THWS#092: Stop Being Forgettable. Use These Six Memory Drivers

Do you remember what you did last Tuesday? Thought not. But I bet you remember that time you got stuck in a lift with your CEO. Or when you nailed that customer meeting you were terrified about.

I've just recorded a podcast episode with John K. Coyle - Olympic silver medalist and expert in chronoception (basically, how humans experience time). And he shared something that hit me right between the eyes:

Memories are the currency of time.

Think about that for a second. You're not actually experiencing time through seconds and minutes. You're experiencing it through memories. No memories written? That time just evaporates.

This is why summers felt endless as a kid and now disappear in a blink. Kids are constantly creating new memories - new experiences, new places, new challenges. Adults? We're often stuck in routine. Wake up, commute, meetings, commute, Netflix, sleep, repeat.

Your brain literally speeds up time when nothing memorable is happening.

The Brain Science Bit

Your hippocampus is constantly writing memories at about 2-3 frames per second. But when something exciting happens, your amygdala kicks in and shouts "WRITE FASTER!" Your frame rate rockets to 20-30 times per second.

This is why a car crash feels like slow motion. Why asking someone out feels like it takes forever. Your brain is recording way more detail because it matters.

As John put it: "The value of an increment of time is not related to its duration."

A single moment can change your entire life trajectory. But only if your brain writes it down.

Making Yourself Memorable

Here's where it gets really useful for your career. John uses this to win keynote speaking gigs against world-renowned economists. How? By creating an emotional connection that makes him unforgettable.

He tells the story of going from the top of his game to finishing 30th in US trials. How he realised he was solving the wrong problem. How he quit the team, redesigned his training around his strengths, and came back to break the world record.

It works because it hits the emotional buttons. Risk. Failure. Comeback. Themes every business leader relates to.

Your Action Plan

Stop being forgettable. Use some of these six memory drivers:

Uniqueness - Do something different, even small things

Emotional intensity - Create genuine connections

Risk and uncertainty - Step outside your comfort zone and help others step out too

Physical intensity - Great in life, not so appropriate in the office maybe

Tragedy and Trauma - Probably best not to create a tragedy in the meeting. But use stories of disasters.  It help drive action.

Flow State - Get into the zone, and brilliant if you can get others their too.

In business meetings, don't just present facts. Tell stories that create emotional engagement. When pitching, make them feel something, not just think something.

And in life? Choose experiences that make the best stories. Take the trip. Learn the skill. Have the conversation you're nervous about.

Otherwise, the next decade will vanish and you'll wonder where it went.

Hope this helps.

BenP

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Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

• Leaders In Tech: Raise the impact of your team.  Make them more influential, memorable and successful with customers everyday.  The Technical Storytelling Professional Program enables them to create clarity, generate energy and drive the results you need.
• Individuals: Accelerate your career and build your reputation.  Develop the skills to help you present,  influence and explain in the tech world.  Check out the Technical Storytelling Essentials or Tech Community Speaker courses.
• Tech World Human Skills Podcast:  The latest episode is " First Recall = First Call - Neuroscience of Memory, Time and Persuasion" with John K Coyle. Check it out on the Elevated You website,  Apple, Spotify, YouTube or Amazon Podcasts.