Telling Tales Poeple Can Never Forget

By telling this story from my point of view, my intention is to show you - rather than tell you - how memory works.

If you don't know how to tell a memorable story, you can't be an effective leader, can't raise money for a startup, can't be the number one sales professional, and can't even get your kids to listen.
My client didn't die; he slid 300 yards, regained his composure, and hiked back up the slope. After climbing a bit higher, we skied down without incident.
Dr. Carmen Simon is an expert in the science of memorable presentations. She and I just pooled our efforts to create a visual catalog of ten techniques that make communication memorable, five of which I used in this story:

• Evoke emotion
• Spark mental images
• Be shocking and visual
• Tell a story
• Exaggerate (mostly with the implication my client may have died)

We are not just talking about PowerPoint decks. These principles apply to the way you present ideas to colleagues, friends, relatives and casual acquaintances. Whether you are trying to sell a new idea to your boss or raise money for a charity, your first challenge is always to have the other person remember what you said.
Carmen reminds her clients that people remember just ten percent of what you tell them... you can't change this retention rate significantly, but you can influence what other people remember. The way you do this is to use one or more of these techniques in association with the 10% you most want others to remember.