hipster hack- new folks

Okay- here's one I tried yesterday for the first time, and I can already tell it's going to be a regular part of my repetoire...

I carry my hipster everywhere- basically a small, leather-like notebook I buy for $1.99 (and can refill, thus making it superior to the cooler, but much more expensive Moleskine)- and that includes Sunday morning. It's in my back pocket all the time (Bonus- it rounds out my butt since my George Costanza-like wallet sits on the other cheek), with a Pilot G-2 pen clipped in my right front pocket...

Anyway, yesterday, we had an abundance of first-time visitors at our Sunday morning gathering...

I'm really, really bad with names. I mean, really bad.

I usually have to ask people to remind me of their names 8 or 9 times...

But yesterday, I had a stroke of brilliance, a flash of ingenuity...

I just wrote them down.

We had 7 first time visitors yesterday (not including some 4 or 5 relatives just visiting in town- I usually like to say "Hi" to them, by try not to spend too much time talking with out-of-towners). So, directly afterwards, when I got 2 seconds (all the time it took) I just wrote down their names.

In looking at the list now, I can clearly picture who each were. I'll look at it again later, but I have a feeling I now KNOW their names. This morning I even wrote a little note by each ("Came with Sean and Betsy","Went to lunch with Shawn and Laura", etc).

I'm telling you, the relief I feel at having something of a system to help remember names is incredible...

Try it and tell me how it works for you! Or do any of you have other ideas for remembering visitor names?

Comments

[Dwayne]

Bob, where did you get the $1.99 leather-like cover?

[bob]

here's the homepage of the company that makes 'em. You can search to find localstores that sell them. I bought mine at a NW chain called Fred Meyers... I bought a couple thinking they might disappear at some point, I'd give a couple away (shich I have), etc...

[Dwayne]

Bob,

Thanks for the link! I enjoy the site!

[Ben Boles]

Looks cool, but they don't sell them in Florida. Thanks for for the hack.

[stephen shields]

Yes. One of the best methods takes advantage of the fact that we learn by association. The moment you meet someone and hear their name for the first time, instantly think about someone else you know (or a famous person) with the same name. Try it. You will find that you are more likely to remember your new acquaintance's name. Obviously this works significantly less well if you don't know anyone else wiht the same first name!