Page 151 - How to Develop A SUPER-POWER MEMORY

Facts about People 155
capacity to remember to begin with, you wouldn't remem-
ber, no matter how many systems you used; nor could you
remember the systems. If you were to make an extreme
effort to remember, you would; there's no question about
that. The problem is that we're all too lazy to make that
effort. The systems contained in this book, simply make it
easier for you to make the effort. In order to make your
associations, you must pay attention to the thing you want
to remember; the rest is easy.
It would take far too much time and space for me to
tell you how helpful my trained memory has been to me,
aside from my public appearances. Of course, people will
sometimes carry things to an extreme. I meet and remember
approximately one to three or four thousand people every
week, sometimes more. It would be a little silly for me to
try to retain all those names and faces. But, I never know
when I'll be stopped on the street, or in a movie, or while
driving my car, or in some small town that I may have
played two or three years ago—and have someone demand,
"What's my name?"
These people expect me to remember them although I
met them with three or four hundred other people, at the
time. The amazing part is that in 20% to 30% of the time,
my original associations, made, perhaps years ago, will come
back to me after thinking for a few moments. Then I do
know the person's name. In your case, this is no problem
because I'm sure that very few of you have to meet and
remember anywhere near three or four hundred thousand
people a year.
I think that this book probably would never have been
published if it weren't for the fact that I remembered one
person's name. I had spoken to Mr. Fell, the publisher,
about the book the first time I met him. He said he would
think about it, and that was that. About five months later.