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Why You MUST Remember People's Names
By Timothy Arends
How
many times have you had the embarrassment of seeing someone on the
street, in the cafeteria, in class, or elsewhere and been addressed by
name--but, for the life of you, you couldn’t remember the other
person’s name?
But what’s in a name? That which we call a
rose by any other name would smell as sweet. That may be true of some
things, but not of people’s names. A person’s name, as Dale Carnegie
wrote, is to them the most important sound in any language. It is their
unique identifier. It is a part of them. In the Bible, when Adam was
given dominion over all of the animals, he named them all as a way of
showing dominance over them.
How to Win Friends and Influence People
by Dale Carnegie has been named in one survey as one of the ten most
influential books of all time. The book is divided into various
sections. The third section of part two is titled “If you don’t do
this, you are headed for trouble.” What is it that you must do?
Remember the other person’s name, and facts about him or her. Yes, in
one of the most highly regarded books of all time, remembering names
was listed very near the top in importance. Dale Carnegie cited several
instances throughout history in which the ability to remember people’s
names was one of the defining hallmarks of success.
Andrew
Carnegie (no relation to Dale Carnegie) was one of the richest men in
history and he was known for his ability to remember names. Dale
Carnegie related how Andrew Carnegie was battling with his competitor
over the railroad sleeping car business and both competitors were in
danger of price slashing each other out of business. Finally, Andrew
Carnegie sat down with his competitor and clinched the deal. How?
Partly by promising to name the manufacturing business and product
after his competitor, and thus the famous Pullman Sleeping Car Company
came into being.
Dale Carnegie pointed out how libraries and
museums owe their richest collections to men and women who could not
bear to think that their names might vanish from history. Every college
and university has buildings named after their foremost contributors.
Today,
many a sales deal is clinched because a salesperson made himself well
liked by remembering his or her prospects’ names. Indeed, a salesperson
must sell himself as well as his product to others, and there is
perhaps no better first step towards selling oneself to people than
remembering their names. A waiter or waitress in a restaurant must
surely pull in better tips when she can remember the names of the
regular patrons. In almost any occupation, the ability to remember
names is a decided asset.
In social life, the ability to
remember names is just as important. Imagine meeting someone at a
party, seeing him later in a cafeteria, and not only remembering his
name but being able to bring up what was discussed earlier and use it
as a basis for new conversation. This surely would leave a very
favorable impression upon the other person. Imagine meeting in
attractive woman for the first time, seeing her at the park later and
remembering her name--then resuming an earlier conversation!
Get
into the habit of making a real effort to remember the names of those
you meet. It will open up to you new worlds of success and popularity.
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Tim
Arends for over ten years has maintained the Internet Shyness FAQ, now
at http://www.shyFAQ.com. Visitors to his site can obtain a FREE copy
of his ebook, How To Remember People’s Names; The Master Key to Success and Popularity.
Tim also offers his complete overcoming shyness system at
http://www.shyfacts.com. This article may be republished in any website
or newsletter, provided this message is included. Back to Article Library
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