I will be completely upfront in telling you that I think any person, in any occupation, can strongly benefit from improving his or her memory. It’s just one of those skills that carries over into so many parts of your personal and professional life that it would be hard to overvalue.

With that being said, however, one of the groups that I tend to work with most often are salespeople. If ever there were a set of professionals who could use a memory presentation to make more money right away, it’s these hard-working folks who turn ideas into commission checks.

How can a stronger memory multiply your sales income? Here are just a few of the most obvious ways:

By helping you to remember every key point in a sales presentation. Using this system can assist you in not only recalling key points, but also delivering them in the correct sequence. Too many times salespeople give a dynamite presentation only to remember 30 minutes later that they forgot a key point. This leads to lost credibility . . . and potentially lost sales.

By helping you to remember customer names. Is there anything worse than sitting face to face with an important prospect – or seeing them at a convention or social setting – and not being able to remember their name? Putting names together with faces is the top challenge that salespeople ask me about, and it’s also one of the easiest skills to teach.

By letting you build stronger relationships with clients and colleagues.There is more to building rapport with customers than remembering names, of course. The more you can recall about their spouse, children, career background, and so on, the easier it is for your buyers to feel like they know and like you.

By giving you an edge with product knowledge and account details. There is also a professional component to your memory. When you have key product features, prices, part numbers, and other details available off the top of your head, you look and feel more confident. In addition, you are able to move sales forward more quickly.

By keeping you on top of what your competitors are selling. If you are able to master your competitors’ products as well as your own, you can counter nearly any objection. It isn’t enough to know about your industry – you need to be able to remember all key information at a moment’s notice to make it worthwhile.

To find out more about memory training for salespeople and my entertaining keynotes and seminars, contact my office today.

The post Why a Strong Memory Can Multiply Your Sales Income appeared first on Funny Motivational Speaker, Entertaining Humorist - Bob Gray.

Unfortunately, many people don’t feel confident in their public speaking skills. What’s worse, they have trouble remembering the key ideas they want to convey, which only makes their anxiety worse.

Luckily, there is a very simple and easy-to-use way to remember what you need to say during a presentation, and I’m going to share it with you today. Here is how it works:

First, outline the major steps or points you want to make. Be thorough in this process, ensuring that you have made a note of everything that has to be covered in your talk or presentation.

Then, represent these key points with a visual image. If the start of your presentation is about “fundraising,” for example, visualize a gigantic collection box or plate. If the next point is about “strategy,” visualize a chess piece, and so on.

Next, start to associate or link these images with items of furniture in a particular room in your home. This can be a piano, fireplace, table, lamp, or any other item along a route that you walk frequently. By doing this, you are giving visual “shape” to each of the ideas. It sounds like a simple technique, but it’s surprisingly effective.

So, if the first piece of furniture in your living room is a couch, visualize a huge collection box sitting on your couch. If the second piece of furniture is a piano, see a large chess piece playing the piano. Remember, it’s the ridiculous images that are memorable!

Then, practice your “mental walk” a number of times. As you do, make sure you recall the items of furniture or items along the route in the same identical sequencereinforcing each point or detail with the piece of furniture or landmark. In a short amount of time, they’ll become intertwined in your mind.

Finally, when it’s time for your presentation, simply take the identical “mental walk” through the room or route and recite them back with ease.You’ll be amazed at how well and easily you remember the key points. Best of all, it’s asystem you can use again and again, so it will still be there for you the next time you need to speak in public, too! In fact, if you have many speeches to deliver in a short period, you can simply choose another room or route.

To make your memory more powerful, stop by my blog again in the near future. Or, if you’re looking for a fun and entertaining presentation for your group, contact my office to check available dates today.

The post How to Turn Your Next Major Presentation Into a Walk in the Park appeared first on Funny Motivational Speaker, Entertaining Humorist - Bob Gray.

OK, let’s memorize the next five capital cities for Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi and Missouri.

The capital of Massachusetts is Boston. I immediately conjure up a Church Mass, for Boston you can choose several references, perhaps everyone in church is eating beans, (Beantown) and they have gas! Or a large tin of beans is giving the sermon. How about everyone standing up with large teapots in their hands and pouring scalding tea on top of each other, (Boston Tea Party).

