You’re Not Bad at Remembering Names - You Just Don't Care

Hey friends,

There is a donut shop near my house - Natalie's Donuts.

Every day, the same guy is working the front counter.

Every time I get food there, he greets me by name (I go there quite often).

“Hey, Rocky!”

The embarrassing thing is, I have no clue what his name is.

He told me 3 months ago, and I’ve been going along with it since then.

Here’s my plan to never forget another name.

“A person's name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” – Dale Carnegie.

In today's digital world, it is a lot easier to reference someone's name. It's posted all over their social media account. But, what about times when we don’t have socials to fall back on?

Try one of these strategies, next time someone tells you their name:

1. Mindset

If you tell yourself that you are bad at remembering names, you’ll never get better.

Most people think they’re bad with names, but really, they don't make much of an effort.

Instead, let’s create a real motivation to get better at remembering people's names.

It will benefit us in all areas of life: social, work, etc.

💡

Make it a big deal when people tell you their name, don't glance over it - listen to them and learn their name.

2. Use Names More Often

When someone tells you their name, say it back to them immediately.

Then, try to use it in the convo.

Lastly, repeat their name before you leave.

The next time you see them, greet them with their name.

Disclaimer: Don’t make it weird by overusing someone's name. There’s a fine line.

3. Make an Association

When I tell people my name is rocky, there are 2 responses that I usually get.

“OHHHHH like Rocky, the boxer?”
“Ohhh cool I have a dog named Rocky”

I’m not sure which one is better at this point.

But, this makes my name much more memorable. It's now associated with something they already know.

Try something similar when people tell you their names.

Make a story about their name
Attach it to something similar in your life
Visualize their name in a new way

✨ Bonus Tip: If You Forget, Ask Again

Don't let your pride get to you.

If you forget someone's name, don’t be scared to ask again politely.

💡

A moment of embarrassment is worth the benefit of knowing someone's name.

Just make sure you don’t forget a second time.

This is my plan for the next time I see the guy at the donut shop. I’ve been putting it off for much too long.

🎶 Song of the Week

I’m attending SXSW in Austin today and seeing one of my new favorite bands. If you like this song, check out their new album “Into the Rift.” I’ve been jamming to it all week.

Happy St. Patty's day, friends!

Have a great weekend.

-Rocky “Dough Boy” Ferony