THE KIND OF REPETITION THAT RAPS IT IN - Part 1

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· THE KIND OF REPETITION THAT RAPS IT IN - Part 1

· THE KIND OF REPETITION THAT RAPS IT IN - Part 2

After you have observed Rule One: Get the Name Right, you must apply Rule Two: Rap the Name in by Repetition.

While you are talking to your new acquaintance, use his name as frequently as you can. Tack it on the end of sentences; begin your remarks to him by addressing him directly by name. Each time you speak his name aloud, you are driving it by one more hammer blow deeper into your memory. If it happens that other people are carrying on the conversation, and you cannot repeat the name aloud, then at least try saying it over and over again to yourself while you are studying your new acquaintance's features and general appearance.

And finally, when you take leave of him, use his name once more as you say good-by. Don't just say, "Glad to have met you," and let it go at that. Give him a royal send-off. Say, "Glad to have met you, Mr. Newsom. I hope we shall meet again." Take a final look at Mr. Newsom, at the same time making a heroic resolution that the next time you see that face, you will know that it belongs to Mr. Newsom—spelled N-E-W-S-O-M—and to no other person in the world. Stop. Did you look at Mr. Newsom? If not, do it now.

I can't impress upon you too strongly the importance of this principle of repetition. In the beginning, you will have to make a conscious effort to apply it, but as times goes on, you will find yourself doing it automatically. If you don't bother to repeat a name over and over—if you "trust to your memory" after hearing a name only once—you are not playing fair with yourself. You are not giving your memory a break; you are not "exercising" the new impression you want your mind to seize upon and retain for your future reference.

Many people who know from experience that they must give their memories every possible kind of assistance actually go so far as to write a new name down as soon as they get an opportunity. Napoleon III used this method with outstanding success. He attained the throne only after a political struggle, and realized that one way of enhancing his popularity and strengthening his position was to pay his subjects the subtle compliment of never forgetting their names. Therefore, as soon as he found himself alone after an audience, he wrote the name on a slip of paper, studied it a moment with undivided attention, and threw away the paper.

This technique is undoubtedly successful, but it is not practical enough for our general use. I think most of us would do better to rely on the homespun method of repeating the name aloud as often as we can while we are with its owner, and trying to visualize it in our minds as we do so. By all means write it down later, if you have a chance to do so. Maybe you would like to keep a record of all the new people you meet.