Michigan’s capital is Lancing, I simply see a Gun (MichiGUN) with a huge lance sticking out its barrel.

Minnesota’s capital is St. Paul. For Minnesota I see a large can of Soda, sitting on top of the can of Soda is a Ball with a Halo, Halo for Saint and Ball for Paul.

Mississippi’s capital is Jackson. I imagine Randy Jackson dancing on the American Idol stage with a Hippie. Or you can use a river for Mississippi and anything associated to Jack in the Box, perhaps its character floating down the river, or a huge burger. If you are not familiar with the chain, then see a toy Jack in the Box springing out of its box as it floats down the Mississippi river.

And finally.

Missouri’s capital is Jefferson City. I know someone named Jeff and I imagine him sitting at a table, head in hands crying with Misery. You can change Jefferson to Chef Son and see a Chef’s son crying.

So to review:

Tin of Beans giving a sermon
Boston/Massachusetts

357 Magnum with a huge knight’s Lance sticking out its barrel
Lancing/Michigan

Ball with a Halo balanced on top of a Soda
St. Paul/Minnesota

Randy Jackson dancing with a Hippie
Jackson/Mississippi

Jeff or a Chef’s Son crying
Jefferson City/Missouri

Here is my standard wrap up.

Again, make sure you review these images within 60-75 minutes from now, it takes less than 60 seconds but is critical for long term storage, then again within 24 hr’s, then 1 week later and then 1 month later.

I will continue to post state capitals and their crazy images in groups of five. We are half way. Before we know it you will have all 50 memorized and a great handle on how to visualize the ridiculous and absurd. This is essential for us to apply memory systems to more practical business applications like recalling Names and Faces, speeches and presentations, model numbers, prices, to-do lists etc.

Please share if you enjoyed this/these posts.

Bob Gray CSP HoF

Motivational Speaker

The post Massachusetts to Missouri memorizing US State Capitals appeared first on Funny Motivational Speaker, Entertaining Humorist - Bob Gray.

OK, let’s memorize the next five capital cities for Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine and Maryland.

The capital of Kansas is Topeka. If you have been following along with my previous posts you are probably starting to conjure up images without much prompting. For Kansas we obviously see a gigantic Can, whatever image first comes to mind, use that one. I see a huge opened can of beans. Topeka, guess what’s peeking out from the can of beans……sure, a giant Toe, Toe Peeking, Topeka.

Remember, you cannot just read what I am writing; you MUST conjure up these crazy images in your mind, close your eyes for a few seconds and try to see the ridiculous picture in as much detail as you possibly can. Perhaps see yourself holding the can, is it cold? Can you feel the aluminium; perhaps the toe has a hangnail, I know, disgusting….but memorable? OK next.

Kentucky’s capital is Frankfort, this has to be a box or tub of the Colonel’s Kentucky Fried Chicken. See yourself opening a box of Kentucky Fried Chicken but instead of finding wings and legs, out springs hundreds of German Frankfurters. Or perhaps see yourself being blocked from entering your local KFC by a gigantic Frankfurter, imagine that the Frankfurter actually has arms and legs and is fighting with you. Feel the Frankfurter, imagine its smell.

Louisiana’s capital is Baton Rouge, or Red Stick. If you are lucky enough to know someone named Lou, Louise or Anna see them running rampage with a huge Baseball Bat (ton) or Red Stick, their face is Red with rage, hear them puffing. If you don’t know anyone with these names then an image of a Lasso will most likely be all you need for Louisiana. Baton Rouge could be converted to Button Rouge, see a Button with a four Rouge Lipsticks inserted through each of its holes. So a lasso roping a huge button with the red lipsticks would work.

Maine’s capital is Augusta. If you are a golf fan then Augusta would immediately conjure up the Masters golf course. How about a horse with a huge Mane (literally touching the ground) running down the first fairway of Augusta chasing Tiger Woods. Hear the hoofs as they gallop and tear up the beautifully manicured fairway. Or you could change Maine to Moon and see A Gust of wind tearing across the Moon’s surface.

