What you need to know about Brain Games is quite disheartening. A popular Brain Training company was fined $2M in 2016 for deceptive advertising, claiming amongst other things that their Brain Games could help stave off memory loss, Dementia and even Alzheimer’s. But it turns out they have no science to back it up.

The ads claimed that spending 10-15 minutes a day 3 times a week with their Brain Games would ‘unlock your full potential in every aspect of life.’

‘Brain Games’ enable you to play the exercises quicker, fooling many people into believing they are actually getting smarter.

If you constantly play a video game, through familiarity, you will get better at that video game, but it won’t make you better at things that matter, like better job performance or actually increasing your ability to remember better.

If you truly want to exercise your brain, the activity needs to be something new.

It needs to be challenging, like learning a new language, learning to play an instrument or taking up a new sport.

And it needs to be fun, emotional and physical enjoyment is important to the brains learning process. So unless you’re playing Brain Games for any reason than having fun, save your money and……forget about them!

An App to Remember….literally. Download my new App for remembering people. It downloads their photo from the web.

Funny, unique and interactive in his entertaining conference keynotes and workshops, Bob Gray reveals the untapped potential in each of us. His empowering systems and their many applications in the business world give participants immediate ‘walk away’ value.  Watch Bob’s video to see if he is a fit as your next conference keynote speaker. Book Bob Gray here or call 905-430-3115

The post What You Need To Know About Brain Games appeared first on Funny Motivational Speaker, Entertaining Humorist - Bob Gray.

The post Remember Presentations appeared first on Funny Motivational Speaker, Entertaining Humorist - Bob Gray.

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.

In this video I share a memory system invented by a genius over 300 years ago. It is the most powerful system in the world today for memorizing numbers. It allows me, in my corporate demonstrations, to recall the populations and areas in square miles of every country on the planet, and also allows me to tell anyone what day of the week they were born. This system in my opinion should be part of every school curriculum for it plays into any subject needing the recollection of numbers, whether that be Math, Geography, Science, Physics or Chemistry. It makes the boring subject of recalling numbers, fun, creative and imaginative. Here I memorize 25 random numbers forwards and backwards, so simple to do once you know just 10 sounds. You can check it out in my book in the store section.

VIDEO

Please share, below. You can also join me on Twitter, Facebook and or LinkedIn for more brain/memory information, links are at the top right of this page.

Keynote Speaker

The post A Birdcage with Underwear….meet Avery Haines appeared first on Funny Motivational Speaker, Entertaining Humorist - Bob Gray.

Rick Perry memory lapse

If the absolute necessity for a trained memory in politics hasn’t become evident by now, then it never will be.

Similar to Sarah Palin, all he needed to do was to tap into the incredibly powerful visual side of our brain and convert what he wished to memorize to images, and then link them together in a crazy, ridiculous, creative fashion. He needed to visualize images or pictures that would immediately remind him of each department.

Here are the images I would use to represent the three departments:

Commerce = A Comma, a gigantic Black typewritten Comma.

The beauty with memory systems is that the ‘reminder image’ doesn’t necessarily have to relate to the word you are trying to recall, it can simply sound like it, as in this case. The word Commerce is left brain, non-visual, yet the word Comma is more right brain and certainly conjures up an image, and that is always the key, changing what we wish to remember into images, or nouns.

Education = A Mortar Board Graduation Cap.

That’s the first image that springs to my mind, you may think of a favorite teacher, or an apple. Whatever you first think of, as long as it conjures up an image, will always be the strongest.

Energy = A can of Red Bull.

Like the image for Sarah Palin wishing to recall Energy in the earlier article. A chocolate bar, bag of sugar, wind turbine or solar panels would also work.

Now lets link them together.

So knowing he’s going to bring up these three points should he be elected to the White House, this would be our starting point or image, the White House. To this image he must link or associate, in a strange and creative way, the image that represents the first department, Commerce.

Go ahead and visualize a gigantic 70’ Black typewritten Comma hanging from the roof of the White House.

To this strange image we link the Mortar Board Cap, so again, make this image gigantic, visualize a 50’ x 50’ Cap balancing from the tail of the Comma.

Finally for Energy we have the Red Bull. Visualize the tassels of the Mortar Board Cap replaced with gigantic cans of Red Bull. Go ahead and see that ridiculous image. Hear the sound of the Aluminum cans as they bump together.

