Most of us recognize faces. For example, did you ever hear anyone say, Oh, I know your name, but I dont recognize your face? Its the names we have trouble with. Since we do usually recognize faces, the thing to do is apply a system wherein the face tells us the name. That is basically what a good memory techniques accomplishes, if it is applied correctly.
The first problem is the name. Well, that one is easily solved – simply apply the Substitute Word system of memory. You wont need it for many names that already have meaning – names like Hayes, Howe, Carpenter, Fox, Paige, Coyne, Paynter, Gold, or Knott immediately create pictures in your mind.
Other names may not have meaning, but will still remind you of something tangible. For example, the names Hudson, Jordan, and Shannon will probably make you think of a river, and the name Ruth might make you think of baseball. The vast majority of names, however, have no meaning at all. They are conglomerations of sound, just like a word in a foreign language. Thats where the Substitute Word system comes in.
Before we give you some examples, you should be aware of the fact that most people dont really...