And finally.

Maryland’s capital is Annapolis. Again if you know someone named Mary, this would be a big help. You could see her taking A Nap with a Police man. Or you can pick a famous Mary to sleep with the cop, Mary Poppins, now there’s an image, Mary Tyler Moore, Mary Anne from Gilligan’s Island, Mary Queen of Scots, any of these will work as long as you can see that image.

So to review:

The Toe peeking from the Can of beans
Kansas/Topeka

Fighting with the giant Frankfurter in front of KFC
Kentucky/Frankfort

Lassoing the Button with four Red Lipsticks inserted through its holes
Louisiana/Baton Rouge

The horse with a huge mane running down the fairway of Augusta, or the gust of wind on the moon
Maine/Augusta

Mary Poppins taking a nap with a policeman
Maryland/Annapolis

Again, make sure you review these images within 60-75 minutes from now, it takes less than 60 seconds but is critical for long term storage, then again within 24 hr’s, then 1 week later and then 1 month later.

I will continue to post state capitals and their crazy images in groups of five. Before we know it you will have all 50 memorized and a great handle on how to visualize the ridiculous and absurd. This is essential for us to apply memory systems to more practical business applications like recalling Names and Faces, speeches and presentations, model numbers, prices, to-do lists etc.

The post Kansas to Maryland Memorizing US State Capitals appeared first on Funny Motivational Speaker, Entertaining Humorist - Bob Gray.

Here is the third post on memorizing the US state capitals. The first ten capitals, Alabama to Georgia, you can find under my May 5th & 16th posts. Again, please take a moment to read the April post regarding how our memory tends to cling to the absurd and make sure you are reviewing the crazy images for the first ten capitals.

OK, let’s memorize the next five capital cities for Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa.

Hawaii’s capital is Honolulu. What do you see for Hawaii? I immediately see a Hula Dancer. Being a Brit, for Honolulu I change it to ‘On a Loo’, Loo being British slang for a washroom. So I see a Hula Dancer dancing on top of a toilet, funny and ridiculous. You could use Honour Lulu; you may know someone named Lulu. I remember a British singer from my youth called Lulu who sang the song in the great film To Sir With Love which starred Sidney Poitier. OK next.

Idaho’s capital is Boise. Idaho has to be an image of a potato. I see a huge potato, the size of a truck lying on top of a group of Boys sleeping. I see giant Z’s floating from each of the boy’s heads, Boys Z.

Illinois’s capital is Springfield. You could see Abraham Lincoln singing with Rick Springfield, if you are my age and remember who he is, Rick Springfield that is, not Abe! Or you could imagine a huge slippery Eel, which is close enough to Illinois, slithering itself through a gigantic bed Spring in the middle of a farmer’s field.

Indiana’s capital is Indianapolis. You could see just one image of an Indian (for Indiana) with a policeman’s hat on, (for Indiana polis). Or sitting on top of a Policeman’s car. Maybe an Indian taking a Nap.

Iowa’s capital is Des Moines. How about a gigantic Eye blocking the entrance to a Mine? I know someone named Des, so I picture him standing guard. Or perhaps you could use a large ear of corn to represent Iowa and see it blocking the mine. Because you are already familiar with the name Des Moines, you do not need to have an image for the whole thing, you just need a clue, and the image of a mine will be enough to give you Des Moines. If you feel you need a clue then see large letter D’s painted on the corn or side of the mine.

So to review:

The Hula Dancer standing on top of the Loo
Hawaii/Honolulu

A gigantic Potato on top of a group of Boys catching some Z’s
Idaho/Boise

Abe and Rick Springfield or the huge Eel slithering itself through the large bed Spring in the middle of a field
Illinois/Springfield

An Indian wearing a huge Policeman’s hat
Indiana/Indianapolis

A gigantic Eye/Corn blocking the entrance to a Mine, (guarded by Des O’Connor, if you’re British and over 40!).
Idaho/Des Moines

Again, make sure you review these images within 60-75 minutes from now, it takes less than 60 seconds but is critical for long term storage, then again within 24 hr’s, then 1 week later and then 1 month later.

