus you only have their names to work with!
  • Rodalli, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Kudos to you for not using "Hacking names" as the title of this digg.

    +digg just for that.
  • creativemenon, on 01/02/2009, -0/+0Interesting article. Look simple but it is important to know that we fall into awkward situations because of this. Popular leaders remember more than one hundred thousand names! That is the reason they are popular.
    Eva Gabor once said, "I don't remember anybody's name. How do you think the "dahling" thing strted?". But we can't escape every situation by calling everyone "dahling".
    While preparing for my GRE, I came across a series of interesting study material called Smarten your English through series. They have products like Smarten Your Englsih through Success Secrets, Smarten Your English through Movies, Smarten Your English through Love & Romance etc. I used Success Secrets and Movies versions for my IELTS / GRE (and got good scores too). :)
    These products are based on a theory called "passion based learning". That is the reason they are effective. Similarly, if you want to remember a name as said in this CNN article, club his / her face to your passionate topic! Easy.
  • Kericr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I would normally say something like 'this would have been insightful for the dinosaurs, when it was originally posted', but God help me, I can't remember the name of a girl I get a phone number from 10 minutes after I get the number.

    +Digg
  • skell, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0thanks for the brain 'hacks' ;P
  • lerpon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I have actually used a couple of the tricks mentioned. It worked for me. Good digg!
  • RpgActioN, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Kudos to you for not using "Hacking names" as the title of this digg."

    Seriously.
  • stupa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i needed this!
    +digg
  • raindog469, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I prefer to come up with my own names for people, and then if there's a need for me to get to know them later, I learn their real names.

    Names I've come up with in the last couple months include "Nicotine Boy", "The Cane Guy", "Lord Wanker", "Sycophantic Fag Hag" and "Big Tall Naked Guy".

    You gotta admit those names are more memorable than, like, Ed, Dave or Gina.
  • peerk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"just guess 'jessica', because 98% of all girls are named jessica."

    You must be mad pimpin with the bitches and hos dawg.
  • SmeRndmGy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0does this work when you're drunk and getting hit on by some girl? if this fails just guess 'jessica', because 98% of all girls are named jessica.
  • culebra, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Or ashley! Seems like there are 100's of ashleys. Just browse myspace in your area, you'll see! Anyway, that thing with the magic marker on their head...not bad. Although with women I'm usually using 100% of my mental process to undress them.
  • dizdaz89, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0+digg for not using "hack" in the title.

    I don't remember screen names at all, and I mean never. I'm not bad at remembering names as long as I don't get introduced to a whole group at once. In that case, I think its always alright to ask for names again.
  • tarun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I dug this more comprehensive memory guide a few months ago:
    http://www.vlaardingen.net/~tom/Mainmenu.htm
  • notkevin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I have been blessed with the ability to remember name, I basically do steps #1 and #2. And it does help, not only in business but with the ladies.
  • über, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Interesting read...
  • aeoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0One of the tips is -- "Be interested"

    You mean, contrive an interest when there really wasn't any? Truth is, I meet a lot of people randomly, or for some bogus reason like work (unless you adore your job, but even if that's true it doesn't last forever, because feelings change). I bet if you joined a club you really loved and people there were interesting, you'd not forget the name. Another problem is that most of the time you won't see the person a second time, like if it's some new HR person that's being "shown around the cubicles" for an introduction, or like if it's a CEO of the company that you will basically never see, and that doesn't matter because they make no decisions that impact you at a personal level, unless it's a mass layoff.
  • Sixcolors, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Names I've come up with in the last couple months include "Nicotine Boy", "The Cane Guy", "Lord Wanker", "Sycophantic Fag Hag" and "Big Tall Naked Guy"."

    Lmao
  • TomHenry, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0some useful tricks
  • andrew_m, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I wish I could remember that strippers name I met the other night...:)
  • tarun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0...to the home page no less!
  • Th3_anOmoLy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I know others have said it but it's a valid point..

    +digg for not using "hack" in the title.

    ... oh, and a usefull article.
  • Agent_M, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0According to this site, the list has been around since 2004:
    http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Custom/MSN/CareerAdvice/423.htm?siteid=cbmsnhm4408&sc_extcmp=JS_iv1_sept04_hotmail1&cbRecursionCnt=2&cbsid=e9bb314ba17c40489b750216e8f3b391-182898261-tg-1

    It was cited by the blog here on November 14, 2005:
    http://sqrlblog.blogspot.com/2004_11_16_sqrlblog_archive.html
  • Agent_M, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0^ Sorry... I meant cited by the blog on November 16, 2004. So it seems to have been existence since then.
  • frankietears, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I used to bartend and I was curious to see if the technique I used was in here.

    Saying a person's name 3 times as soon as you meet them is a great way to remember it. After all, no name - no tip. Sounds kind of awkward, but you could always manage a way to fit them in.

    "Hey Dave. It's nice to meet you."
    "So what type of marketing are you in, Dave?"
    "Enjoying your whiskey, Dave?"
    "You awake, Dave?"
  • Agent_M, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0These tricks have been republished several times since March, according to Google, so it's not just CNN.
  • chillingdk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I'm wondering how the www.careerbuilder.com guys got this without my permission as this has been published on CNN by the author who writes for careerbuilder.com this is what this article at CNN shows at the end of article.
    Note: As this article was published by me on my weblog in March & was re-directed by me with a link on www.digg.com around 11 days ago. Seems like those guys have forgotten what is copyright content. Can I sue them for use of my article, without any permission from my side?
  • Blackvaine, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0good stuff, good stuff... definitely going to use it!
  • DeLeon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I just got fired for writing my new bosses' name on his forehead with a marker. Thanks!
  • Heatha, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0This is basic memory encoding 101. This is nothing new. Why CNN did a story on this, is beyond me.
  • AlfGored, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0Al Gore just forgot your name...

    http://www.AlGoreLabs.com

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