ItвЂ™s easy if you thread it all together into the one memorable image. If you like, you can also include something that will remind you that the person is, say, a doctor, a teacher, an army general, an actor or a writer. If you want to remember both Christian and surname, include a Substitute Word or Thought for each in your mental image. Think of a Substitute Word or Thought for the following: Bob, Bruce, Wendy, Sally, Phyllis, Ernie, Dennis, Molly, Douglas, Nancy, Ashley, Thelma, Ben, Harold, Gary, Richard, Carl, Victoria, Anthony, Boris, Fred, Donald, Edward, Lillian, Gladys, Alex, Andy, Mark, Vincent, Walter, John, Isabel. He advises using a substitute word for first names and surnames e.g. For Mary, a wedding (marry) George, jaws Harry, hairy Sylvia, silver Bernard, burn hard Tom or Thomas, tom-tom drums Tony, toe knee Robert, robber Jim, gym Anita, an anteater Mike, microphone - and so forth. ThatвЂ™s what really locks in a name.ДЇor first names, come up with a Substitute Word or Thought in exactly the same way as you would for a surname.ДЇor Bill, I always see a dollar bill. The ones IвЂ™ve given you arenвЂ™t likely to stick in your mind, because you havenвЂ™t used your imagination. Remember that itвЂ™s better for you to come up with your own Substitute Words and Thoughts- your very own ridiculous pictures. For Mc or Mac, I see a macintosh for -son, the sun for -berg, an iceberg for -law, a judgeвЂ™s gavel for -baum, a bomb, and so on. The same is true for common prefixes and suffixes. For example, I always visualise a blacksmithвЂ™s hammer for Smith, a garden for Gordon, an ice-cream cone for Cohen. So whenever I hear the name Elliott, I think of tennis.ДЄfter youвЂ™ve used my Substitute Words and Thoughts principle for a while, youвЂ™ll form standard images for certain names. When I hear the name Browning, I visualise a Browning automatic rifle - a weapon I was quite familiar with during World War II.ДЄ childhood friend of mine named Elliott was a tennis nut. He says a name with a meaning or personal association can also help memory (file image) When youвЂ™re introduced to someone new, you will simply make his or her name visible in your mind by coming up with a Substitute Word or Thought for it. And it should guarantee that youвЂ™ll never again be at a loss for someoneвЂ™s name. But what IвЂ™m going to teach you next really wonвЂ™t take much effort at all. DonвЂ™t just say, вЂIвЂ™ll see you laterвЂ™ instead, say: вЂIвЂ™ll see you later, Julia.вЂ™ДЄll right, that was the easy part. Rule 5: Use the name again when you say goodbye. But try to introduce the name seamlessly into your chat - for instance: вЂGosh, Jim, I never thought of it that way.вЂ™ DonвЂ™t go overboard with this rule, or it will sound forced. Rule 4: Use the name during your initial conversation. If you think itвЂ™s an unusual name, itвЂ™s fine to say that, too. Or that you went to school with someone of the same name. You might say that itвЂ™s a name youвЂ™ve heard before, for instance. Memory expert Harry Lorayne believes his system can ensure you remember the names of people you've just met But what if itвЂ™s an easy-to-spell name, like Jones or Carter? DonвЂ™t worry about looking an idiot: the person will still feel flattered because youвЂ™re showing an interest.

вЂOh, is that L- o- r- r- a- i- n- e?вЂ™ The great thing about doing this is that youвЂ™ll be corrected if youвЂ™re wrong - вЂNo, itвЂ™s L- o- r- a- y-n- eвЂ™ - and that gives you more time to recall the name. ItвЂ™s not embarrassing to say: вЂSorry, I didnвЂ™t get your name.вЂ™ Rule 1: Be sure you properly hear what the other person has said. Then, if you want to take care of the remaining 80 per cent, IвЂ™ll teach you the rest of the system.

If you apply them properly, I guarantee that youвЂ™ll improve your memory for names by about 20 per cent. HereвЂ™s how you can use the same tricks.ДЇirst, you need to learn the basic rules for remembering names. IвЂ™ve shown in front of audiences that I can remember up to 1,500 names of people IвЂ™ve only just met. Are you dreading this yearвЂ™s Christmas parties, worried that youвЂ™ll embarrass yourself by forgetting peopleвЂ™s names? Well, I have good news for you: my memory system - which IвЂ™ve honed over many decades - will ensure that youвЂ™ll always be able to put a name to a face.

Harry lorayne memory list