Improve your Memory for Sales Success
A good memory is truly important for a sales professional to possess. Your memory
of faces, names, facts, information, dates, events, circumstances will certainly
help to improve both your sales and your ability to build long term business relationships.
In this eBook you will learn certain techniques to help improve your memory and
in turn your sales figures.
What is Memory?
Your memory is composed of millions of complicated neural connections in your brain.
The ability of your mind to retain past experiences in a highly organised manner
gives you the potential to learn and create. Your experiences are the stepping stones
to greater accomplishments and at the same time your guides and protectors from danger.
Unless you have an illness or handicap, a poor memory is often attributed to lack
of attention or concentration, insufficient listening skills, and other inherent
bad habits; however, it can be honed and developed using the right methods.
Many people believe that their memory gets worse as they get older. This is true
only for those who do not use, or exercise, their memory properly. Memory is like
a muscle - the more it is used, the better it gets. The more it is neglected, the
worse it gets. However, people increasing in age can overcome this dilemma and can
even further improve their memory by continuing their education, by refining their
minds, by keeping themselves open to new experiences, and by keeping their imagination
working.
Memorization or retention of data operates by loading images, sounds, taste, smell,
and sensation (touch) in a very organised and meaningful combination in our brain.
There are three types of memory.
Sensory Memory is where temporary information is briefly recorded. Images such as
a picture in a magazine and the design on your customer's clothing are momentarily
stored in the sensory memory. It will be quickly replaced by another sensory memory
unless you do something to retain it.
Short-term Memory, characterised by 20 to 30 seconds of retention, involves a limited
amount of information, and is necessary in traditional processing of experiences
and ordinary data gathering (everyday sensation and perception).
Long-term Memory involves consolidation and organization of complex knowledge and
information for further reference and other cognitive (mental) processing such as
the application of learning or information into meaningful experiences.
Short-term and long-term memories are concerned with how you continually organise
data that are stored in your brain. In short, human memory is like a vast and complicated
yet organised library.
Sharp Memory Factors
If someone was to read a list of words to you, it's most unlikely that you will remember
all the words in the list. You'll be able to recall most of the words at the beginning,
some at the middle, and a few at the end. These effects are known as primacy (words
at the beginning) and recency (words at the end).
The only way that a normal person can effectively recall all of the words in the
list, is if he applies a mnemonic technique to help him remember. You'll also find
that it's easier to recall a word if it's repeated several times in the list, or
if it's related to the other words in any way, or if it stands out among the other
words (for example, the word "ruby" will stand out from a list of vegetables).
Contrary to popular belief, being smart is not synonymous to having a good memory
or good retention. You don't have to force yourself to study and understand more
in order to improve your memory; the key is actually in your lifestyle, your attitude,
your diet, and your habits.
You Are What You Eat
Your brain is the greediest organ in your body, and it requires a very specific type
of nutrition from your diet. It shouldn't be surprising then that your diet affects
how your brain performs, and it performs well with a steady supply of glucose. Before
you go out of your house in the morning, it would be great if you can give your brain
the fuel it needs by eating a hearty breakfast. For lunch, a salad packed full of
antioxidants, including beta-carotene and vitamins C and E. For dinner a combination
of proteins and carbohydrates. This combination of foodstuffs should help keep your
brain in tip-top condition by helping to reduce damaging free radicals (damaging
molecules). As you grow older, your brain has lesser capacity to defend itself from
daily threats like free radicals, inflammation, and oxidation.
Free radicals are like cavities to your teeth; they slowly build up if they're not
cleaned out. As the brain cells grow older, they sometimes stop communicating with
each other. As an effect, it slows down essential processes like thinking, short-term
memory retrieval, and regenerating new cells. Therefore, anti-oxidants are essential
to maintain not only good health, but a good memory as well. Good sources of anti-oxidants
are:
Vitamin A and beta-carotene: Carrots, spinach, melons, winter squash
Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, broccoli, strawberries, tomatoes
Vitamin E: Nuts, seeds, vegetable oil, wheat germ
Studies show that fatty food that causes artheosclerosis (clogging of arteries) are
also the same type of food that disrupts neural activities. Cut back on the fat and
replace it with foods rich in anti-oxidants. Nothing will replace a well-balanced
meal, but to make sure that your body doesn't lack any of its nutritional needs,
it would be a good idea to take food supplements. As the name implies, they're supplements,
and not replacements.
Scientific research also indicates that eating fish can indeed sharpen your memory.
Most fish fat contains the polyunsaturated fatty acid DHA, which performs a significant
part in the brain development of young children. Tests show that kids who consume
adequate foods containing DHA score better on IQ tests than those who take lesser
amounts of DHA. Fish also contains omega-3 fatty acids which opens up new communication
centers in the brain's neurons.
Another significant finding suggests that smoking can affect the ability of the brain
to process information properly. Chain smokers have higher risks of impairing their
visual and verbal memories.
Caffeine and alcohol causes anxiety and nervousness. This may hamper information
from properly entering your mind because memory works best when you are relaxed and
focused.