I will continue to post state capitals and their crazy images in groups of five. Before we know it you will have all 50 memorized and a great handle on how to visualize the ridiculous and absurd. This is essential for us to apply memory systems to more practical business applications like recalling Names and Faces, speeches and presentations, model numbers, prices, to-do lists etc.

The post Hawaii to Iowa continuing to memorize the US State Capitals appeared first on Funny Motivational Speaker, Entertaining Humorist - Bob Gray.

OK, let’s memorize the next five capital cities, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida and Georgia.

Colorado’s capital is Denver. What do you see for Colorado? I immediately see an image of the Rocky Mountains. What do you see for Denver, I see John Denver, so my image is of a giant John Denver sitting astride a Rocky Mountain while strumming his guitar.

Colorado sounds like Collar, maybe see a dog Collar. You could see John Denver with a dog collar around his neck like he’s a punk rocker, couldn’t get much more absurd than that! If you are not familiar with John Denver then break the word into Tin Fur, sounds close enough to Denver, as long as it conjures up an image it will work.

An empty tin of beans, say full of fur, sitting atop a rocky mountain or hanging from a dog collar. Pick one and stick with it or better still come up with your own, just remember to make it as ridiculous as possible.

Connecticut’s capital is Hartford. I see a giant ice cream Cone (for Connecticut) being run over by a Ford truck, driven by a huge heart. See that image, a Ford truck driven by a huge pumping heart, yes with arms and legs, smashing into a gigantic ice cream cone. See the Ford covered in Strawberry ice cream after the accident.

Delaware’s capital is Dover. Delaware reminds me of Tupperware, and being a Brit I see the White Cliffs of Dover. So I imagine a huge piece of Tupperware nailed to the White Cliffs of Dover. Or you could imagine opening some Tupperware and a huge Dover Sole flies out and hits you in the face.

Florida’s capital is Tallahassee. I always see Oranges for Florida. Tallahassee I break into Tall Horse. Because we are already familiar with the name Tallahassee an image of a tall horse will work just fine. If you need to you can imagine a large letter ‘C’ painted on the side of the horse, Tall Horse C. So I see a tall horse, almost Giraffe like, rearing up on its hind legs picking oranges from a tree, both with its mouth and its front legs. Knowing that Florida is the Sunshine State you could use the Sun and a Tall Horse.

Georgia’s capital is Atlanta. You could use Peaches for Georgia or anyone you know named George. For the capital I see a set of Antlers. So I have a nephew named George and I see a set of antlers growing from his head. If he reads this I’m sure to hear from him. Or see Peaches being impaled on a deer’s antlers.

So to review:

John Denver sitting astride the Rocky Mountains or a Tin of Fur hanging from a dog collar’
Colorado/Denver

A gigantic Ice Cream Cone being knocked down by a Ford driven by a Heart
Connecticut/Hartford

Gigantic piece of Tupperware nailed to the White Cliffs of Dover, or a piece of Dover Sole jumping out of some Tupperware
Delaware/Dover

The Tall Horse with the ‘C’ painted across its side picking Oranges from a tree.
Florida/Tallahassee, and finally:

Someone named George with Antlers, or Peaches impaled on a deer’s Antlers.
Georgia/Atlanta

Again, make sure you review these images within 60-75 minutes from now, it takes less than 60 seconds but is critical for long term storage, then again within 24 hr’s, then 1 week later and then 1 month later.

I will continue to post state capitals and their crazy images in groups of five. Before we know it you will have all 50 memorized and a great handle on how to visualize the ridiculous and absurd. This is essential for us to apply memory systems to more practical business applications like recalling Names and Faces, speeches and presentations, model numbers, prices, to-do lists etc.

Bob Gray is an award winning international keynote and memory workshop presenter. A Guinness World Record Holder, Certified Speaking Professional and Canadian Speaker Hall of Fame inductee.

The post Colorado to Georgia continuing to Memorize the US State Capitals appeared first on Funny Motivational Speaker, Entertaining Humorist - Bob Gray.