So now when Rick wants to bring up the three departments he would shut down should he be elected to the White House, he immediately sees the image of the White House, and hanging from the roof is a large what? Yes, a huge Comma, which would give him the first department….Commerce. From the tail of the comma, he sees a 50’ x 50’ Mortar Board Cap, which will give him the department of Education, and what’s making all that metallic rattling sound? Oh yea, those huge cans of Red Bull in place of the tassels hanging from the cap, which will give the third department, (which originally forgetting could well have blown him the nomination), the department of Energy.

Four images, three links….saved credibility….oops!

Please share below if you found this informative. You can join me on Twitter, Facebook and or LinkedIn for more Memory/Booking information, links are at the top of the page, cheers,

Bob Gray CSP HoF

keynote speaker

The post oops.. Rick Perry, a Comma, Mortar Board and a Red Bull 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.

Let’s now store into memory their capital cities. If you did not read my first post please take two minutes to read it over to get an understanding of how ridiculous images force our memory to latch onto information.

OK, let’s memorize their capital cities.

Alabama’s capital is Montgomery. See a photo Album balancing on a golf tee, see Colin Montgomery, the British golfer striking the album with his driver and driving it 250 yd’s down the fairway. Hear the thud of the driver as it strikes the album, see the photo’s scattering across the fairway.

If you are not familiar with Colin Montgomery you could use Field Marshal Montgomery of Alamein from the 2nd world war, see him looking through a photo album while driving a tank! Or any Montgomery that springs to mind will work.

If you absolutely cannot think of anyone familiar named Montgomery, then you can break the name into smaller workable chunks like, Mint Gum Rye.

Imagine instead of photos in the album, hundreds of Mint leaves or breath mints instead. As you pull the mint(s) from the page there is a long strand of gum attached, the mints or leaves have all been stuck into the album with chewing gum. You take the mint with the gum and place it in a glass of Rye whiskey and drink this awful concoction. You will only need to see this image a couple times before it will be lodged into your long term memory.

Alaska’s capital is Juneau. See Sarah Palin standing at the lectern shouting “Do you know?” Or see a June bug on her Nose, June Nose/Juneau. See her cross eyed as she tries to deliver a speech with this huge June bug crawling up and down her nose.

Arizona’s capital is Phoenix. See a huge cactus splitting open, perhaps hit by lightning, hear the cracking of the cactus as a Phoenix literally rises from the cactus.

Arkansas’ capital is Little Rock. See hundreds of little rocks in groups of two by two walking up the ramp to the Ark, no animals just little rocks. You can even give them little arms and hands holding onto each other as they stroll up the ramp into the ark.

California’s capital is Sacramento. If you are already familiar with the name Sacramento, then a simple image of a sack will do. A sack full of gold bars may be a little obvious, it sounds perfect, but not really unusual enough. Our memory tends to cling to the unusual, not the normal or obvious.

So instead of seeing hundreds of gold bars stacked on top of each other in a bank vault, replace them with hundreds of sacks, see a bank vault full of tiny sacks.

You may think of the Beach Boys to visualize California, so see the Beach Boys playing a concert with huge sacks over their heads.

If you are not familiar with the name Sacramento, then you can split it into workable chunks just as I did with Montgomery. Sacramento would become Sack Ram Men Toe, see this chain of images and associate it to gold bars or the Beach Boys or whatever image you conjure up for California.

So to review:

The photo Album, being hit on the driving range by Colin Montgomery.
Alabama/Montgomery

Sarah Palin shouting “Do you know?” at the lectern, or the huge June bug crawling up her nose.
Alaska/Juneau

The Cactus splitting open with the Phoenix rising.
Arizona/Phoenix

The Little Rocks walking two by two up the ramp into the Ark.
Arkansas/Little Rock, and finally:

The bank vault full of tiny Sacks or the Beach Boys with sacks over their heads.
California/Sacramento

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 post perhaps four or five state capitals and a crazy image over the next dozen or so posts in order for you to become accustomed to forming crazy ridiculous imagery. 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. We need to shake up the creative side of our brains before we tackle more business related issues…and besides, this will probably win you a drink or two in a bar!

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